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Hold your head in the joint, Jacob
You know something’s not quite right any time a 50 year-old Jew without any criminal record to speak of gets two and a half years in the joint just for selling a few gold chains to some drug dealers, and meanwhile, a black rapper with umpteen prior convictions gets off with a mere matter of months for building an arsenal of illegal machine guns in his bedroom closet.
It was announced yesterday that Jacob “the Jeweler” Arabov was sentenced to 30 months behind bars for lying to federal agents who were investigating the Black Mafia Family. Initially, he had been charged with money-laundering and all types of shit, but they ended up just sticking him with the charge that he intentionally misled investigators. Which I took to mean that Jacob probably could have gotten off with no time at all, if he’d been willing to read off a few names. But he didn’t. Jacob knew better than to snitch.
I’ve been covering this Jacob the Jeweler shit for damn near as long as I’ve been here, just because it was such a rich topic to discuss. It seemed to combine several different phenomena in hip-hop that have always interested me: secretive Jewish business interests in hip-hop; black people’s fascination with gold chains and all things shiny; and the creeping influence of the organized crime element on the business side of this shit.
Back when Jacob was first brought in on money laundering charges, it struck me as bullshit - as I wrote here at the time. It seemed like law enforcement, which has been hell bent on trying to throw hip-hop under a bus (see: the hip-hop police), was trying to criminalize even doing business with anyone in hip-hop.
Yeah, the Black Mafia Family were notorious drug dealers. But who in the hip-hop community doesn’t possess the whiff of a little bit of cocaine these days? Even working here at XXL, I’m sure I’m only a few degrees of separation removed from the likes of Big Meech. You saw how it turned out Young Jeezy was moving weight for BMF. (Shocker!) If it’s true what they say, that he got his deal at Def Jam by paying the label $1 million, does that mean Shakir Stewart et al. have been involved in money laundering?
Hence, I’m sure if he wanted to, Jacob the Jeweler could have convinced the prosecution that he wasn’t really at fault here. His clientele consisted largely of members of the hip-hop community. How was he supposed to know the ones who have drug money in their pockets from the ones that don’t? You know how all black people look alike. And if they’re gonna bring him down for money-laundering, does that mean they’re gonna go after everyone else the BMF ever spent money with? McDonald’s might as well just hang out a closed sign.
And even if Jacob the Jeweler knew those guys were drug dealers, or found out after the fact, it’s not like he could just go up to the police and be like, “I know the names of some black dudes who have been dealing drugs.” He may not have known enough about hip-hop to know Jay Z from Young Jeezy (and these days, what’s the difference?), but anyone who’s ever seen 60 Minutes knows Ed Bradley was gay hip-hop has an ethos against snitching. Or at least admitting to it in public. You could get killed for shit like that. So he had to lie, to protect his own safety.
I don’t even know shit about the law (remember, I was pre-med), and I’m pretty sure I could have argued that case. The only thing is, there’s no way Jacob the Jeweler could have ratted people out and maintained his business selling conflict diamonds to the likes of Lil’ Wayne and Fat Joe. Niggas would have found another Jew willing to put together such ridiculous jewelry, lest they end up going to jail themselves. Indeed, it was probably the best move for him PR-wise to go away for a few months. I’m sure they’ll make sure he goes to one of those comfy white collar prisons. And when he gets back, the hip-hop community can go back to throwing their money away with him, in the comfort of knowing they’re not dealing with a snitch.
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on Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 at 2:12 pm and is filed under Bloggers, Bol's Saturday Night Workout
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June 25th, 2008
at 2:18 pm
Pierzy says:
Two and a half years is a long time…I wonder if he’ll get treated like ‘Pac in there.
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 8:24 pm
Deez Nutz says:
LMAO@ Ed Bradley reference…although Bol thats like calling the kettle black…i saw your little video on the Parker Report (http://theparkerreport.com/archive.php?id=19)…if you close your eyes and push play you would think Parker was talking to Perez Hilton…LMAO@ your voice, face, style, etc, etc.
Gyant=Bol
(If somebody don’t give me a blog on this summabytch website yall better get use to the ether)
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 2:21 pm
The Mark Bradford Experience says:
T.I. = fat ho
Jacob = doper than trigonometry
Fruity Pebbles = delicious
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 2:28 pm
ThaRealBoiWonder says:
Bol Jacob is smart, he just solidified his place in hip hop when it comes to being the jeweler of the stars. When he gets out he’s gonna have hella customers, just because of staying true the(double-edged sword)code of the streets. T.I.P still my homie tho,so fcuk what you sayin from THAT aspect…
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 2:30 pm
dubbzz says:
Tip’s a snitch. Plain and simple yo…it hurt when i found that shit out but man…that nigga should be in jail for atleast 10 years
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 2:29 pm
dubbzz says:
Man…he’s probably going to do a year and some change. He’s not going to be in there for the full 3 year bid
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 2:33 pm
northern california bay area says:
i already started printin up the free jacob the jewler tees…
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 2:44 pm
dubbzz says:
Damn..you should keep that to yourself
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 11:18 pm
connor says:
HILARIOUS DUBBZZ
(Comments wont nest below this level)
Reply here
June 25th, 2008
at 3:24 pm
FPL says:
Damn Bol…Ed Bradley?? That nigga kept it 100…I cant believe you just spit on his memory like that
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 4:04 pm
Alejandro says:
Hopefully he won’t get butt fucked.
