The highly anticipated showdown between boxing legend Mike Tyson and social media star Jake Paul was billed as the boxing event of 2024. With both men doing their part to fuel the hype, fans were eager to see the clash of generations in the ring. However, fight night left many viewers disappointed—not just by the fighters’ cautious performances in the later rounds, but also by widespread technical issues with Netflix’s live stream.
The streaming giant, which hosted the event, faced backlash as countless viewers reported buffering, glitches, and even an inability to access the fight altogether. These frustrations have now culminated in a lawsuit filed by Ronald “Blue” Denton, a Florida resident, who claims Netflix breached its contract to deliver a high-quality stream. Denton’s legal filing cites “no access, streaming glitches, and buffering issues” as evidence of Netflix’s failure and is seeking unspecified damages.
Social media was flooded with complaints from angry viewers, many of whom shared stories of being unable to follow the action in real time. The backlash prompted Netflix Chief Technology Officer Elizabeth Stone to address the streaming mishap in an email to employees. While acknowledging the technical problems, Stone highlighted the event’s record-breaking viewership. “We don’t want to dismiss the poor experience of some members,” she wrote. “Know we have room for improvement, but still consider this event a huge success.”
Neither Mike Tyson nor Jake Paul has commented on the streaming debacle, but other public figures have weighed in. Radio personality Howard Stern criticized Netflix for the issues and urged the company to fix its streaming technology ahead of its planned Christmas Day football broadcast. “You mess with people’s football, there is hell to pay,” Stern warned on his Sirius XM show. “I don’t know how this stuff works, but you’ve got to make sure it works.”
While the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight generated significant buzz and drew massive viewership, the technical setbacks and subsequent lawsuit have cast a shadow over Netflix’s foray into live sports streaming. The pressure is now on the platform to ensure smoother experiences for future live events.
As we celebrate the unparalleled career of the legendary Robert “DJ Screw” Davis Jr. during the week of his passing almost a quarter century ago, we decided to explore some of Houston’s most revered artists and how their career was founded and expanded due to their connection to DJ Screw. As the known originator of the famous “chopped and screwed” sound and the leader of H-Town’s Screwed Up Click, Screw released more than 350 mixtapes before his untimely passing in 2000. With chopped and screwed as his signature sound, he made tapes which he sold out his Screwed Up Records and Tapes store in Houston, solidifying himself as a businessman and a music innovator.
Here are just some of H-Town’s most respected artists that admittedly wouldn’t be where they are today if it weren’t for the foundation laid by the late DJ Screw.
Trae Tha Truth
Houston-born emcee and activist Trae Tha Truth, along with longtime collaborator Z-Ro in their group ABN, made their ascension in the game as members of the legendary Screwed Up Click, with the 44-year-old dropping 11 solo albums, over 25 mixtapes and now serves as VP of T.I.’s Grand Hustle Records. Trae is also well known for his philanthropy as the founder of both Angel by Nature, a charity aimed at helping the impoverished youth of Texas.
Lil Flip
Named Houston’s “freestyle king” by Screw himself, Lil Flip got his break in the game when Screw heard his debut album The Leprechaun on H-Town based label Sucka Free Records and put him down with the Screwed Up Click. Four years later, Flip signed a deal with Sony Urban Music and dropped his third album and first double-disc CD U Gotta Feel Me, which contained the popular single “Game Over(Flip”, earning him his first platinm plaque of his career.
Paul Wall
Even though Pau lWall repped North Houston and was under Michael “5000” Watts’ Swishahouse Records, his most popular singles, 2005’s “Sittin Sidewayz”, which samples a line from Big Pokey’s verse on DJ Screw’s “June 27th” and Mike Jones’ “Still Tippin” remix featuring Screwed Up Click’s Lil Keke and Big Pokey, set the tone for the duration of Wall’s career. Today, Wall is also an accomplished and proficient mixtape and party DJ, known for producing mixtapes in the famous chopped and screwed style, which was invented by DJ Screw.
