Rhyme and punishment: Inside the NYPD’s secret, sprawling ‘Rap Unit’
By Ben Feuerherd
May 30, 2019 | 9:57pm | Updated
Enlarge Image
Remy Ma turned herself in and is accused of punching her "Love & Hip Hop New York" co-star Brittney Taylor in the face during an April 16 concert at Irving Plaza in Manhattan.Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
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Remy Ma thrilled the hundreds of fans who packed Irving Plaza last year for a concert that featured surprise cameo appearances by more than a half-dozen other New York rappers.
The parade of guest stars climaxed with an appearance by Grammy winner Lil’ Kim, who joined Ma onstage for a performance of their 2017 collaboration, “Wake Me Up.”
Billboard said Ma more than lived up to her “Bronx Savior” nickname.
But Ma’s devotees weren’t the only ones who showed up for the sold-out March 16, 2018, event.
The NYPD secretly planted an undercover cop inside the venue to keep an eye on the crowd — as two dozen of the officer’s uniformed colleagues patrolled outside the historic, ballroom-style theater near Union Square.
A special branch of the department’s Intelligence Division had been secretly keeping tabs on Ma — who had served six years in prison for a 2007 shooting — and a member of her entourage, Jahmeek “Jah” Elliot, according to internal police records exclusively obtained by The Post.
The documents are among hundreds of pages that reveal the inner workings of the NYPD’s Enterprise Operations Unit, also known as the Rap Unit.
was busted earlier this month in an alleged attack on her “Love & Hip Hop New York” co-star Brittney Taylor backstage during a benefit concert at Irving Plaza this past April 16.
Ma, who’s still on parole for the shooting, has pleaded not guilty in the assault case and rejected a plea deal offered by prosecutors last month. Her misdemeanor trial is set for July 12.
But the NYPD documents show cops considered Elliot a “person of interest” due to his suspected gang ties and a rap sheet listing 26 arrests.
In 2012, Elliot was among three reputed leaders of the Bronx-based Dub City drug gang who were indicted in connection with a violent turf war that authorities said involved 15 shootings, including one that killed a Dub City member.
Elliot later served a prison sentence of 2 ¹/₂ years for felony drug possession before being paroled in November 2016, according to state records.
An undated memo written by two NYPD intelligence officers assigned to Manhattan’s 13th Precinct, which covers Irving Plaza, said that before joining Dub City, Elliot had “previously been associated with a known crew known as the ‘Mac Ballas.’ ”
“Intel revealed that Jahmeek’s new crew association has caused tension with the ‘Mac Ballas,’ and there may be possible retaliation against [him],” the memo says.
A phone number in Elliot’s name was no longer working and he couldn’t be reached.
Ma’s lawyer, Dawn Florio, denied any connection between Elliot and her client.
“Remy does not know Jahmeek Elliot. Never heard of him, doesn’t know him,” Florio said.
“She does not travel in an entourage. She travels with her husband and security guards.”
Florio also said she’s “not a fan” of the NYPD’s Rap Unit, which she disparagingly referred to as the “hip-hop police.”
“My impression of the hip-hop police is they’re this shadowy, specialized unit that conducts overly aggressive investigations,” she said. “They’re constantly stalking high-profile rap artists and monitoring their every move.”
Sgt. Jessica McRorie, an NYPD spokeswoman said, “The Enterprise Operations Unit focuses on venues or entertainers that have been connected with past acts of violence — regardless of musical genre. The primary goal of EOU is to anticipate, based on past incidents, where there is a significant likelihood of violence, and to take steps to prevent people from being hurt, or worse.”
McRorie also credited the unit with aiding “several major prosecutions,” and said it “continues to gather additional intelligence by responding to shootings and assaults that may occur at all kinds of entertainment venues.”
The documents obtained by The Post were compiled by the NYPD in connection with a since-shuttered nightclub in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, where records show Ma hosted an after-party following the Irving Plaza concert.
Club Lust was a popular spot for big-name rappers, including Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, who celebrated his birthday there in 2017.
appears in a YouTube video standing in front of a bar piled high with stacks of cash and making it “rain” money by tossing bills at scantily clad dancers.
Troubled South Florida rapper Kodak Black’s name surfaced in a Feb. 28, 2017, e-mail exchange in which a 72nd Precinct lieutenant said his commanding officer had “some concerns” about a planned performance at Club Lust.
currently locked up in Miami on federal weapons charges.
He also faces sex-assault allegations in South Carolina, where he’s accused of raping a high-school student in his hotel room following a 2016 concert.
Another e-mail, from August 2016, shows a sergeant assigned to Patrol Borough Brooklyn South alerting the 72nd Precinct to an appearance by a popular disc jockey — DJ Self — who hosts an overnight show on New York’s Power 105.1 radio station.
The sergeant all but dismissed the event’s importance, however.
“When you have a moment, can you please provide the usual coverage info for Club Lust?” the sergeant wrote.
“It doesn’t seem to be anyone extraordinary, just DJ Self.”
