Thug Life Army

The Federal suit trial of the family of late rap artist Notorious B.I.G., led by his mother, Voletta Wallace, and widow (and R&B and hip-hop recording artist) Faith Evans against the city of Los Angeles is about to wind up the first week of testimony.

So far the allegations that wanted to be ‘aired in public’ seem to be just that – allegations.

The latest is informant Mario Ha''mmond, who allegedly heard directly from rap record mogul Marion ‘Suge’ Knight's mouth, while in lock down, that Suge Knight said "That fat b---- took it like a b---- ... he rolled over on his a--."

Ha''mmond said Knight told him Death Row security honchos "Big Sikes (Devon Sikes) and Reg (Reggie Wright Jr.) put the team together," according to former Los Angeles police officer Fred Miller.

Now does it seem that if Marion ‘Suge’ Knight, who is not known for talking much unless you know him; seen the way that B.I.G. ‘took it’; that Suge Knight would have had to been there? The fact that there were people around when the shooting happened and Suge is an ex-bodyguard and football player for University of Nevada at Las Vegas and is about 6’3” and goes about 320lbs. – how could you not see him if he was there?

And this after the LAPD even bugged Suge Knight's jail cell in an attempt to record incriminating statements. "We were anticipating maybe he (Suge Knight) would get upset and start talking to his cellmate about additional information in the Christopher Wallace murder," former Los Angeles police officer Fred Miller testified, adding that Suge Knight clammed up, probably because he somehow learned through that the listening device had been installed.

Suge Knight has publicly denied ever being involved in the murder; has never been charged in connection with the slaying and was not named as a defendant in the current lawsuit. But conspiracy theorists and mainly east coast hip-hop followers have long speculated that Suge Knight, CEO of Death Row Records (now Tha Row), was somehow involved in the murder of B.I.G. (real name: Christopher Wallace), perhaps in retaliation for the 1996 drive-by assassination of west coast legendary Death Row rap artist and B.I.G. rival, Tupac Shakur. Linking B.I.G.'s murder to Suge Knight alone will not help the Wallace family win their federal suit against the City of Los Angeles. But it seems there is no evidence to support this ‘theory’.

The Federal suit against the City of Los Angeles is filled with allegations, theories, tears, so called informants, probably’s, he said – she said, a lot of ‘claiming’ but no real evidence as of yet.

To prevail in this lawsuit, the Wallace family must tie the murder to ex-Los Angeles police officer David Mack.

One of Tupac Shakur's ex-bodyguards, reluctant witness Kevin Hackie testified under cross-examination, that he had only seen Mack at large parties and social functions and never saw Suge Knight and Mack together.

Maybe next week will bring more headlines but some of us would like to see evidence to back up some of these allegations, theories, tears, so called informants, ‘probably’, he said – she said, and a lot of the ‘claiming’ going on.

One fact that we do know is that the Wallace family reportedly refused an $18 million settlement offer from the City of Los Angeles, preferring to bring the case to trial.

This is surely one of hip-hop’s darkest moments for all concerned. If so much effort was put on solving the murder of B.I.G and the assassination of Tupac Shakur maybe those responsible would be going to trial instead of a city, which has no fingers to pull a trigger.

The mainstream press needs to get off this ''wave’ they are riding called ‘Suge Knight’ and let this play itself out. Since the Michael Jackson circus ios over all the reporters are looking for that next big story or at least trying to ‘invent one’ in Suge Knight. I think, as the jury and most people should; that there should be hard evidence and not allegations to start dragging a man thru the mud. But who knows what next week will bring.

Photo Credit: Siri Khalsa MIA DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Some source information was taken from these sites:

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/nation/11973637.htm

http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,16818,00.html?tnews