Big Moe
Originating from Houston, Texas, and as one of the founding members of the “Original Screwed Up Click,” Big Moe started out in music by freestyling on DJ Screw mixtapes like many of his Houston peers. Big Moe’s debut album, City of Syrup, dropped in 2000). The title was a nod to Houston’s reputation for drinking codeine-laced syrup called “lean” or “sizzurp”, which Moe pours from a Styrofoam cup on the album’s cover.
DJ Mike “5000” Watts
In the mid-1990s, chopped and screwed music started to move to the north side of Houston by way of Swishahouse Records founder DJ Michael “5000” Watts. A rivalry between North and South Houston over the true originators of chopped and screwed began to arise, but Michael “5000” Watts always gave credit to DJ Screw as the originator of chopped and screwed music, although Watts has been a proponent of the slogan “screwed and chopped” instead of “chopped and screwed”.
Following the death of DJ Screw, his musical influence spread all over the southern United States. Later in 2000, the Memphis-based group Three 6 Mafia came out with their song “Sippin’ on Some Syrup”. The song debuted as a minor hit but later became one of Three 6 Mafia’s most popular songs.
The 2007 documentary film Screwed in Houston details the history of the Houston rap scene and the influence of the chopped and screwed subculture on Houston hip hop. In 2011, University of Houston Libraries acquired over 1,000 albums owned by DJ Screw. Some of the albums were part of an exhibit in early 2012 and, along with the rest, went available for research in 2013. Today, the chopped and screwed music genre has been added to all forms of streaming services including iTunes, Spotify and has crossed over to receive mass mainstream appeal.
On this day in 1970, the second lyrical half of A Tribe Called Quest, Phife Dawg was born. Born Malik Isaac Taylor in Queens, New York, Phife was one-fourth of one of the most influential groups in Hip-Hop culture; A Tribe Called Quest. It’s been almost nine years since Phife lost his battle with diabetes, however, his music will live on for eternity.
On many of ATCQ’s tracks, fans have always rightfully celebrated Q-Tip’s lyricism, but rarely gave Phife Dawg his proper due. In the posthumous honor of his birthday, we have put together a list of five of his hottest verses to shine a light on the unsung lyrical phenom that is Phife Dawg.
5. “Electric Relaxation” On this standout track from the album Midnight Marauders, Phife and The Abstract went toe to toe, trading off verse without a hook until the song ended, with standout bars like, “Let me hit it from the back, girl I won’t catch a hernia/Bust off on your couch, now you got Seaman’s Furniture..”and let’s not forget, “I like ‘em brown, yellow, Puerto Rican or Haitian/Name is Phife Dawg from the Zulu Nation..”
4. “La Schmoove” This was a featured verse from Phife Dawg on a track by Brooklyn rap tongue twisters Fu Schnickens. On this track, Phife had the third verse, yet opened it like it was his own song saying,
“Now here I go, once again with the ill flow/Other MC’s that rap, their style is so-so..”
3. “Scenario” Being one of the most popular songs on A Tribe Called Quest’s Low End Theory album, Phife Dawg’s opening verse is one that rings in the ears of many rap fans.
“Ayo, Bo knows this, and Bo knows that/ But bo don’t know jack cause Bo can’t rap//Well what do you know, the Di-Dawg, is first up to bat/No batteries included and no strings attached..”
2. “Award Tour” Another cut from Midnight Marauders, Award Tour was a huge success for A Tribe Called Quest. It also houses some of Phife Dawg’s strongest metaphors. “I have a quest to have a mic in my hand/without that, it’s like Kryptonite and Superman/So Shaheed come in with the sugar cuts//Phife Dawg’s my name, but on stage, call me Dynomut..”
“So, next time that you think you want something here/Make something dope or take that garbage to St.Elsewhere..”
