Hip-hop lyrics almost always describe life on the streets -- or what
it feels like to get away from life on the streets. Social media is
giving would-be hip-hop stars a huge audience for their true to life
rhymes. But some rappers in New York City are being a bit too true to
life. They’re including some references and lyrics that are landing
them attention from an unwanted audience: the New York Police
Department.
According to a recent article
[http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/08/nyregion/seeking-clues-to-gangs-and-crime-detectives-monitor-internet-rap-videos.html]
in the The New York Times, the police recently began monitoring
YouTube accounts to decode hip-hop lyrics of suspected gang members.
David Goodman, who covers the NYPD for the Times, tells Soundcheck
host John Schaefer about how the police are using YouTube in an
unlikely investigation.
Read David Goodman's piece about the NY Police Department's use of
online video here.
[http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/08/nyregion/seeking-clues-to-gangs-and-crime-detectives-monitor-internet-rap-videos.html]
Videos like the one below have helped police investigators draw
connections between suspects in gang-related crimes.