Additional reporting by Bruce Golding
By Ben Feuerherd
May 30, 2019 | 9:57pm | Updated
Enlarge Image
Remy Ma turned herself in and is accused of punching her "Love & Hip Hop New York" co-star Brittney Taylor in the face during an April 16 concert at Irving Plaza in Manhattan.Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
MORE ON:
RAP
Mary J. Blige and Nas team for 'Thriving' anthem, 'Royalty' tour
Elon Musk drops rap song eulogizing Harambe the gorilla
Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' not 'country' enough for Billboard charts
Does Taylor Swift music promote violence and misogyny?
Remy Ma thrilled the hundreds of fans who packed Irving Plaza last year for a concert that featured surprise cameo appearances by more than a half-dozen other New York rappers.
The parade of guest stars climaxed with an appearance by Grammy winner Lil’ Kim, who joined Ma onstage for a performance of their 2017 collaboration, “Wake Me Up.”
Billboard said Ma more than lived up to her “Bronx Savior” nickname.
But Ma’s devotees weren’t the only ones who showed up for the sold-out March 16, 2018, event.
The NYPD secretly planted an undercover cop inside the venue to keep an eye on the crowd — as two dozen of the officer’s uniformed colleagues patrolled outside the historic, ballroom-style theater near Union Square.
A special branch of the department’s Intelligence Division had been secretly keeping tabs on Ma — who had served six years in prison for a 2007 shooting — and a member of her entourage, Jahmeek “Jah” Elliot, according to internal police records exclusively obtained by The Post.
The documents are among hundreds of pages that reveal the inner workings of the NYPD’s Enterprise Operations Unit, also known as the Rap Unit.
was busted earlier this month in an alleged attack on her “Love & Hip Hop New York” co-star Brittney Taylor backstage during a benefit concert at Irving Plaza this past April 16.
Ma, who’s still on parole for the shooting, has pleaded not guilty in the assault case and rejected a plea deal offered by prosecutors last month. Her misdemeanor trial is set for July 12.
But the NYPD documents show cops considered Elliot a “person of interest” due to his suspected gang ties and a rap sheet listing 26 arrests.
In 2012, Elliot was among three reputed leaders of the Bronx-based Dub City drug gang who were indicted in connection with a violent turf war that authorities said involved 15 shootings, including one that killed a Dub City member.
Elliot later served a prison sentence of 2 ¹/₂ years for felony drug possession before being paroled in November 2016, according to state records.
An undated memo written by two NYPD intelligence officers assigned to Manhattan’s 13th Precinct, which covers Irving Plaza, said that before joining Dub City, Elliot had “previously been associated with a known crew known as the ‘Mac Ballas.’ ”
“Intel revealed that Jahmeek’s new crew association has caused tension with the ‘Mac Ballas,’ and there may be possible retaliation against [him],” the memo says.
A phone number in Elliot’s name was no longer working and he couldn’t be reached.
Ma’s lawyer, Dawn Florio, denied any connection between Elliot and her client.
“Remy does not know Jahmeek Elliot. Never heard of him, doesn’t know him,” Florio said.
“She does not travel in an entourage. She travels with her husband and security guards.”
Florio also said she’s “not a fan” of the NYPD’s Rap Unit, which she disparagingly referred to as the “hip-hop police.”
“My impression of the hip-hop police is they’re this shadowy, specialized unit that conducts overly aggressive investigations,” she said. “They’re constantly stalking high-profile rap artists and monitoring their every move.”
Sgt. Jessica McRorie, an NYPD spokeswoman said, “The Enterprise Operations Unit focuses on venues or entertainers that have been connected with past acts of violence — regardless of musical genre. The primary goal of EOU is to anticipate, based on past incidents, where there is a significant likelihood of violence, and to take steps to prevent people from being hurt, or worse.”
McRorie also credited the unit with aiding “several major prosecutions,” and said it “continues to gather additional intelligence by responding to shootings and assaults that may occur at all kinds of entertainment venues.”
The documents obtained by The Post were compiled by the NYPD in connection with a since-shuttered nightclub in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, where records show Ma hosted an after-party following the Irving Plaza concert.
Club Lust was a popular spot for big-name rappers, including Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, who celebrated his birthday there in 2017.
appears in a YouTube video standing in front of a bar piled high with stacks of cash and making it “rain” money by tossing bills at scantily clad dancers.
Troubled South Florida rapper Kodak Black’s name surfaced in a Feb. 28, 2017, e-mail exchange in which a 72nd Precinct lieutenant said his commanding officer had “some concerns” about a planned performance at Club Lust.
currently locked up in Miami on federal weapons charges.
He also faces sex-assault allegations in South Carolina, where he’s accused of raping a high-school student in his hotel room following a 2016 concert.
Another e-mail, from August 2016, shows a sergeant assigned to Patrol Borough Brooklyn South alerting the 72nd Precinct to an appearance by a popular disc jockey — DJ Self — who hosts an overnight show on New York’s Power 105.1 radio station.
The sergeant all but dismissed the event’s importance, however.
“When you have a moment, can you please provide the usual coverage info for Club Lust?” the sergeant wrote.
“It doesn’t seem to be anyone extraordinary, just DJ Self.”
Additional reporting by Bruce Golding