1. “Buggin Out” Coming from their most popular album, this is regarded as Phife’s illest bars. Phife Dawg spits two of the hardest verses on the album on this one record. “Yo microphone check one, two, what is this?/The five foot assassin with the roughneck business/I float like gravity, never had a cavity/Got more rhymes than the Winans got family..”
“You soar off to another world, deep in your mind/But people seem to take that, as being unkind/’Oh yo he’s acting stank,’ really on the regal?/a man of the fame not a man of the people/believe that if you want but I tell you this much/riding on the train with no dough, sucks..”
On this date in 1996, the “infamous” crew from Mobb Deep dropped album number three entitled Hell On Earth. The Mobb-produced project was released under the epic Loud/RCA imprint introduced many of the extended QB/Mobb family including raspy-voiced Twin Gambino, Big Noyd, and a few others. Hav and P enlisted some of the game’s top dogs of the time for this album including their QB brethren Nas, Wu’s Raekwon the Chef, and Method Man.
This certified gold classic was unquestionably a part of the East Coast arsenal against the West Coast during the height of the rivalry, with tracks such as the title track, “Still Shinin’”, and of course, “Drop A Gem On ‘Em”, sending overt threats at Tupac Shakur and his cohorts. Other standout joints include “G.O.D. Pt.III”, where Prodigy drops some street knowledge, “Blood Sport”, and “Give It Up Fast” featuring Noyd and Nas. This album was also the project that confirmed Havoc’s skills as a producer, which led to several other projects outside of the Mobb.
Salute to P, Hav, Noyd, Gotti, Twin, Ty Nitty, Nas, Rae, Meth, Steve Rifkind, and everyone else involved with this classic album!
Multi-platinum, 3x GRAMMY® Award-nominated, and Emmy® Award-winning rapper Cordae will embark on The Crossroads Tour in 2025. The 23-city trek kicks off on Wednesday, February 5 at Ace of Spades in Sacramento, CA, making stops in Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, Toronto, New York, and more before wrapping up in Chicago, IL at Concord Music Hall on Sunday, March 16.
Kevin Hart is the one. The comedian turned Hollywood brand has solidified himself as one of the entertainment industry’s most successful and bankable stars over the last 15 years, starring in numerous blockbuster films that have usually been lead by his signature comedic style and unmatched energy. Occasionally he’s played a serious role, but we’ll get to that later.
From action buddy comedies to family-friendly films, Hart’s versatility has earned him a loyal global fan base. For this edition of Screen Culture, we put together five of Hart’s funniest and most commercially successful films over the last 10 years. Each is giving, why he’s able to make audiences laugh out loud while cashing in on an unmatched level that we haven’t seen since the iconic Eddie Murphy in his hey day. Oh, and we even added the box office cash each filmed raked in so ya’ll get why Hart’s that guy guy.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)
Official Synopsis: In this action-packed sequel to the 1995 classic, four high school students discover an old video game console and are drawn into the game’s jungle setting. To escape, they must complete dangerous tasks while navigating a world full of perilous creatures and challenging obstacles. Kevin Hart stars as the avatar of a tough, muscular explorer named Franklin “Mouse” Finbar— a complete contrast to Hart’s usual persona.
Kevin Hart plays Anthony “Fridge” Johnson: A high school football player whose friendship with Spencer has deteriorated due to their different social statuses. In Jumanji, he is transformed into Franklin “Mouse” Finbar, a diminutive zoologist and weapons carrier who has a weakness in strength, speed, and cake.
Box Office Success: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle grossed over $962 million worldwide, making it one of Hart’s biggest box office hits.
Ride Along (2014)
Official Synopsis: For two years, security guard Ben (Kevin Hart) has tried to convince James (Ice Cube), a veteran cop, that he is worthy of James’ sister, Angela. When Ben is finally accepted into the police academy, James decides to test his mettle by inviting him along on a shift deliberately designed to scare the trainee. However, events take an unexpected turn when their wild night leads to Atlanta’s most-notorious criminal and Ben’s rapid-fire mouth proves as dangerous as the bullets whizzing by them.