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 4:08 pm
akshon jaxson says:
i already started printin up the free jacob the jewler tees…
nigga what 4….smh
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 4:34 pm
nigganigganiggga says:
DAMN NIGGA HAHAHAH NIGGANIGGANIGGA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH THAT SHIT WAS….I’LL BE IN BATHROOM BOOBOO’N
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 4:38 pm
nigganigganigga says:
DAMN NIGGA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I HAVE DREAMS ABOUT FRENCH KISSING MILFS
IS THAT NORMAL?…
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 6:42 pm
chad bro chill says:
i agree with this whole article all black people do look alike
that was what you were trying to say with this article right. that was your point correct
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 6:59 pm
Marko-V says:
I find it very frustrating that Jacob the Jeweler got 2 and a half years while the jury is still out on Big Meech and the BMF conglomerate.How did he get such a speedy trial? Why is Meech still stuck witout no type of hearing or anything? Or am I mistaken? Drugs run the world. America was built on dirty money and they don’t want no niggaz gettin fat off of that. If Meech was sellin drugs, innocent til proven guilty, then who was his supplier? Yo, I’m from the Lou and they said St.Louis was part of the ring too. Which explains how some artists did the things they did without charging for it. No snitchin here but I’ve seen some no talent havin niggaz think they run the city cuz they partied with BMF and passed out free mixtapes in Ozone. So is Julia Beverly going to get indicted too? Let’s not forget she was an intergral part of helping with their magazine and they definitely appeared in all of those earlier Ozone mags before she got national distibution. What about Drama? His DVD had bout 20 mins wit just Blu Davinci talkin bout how BMF set him up for life where he’d never have to get a deal. Now who you think paid for that nigga to get all that airtime? BMF is probably the reason the South took over Hip-Hop.
Get @ me: myspace.com/marko4aoc
Reply
June 26th, 2008
at 7:55 am
MOE says:
A CASE CHARGING ONE PERSON WONT TAKE AS LONG AS A CASE CHARGING AN ENITRE ORGANIZATION. BIG MEECH AND HIS CREW WERE PUSHING POUNDS OF COKE, MAINTAINING A HIGH PROFILE, BUYING BIG TICKET SHIT, AND THAT LED TO THEIR DOWNFALL. THEY SHOULD HAVE TONED THAT SHIT DOWN INSTEAD OF TRYING TO MAKE IT RAIN. IGNORANT FUCKS.
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 7:02 pm
Kell says:
June 25th, 2008
at 2:30 pm
dubbzz says:
Tip’s a snitch. Plain and simple yo…it hurt when i found that shit out but man…that nigga should be in jail for atleast 10 years
^^^^
Hell yeah….How Jacob getting locked up and TIP running free as bird after being caught wit all them guns?
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 8:16 pm
JE says:
hell yeah and ti had a shitload of felonies under his belt
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 7:24 pm
Oneofthemyo's says:
And anyone who has ever seen that bol interview know’s he is….
N e way fuck a drug dealer and a jew, stop selling shit, and you hurt T.I fans it wouldnt have hurt to C one of your favorite rapper go to jail for ten years? just asking.
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 10:00 pm
bg says:
Hold The Ice
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 10:44 pm
dat koon nigga says:
YOZ BOZ FUCKZ DEM JEWZ
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 11:04 pm
tae says:
Why exactly are you going to NOT snitch on drug dealers and gangsters and such?
That’s stupidity.
What TI did (if indeed he ’snitched’) should be commended.
Fuck all the drug dealers!!!
Fuck all the criminals!!!
FUCK YOU AND YOUR MOTHER FUCKING MAMA IF YOU CANT FIND A DECENT JOB AND LIVE A PEACEFUL LIFE!
Reply
June 25th, 2008
at 11:57 pm
Ron Mexico says:
snitchin is the new not-snitchin.
Reply
June 26th, 2008
at 12:00 pm
geico lizard says:
you made a good point BOL about them making it look like anyone doing business with hip hop should be arrested or afraid. some are trying to bring down hip hop but some are making so much money off of it they want to keep it alive long enough to drain out the last drops of blood thats why the record label spent those millions to bail out TI because they need him free to make money. i dont know about ed bradley being gay this is my first time hearing that but i dont really care he was a legend in his field and they wont be able to replace him.
Reply
June 26th, 2008
at 1:02 pm
K.ola says:
Why exactly are you going to NOT snitch on drug dealers and gangsters and such?
That’s stupidity.
What TI did (if indeed he ’snitched’) should be commended.
Fuck all the drug dealers!!!
Fuck all the criminals!!!
FUCK YOU AND YOUR MOTHER FUCKING MAMA IF YOU CANT FIND A DECENT JOB AND LIVE A PEACEFUL LIFE!
^^^^^
No fuck snitches….
if you cant do the time dont do the crime Period!!!
and yo bitch azz wouldnt throw rice at a wedding but you got big nutts on the internet!!!
Reply
June 26th, 2008
at 8:09 pm
allnice says:
Omerta….keep that mouth shut. It’s the worst because most cats are snitches. They are starving to tell on you when shit hits the fan. That is why it is better to do that dirt solo.
Whoever says fuck all drug dealers and criminals must be living in some kind of fantasy land. If you open your mouth and speak against a dangerous person, most likely, you are going to get killed or moved on eventually. T.I. snitched and everyone knows it. Now he has everyone and their mother speaking against him. He’s not gonna last that long. He must be spending a lot of money on private security.
Jacob is going to do his time and that’s it. You do your time and you keep it moving. When he comes out, he is still rich so it’s all good. Plus he gets extra bonus points for not being a snitch nigga. He doesn’t have to hide, try to run, or change his whole steez.
Reply