Hart’s rapid-fire, neurotic humor that’s he’s so good at and Ice Cube’s stoic delivery create the perfect odd couple dynamic. But Kevin Hart’s ability to blend his signature physical comedy with his dialogue in a way that only Hart can pull off, keeps the laughs on autopilot throughout the film’s runtime.
Box Office Success: Ride Along was another commercial smash for Hart, grossing over $154 million worldwide, and even led to a successful sequel, Ride Along 2.
Central Intelligence (2016)
Official Synopsis: Bullied as a teen for being overweight, Bob Stone (Dwayne Johnson) shows up to his high school reunion looking fit and muscular. While there, he finds Calvin Joyner (Kevin Hart), a fast-talking accountant who misses his glory days as a popular athlete. Stone is now a lethal CIA agent who needs Calvin’s number skills to help him save the compromised U.S. spy satellite system. Together, the former classmates encounter shootouts, espionage and double-crosses while trying to prevent worldwide chaos.
In this hilarious action-comedy, Kevin Hart plays Calvin Joyner, a mild-mannered accountant who reunites with an old high school friend, Bob Stone (Dwayne Johnson). You see a pattern of what works for Kevin Hart? We do and if it’s not broke, don’t fix it … Anyways, back to the hook, Bob is now a bulked-up CIA operative who drags Calvin into a world of espionage, danger, and stone cold action. The dynamic between Hart’s sensible character and Johnson’s prototypical secret agent archetype is an onscreen goldmine.
Box Office Success: Central Intelligence grossed over $217 million globally, further cementing Hart’s status as a leading comedy star.
Night School (2018)
Official Synopsis: Teddy Walker is a successful salesman whose life takes an unexpected turn when he accidentally blows up his place of employment. Forced to attend night school to get his GED, Teddy soon finds himself dealing with a group of misfit students, his former high school nemesis and a feisty teacher who doesn’t think he’s too bright.
Hart plays Theodore “Teddy” Walker, a man who worked as a barbecue grill salesman and has concentration issues. Back in high school, he was a school bully and an arrogant popular jerk. When you put Hart and Haddish on screen together, it’s just going to work. Their chemistry was made in a lab its so good and this film keeps you in stitches.
Box Office Success: Night School was a relative commercial success, grossing over $103 million worldwide.
Lift (2023)
Official Synopsis: A master thief is wooed by his ex-girlfriend and the FBI to pull off an impossible heist with his international crew on a 777 passenger flight from London to Zurich.
We included Lift for a reason. In Lift, Kevin Hart takes on a more serious role, playing a skilled thief at the center of a high-stakes heist. The film deviates from his usual comedic style by making Hart the only “serious” character, while the comic relief is delegated to the supporting cast. Interesting approach. This decision could have been a bold or unexpected move, but most critics believe it did not quite work out as planned, story and execution wise. Hart still manages to be engaging without leaning into humor. His natural charisma and comedic timing are what made him a star. Ultimately, while Hart delivers in a serious context, the choice to make him the straight man in Lift may have left audience yearning for more. But hey we included it because maybe Lift was funny for not trying to make Hart funny. Get it?
November is Hip Hop History Month, a time for us to reflect on the pivotal moments that have shaped the Hip Hop genre and culture at large.
One of those pivotal moments that will probably stand out forever is the release of Cardi B’s classic banger, Bodak Yellow.
Make no mistake, Bodak Yellow not only skyrocketed Cardi’s career but let’s just say it how it is, this heater shifted the landscape of female rap, forever.
We broke down Bodak Yellow and Cardi’s journey as it applies to the track into a few sub categories so let’s break it down …
Cardi on the come up:
Before Bodak Yellow, Cardi B was on her way to being the biggest name since Nicki Minaj pretty much restarted and redefined what it meant to be a female rapper. Cardi was coming up in a different time, already a popular figure on social media, known for her well, unapologetic and candid persona. She became a larger-than-life presence. Cardi had already built a following on the Gram and gained notoriety as a star on the reality TV show Love & Hip Hop: New York. Then Cardi dropped Bodak Yellow in June 2017 that her career took a dramatic turn toward superstardom. Talk about a moment.
Bodak Yellow’s production:
The record was produced by Laquan Green and J. White Did It, the Florida-based producer who crafted what will always be seen as a hard-hitting, trap-influenced track that would carry Cardi B’s memorably bars to the top of the charts. The production was minimalistic but highly effective—pounding bass, sharp hi-hats, and a hypnotic piano loop. Get this, these elements all set the stage for Cardi’s confident, brash almost defiant delivery. The track’s hook, was a catchy AF chant, that had EVERYBODY rapping along.
Bodak Yellow on the charts:
Bodak Yellow was nothing short of a major breakthrough on the charts. In September 2017, the song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Like think about that. Cardi was literary from the projects and made her way to fairly big reality show then dropped a number one song. The made Cardi B the FIRST solo female rapper in history to top the chart. Unreal and flowers for days. The achievement was insanely monumental —not just for Cardi, but for the entire genre and growing sub genre of female rap that only Nicki had elevated in recent memory. Yes, flowers to Nicki, again but this is Card’s moment. But check this, prior to Bodak Yellow, no female rapper had reached #1 with a solo single since Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)” in 1998. And respectfully Ms. Lauren can not be defined as only a rapper, she so much more. But
The song stayed at #1 for three weeks, but its success continued for months, staying on the Hot 100 for over 50 weeks. Sheesh. Cardi’s chart performance made history in several ways: Bodak Yellow became one of the longest-charting rap songs by a female artist and set the stage for the broader acceptance of female rappers in mainstream hip hop. Cardi had crossed over from reality TV fame to bona fide hip hop royalty. Cardi B’s success was a clear signal that the rap world was ready for a new wave of female talent—and she was leading the charge. Like we said, undeniable.
Cardi B’s trajectory after Bodak Yellow:
The success of Bodak Yellow launched Cardi B into the global spotlight. Before the song’s release, she was already a rising star, but Bodak Yellow cemented her status as one of the most dominant figures in hip hop. Cardi quickly became a force—releasing her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, in 2018, which went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, making her the first woman to win that category solo.
Bodak Yellow also opened the door for more mainstream collaborations with artists like Bruno Mars (Finesse Remix), Migos (Motorsport), and Drake (Girls Like You). Then after, more women in rap, such as Megan Thee Stallion, and Doja Cat, have since build upon Cardi’s trailblazing success in their own rites and in many ways bigger than Cardi, if we’re being honest.
Influence on the rap and the rise of female empowerment within the culture:
What made Bodak Yellow so groundbreaking wasn’t merely its chart success; it also signified a shift in how female rappers were perceived in the larger rap culture. Cardi used her platform that kicked in door after door, to push against traditional gender norms, celebrating her sexuality and independence without fear of judgment. That part.
Bodak Yellow became an anthem of sheer female empowerment in a vibe that traditionally was only reserved for men. The song showed that women in rap didn’t need to conform to anyone’s expectations but their own. It was a declaration of ambition, and confidence— see all these traits resonated with fans, especially young women, who felt seen and heard in a genre that often sidelined them. That part, again!
Lasting legacy of Bodak Yellow:
In the years since its release, because damn it’s been a few years, Bodak Yellow is affirmed as one of the most iconic rap songs of the late 2010s. It has been certified Diamond by the RIAA, signifying over 10 million units sold in the U.S. alone. Not only did the track help redefine female representation in hip hop, but it also paved the way for a more diverse, inclusive, and varied sound in the genre. What’s more, Cardi’s success proved that rap wasn’t just for one type of artist—it could be for anyone with the talent, the drive, because she certainly has that and the vision to make a lasting impact.
In celebrating Hip Hop History Month, it’s clear that Bodak Yellow marks one of the most transformative moments in the history of rap, and Cardi B’s place in that history is firmly secured. Bodak Yellow through Cardi B, was a game-changer—pushing boundaries, breaking records, and reshaping how we view women in hip hop – forever.
ScHoolboy Q has announced a brand new run of live tour dates which includes stops both in the U.S as well as Germany, France, Netherlands and United Kingdom. Playing songs from his critically acclaimed catalog, including this year’s Blue Lips, ScHoolboy Q will kick off the tour in Oakland CA next year — undoubtedly bringing the energy from the Summer run to new crowds globally.
Alright before all the holiday music takes over the streaming platforms our music editors are kicking off our weekly roundup of the top 5 trending Hip Hop tracks on Apple Music right now. We won’t take too much of your time introducing the list because instant gratification is a real thing, ha! So let’s get right to it.
1. “Sticky” – Tyler, The Creator (feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Redd, Lil Wayne)
Tyler, The Creator continues to evolve his sound and sustains his wave with just being different. His latest record, “Sticky,” is a bold collab featuring nothing short of three heavyweights in the game: GloRilla, Sexyy Redd, and Lil Wayne. Aye! The song blends Tyler’s signature experimental production with the unique brands of his featured artists … GloRilla, known for her gritty and raw rap style, delivers that intensity, while Sexyy Redd brings nothing short of that playful energy to Sticky. Weezy hops on with a layer that adds the finishing touches for a diverse audience draw. The track continues to highlight Tyler’s versatility to bring merge a myriad of hip hop sub-genres, making Sticky one of his most dopest releases yet.
2. “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME” – GoRilla & Sexyy Redd
“WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME” is one of them ones. This is nothing short of a high-energy anthem by rising stars GoRilla and Sexyy Redd. Well, the cadence pulls from Wipe Me Down and pays homage. We know, unless you been living under as a rock both artists are pretty much top three in the female rap game (Hi Megan) and really just the rap game period, they’re running things. The production is heavy on bass and minimalistic sounds, with almost a love letter to classic southern rap. Yes, we’re here for it. The song’s hook is catchy, that “booty shorts” part hits then it gets well, vulgar but it is what it is. Still here for it. The overall vibe is unapologetic, as the duo flex their street cred and maintain their dominance in the game. This track is definitely en route to being a fave for fans who love this raw and unfiltered vibe. Aye.
3. “Timeless” – The Weeknd & Playboi Carti
Here’s one we didn’t have on our radar. The Weeknd and Playboi Carti come together for “Timeless,” a hypnotic track that combines The Weeknd’s undeniable, R&B/pop-inspired vocals with Carti’s signature delivery. The song is both ethereal and atmospheric, with a dark, moody beat that only elevates the chemistry between these two influential culture shifting artists. The Weeknd, known for his limitless range and emotionally charged flow, delivers a slightly haunting but inspiring hook if those two concepts can coexist. Meanwhile Carti provides a downtempo and on trend verse, saying all the things his audience wants to hear.
4. “Beautiful Day” – Akon
Can we first just give Akon his flowers for STILL being here and giving us HEAT. Akon’s return with “Beautiful Day” is a refreshing and rare uplifting record that well, thanks the higher power. Still the track is blessed, no pun intended with Akon’s signature sound that once upon a time, dominated the airwaves. The track blends Akon’s melodic vocals with a feel-good instrumental that makes it ready for holiday playlists without being all holiday-ish. Lyrically, “Beautiful Day” is all about celebrating life, overcoming struggles, and appreciating the good moments, something Akon has always been great at capturing in his music. The song shows Akon hasn’t lost his touch and yes, it’s a beautiful day depending on how you look at life.
5. “25” – Rod Wave
Rod Wave continues to impress. This one comes in a bit different. Right away the track is pop adjacent but his flow takes off riding the beat with effortless, melodic poise. And it works. Wave’s introspective style on “25,” an emotional track that speaks to his personal struggles and pain. Known for his soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics, Rod Wave dives deep into themes of perseverance, growth, and the challenges that come with fame. Not to mention themes of social anxiety which is a real thing these days. The record’s production is a blend of piano-driven melodies and trap-style percussion, giving it a somber yet uplifting tone. “25” reflects the artist’s journey, as delivers with reflective perfection. “25” is yet another example of why Rod Wave is considered one of the most promising up and coming voices in modern hip hop. LFG.
These five trending songs on Apple Music represent the vast diversity and evolution of hip hop, from the experimental sounds of Tyler, The Creator to the introspective soul of Rod Wave and all the fun energy in between. Whether you’re a fan of high-energy bangers, dark R&B vibes, or maybe deep, emotional tracks, there’s something for everyone in this list of hip hop’s trending artists on one of the biggest platforms in Apple Music.
Some say he was 50 Cent before 50 Cent. Some called him “the Robin Hood of The Ghetto”, while the establishment dubbed him “the crack city terminator.” In the hood, his solution is considered the only possible answer to a continuous epidemic of police brutality. Some of your favorite rappers from French Montana to Lloyd Banks to Jay-Z have name-dropped him on their tracks and BET felt he was so important to American culture that their American Gangster series had to open with him, but only an educated few know why the name Larry Davis continues to ring bells almost four decades after that fateful night in November of ’86.
On this date in 1986, a 19-year-old Bronx man by the name of Larry Davis was engaged in a shootout with over 25 NYPD officers who came after him in what appeared to be a murderous hit. For those that don’t know what makes this such a unique story is that Davis not only survived but escaped unharmed long enough to tell his story to the FBI. Larry Davis was acquitted of the police shootings(six officers were critically injured), which was the only time anyone was acquitted for shooting an officer of the law in U.S. history.
Check out the first-hand account from someone who was with Davis on that cold night in the Bronx at Larry’s sister’s apartment on Webster Avenue.
Words: Shams DaBaron
November 19, 1986 is a night that forever changed the course of my life. It was the height of the crack epidemic on this cold winter night when I was meeting with my partner and best friend Larry Davis. We were discussing the trip we were taking the next day to California to avoid the heat he was experiencing from some corrupt cops he sold drugs for. For weeks he had been laying low knowing they had a bounty on his head. At the time no one could be trusted. The police were rolling up on anyone associated with Larry to find out where he was.
On this night, I sat with him in his sister’s apartment discussing our plans for the trip we were taking and making final arrangements with one of my associates to restructure some of the business dealings in the street. Larry was in the process of extricating himself from out of that lifestyle of dealing drugs and we were going to refocus our energies totally toward dealing in music. The decision was made months ago, but became complicated once Larry made his plans known to others and the corrupt cops caught wind of his decision to step off with their money. They then put a bounty on his head.
As he was explaining what was going on in the streets to my associate, the associate became very scared and verbalized his fears to us, while asking Larry if he himself was in fear for his life. Larry’s reply, “Well, no I’m not scared. The only person I fear is God… Don’t get me wrong, I don’t wanna die, but if it’s my time to die, then so be it…” At this point I’m ready to tune him out and dismiss his words as Larry just talking mess… But then he continued, “One thing, though, I will say is… if they come and kill me, I guarantee you that before I go, I’m a take one of those pigs down with me.”
Hearing him use the term “pigs” is what really caught my attention. It showed that even in the most negative of situations – having been a drug dealer for a group of corrupt NYC cops – Larry was still in some way affected by the pro-Black organizations that gave birth to our generation. The seeds of their struggles were planted in us whether we knew it or not. And to me, it seems, that on that fateful night of November 19, 1986, the spirit of those freedom fighters, and the spirit of that movement, guided his thoughts and actions and helped him overcome the overwhelming force that came to assassinate him.
What is even more significant and what we must keep in mind while Remembering Larry Davis is that on that night of November 19, 1986, Larry became what famed lawyer William Kunstler called “A symbol of resistance to police violence.”
