From its start, the art of Hip-Hop music has not only defined our countries generations, it has done so by reporting on social and criminal injustices in America. Referred to as the “Black CNN,” Hip-Hop music, throughout the past 40 years, has been reporting all of societies major issues and complex policies that remain to this day. Whether it is the subject of brutal and biased policing, over-crowded jails, marginalized neighborhoods, public education, and the imbalance of economic wealth — it has been holding up a mirror to the world casting a dark reflection of the state of our country. Rappers are the voice of poor, urban African - American youth, whose lives are dismissed or misrepresented by the mainstream media. Hip-Hop music, with its African roots, has become an American art that reflects itself and the times in our country in profound ways. A country at war with itself, is also at war with Hip-Hop. The music in 2024 has transcended race and class; it has become intertwined with the American Dream and the Amerikkkan Nightmare. Executive Produced by Ice T, USA vs. Hip-Hop, will trace in chronological order the defining events of the music as it pertains to criminal justice, the connection between federal & state law enforcement, mass incarceration, social justice reform, and public policy. These singular events defined the music, and how Americans have categorized race and American exceptionalism. You can’t have Hip-Hop without the War on Drugs and vice versa. This sprawling anthology will outline in sweeping detail — the Hip-Hop stars, American gangsters, and law enforcement agencies that were intertwined in a narrative that strangely connects like a puzzle starting in 1980 to present day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Sopranos considered by many the greatest show in television history, made the New Jersey mafia water cooler talk across the country from 1999-2007. While based on fictional characters, there was an actual mafia family neck deep in criminal activities across the Hudson River from their La Cosa Nostra contemporaries in New York. In New Jersey, starting in the 1960’s, the DeCavalcante family ran the show and are considered the inspiration for many of The Sopranos characters and storylines that fans are familiar with today. This season on Family Business, we will look at the rise and fall of the DeCavalcante family. Sometimes truth is even more colorful than fiction. THE PODCAST FRANCHISE FAMILY BUSINESS, is an 8 episode investigative audio documentary focused on the most notorious mafia crime families and their impact and relationship with Hollywood. Each season we will take on another family, another city, and another set of nefarious, deadly and sometimes even comical, characters and their stories. We begin Season One with the DeCavalcante crime family based in Northern New Jersey. The DeCavalcante crime family is an Italian American crime family that operates in Northern New Jersey, particularly in Elizabeth, Newark and the surrounding areas in North Jersey and it operates on the opposite side of the Hudson, from the Five Families of New York, but it maintains strong relations with many of them, as well as with the Philadelphia Crime Family and the Patriarca Crime Family of New England. Its illicit activities include bookmaking, cement, and construction violations, bootlegging, corruption, drug trafficking, extortion, fencing, fraud, hijacking, illegal gambling, loan-sharking, money laundering, murder, pier thefts, pornography, prostitution, racketeering, and waste management violations. Interviews with informants, gangsters, defense lawyers, cops, family members, and journalists weave a true-crime tale/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join hosts Nicole Luciano and Johnny ‘The Greek’ Anagnopoulos, two of the producers of The Dossier, as they break down all things crime and hip-hop, gleaned from their years of investigative work on the topic. From the Biggie and Tupac murders, to the twenty plus killings that are tangentially related to Death Row Records, Suge Knight, the Bloods, the East vs. West rivalry, the gangster cops inside the LAPD and much more. This week, Johnny and Niki begin the episode with some current events and an explanation for their breif hiatus. Then they welcome a VERY special guest to look back at the Rampart Scandal and the actions of infamous ex-LAPD officer Ray Perez - his former friend and cellmate, Kenneth Boagni. Kenny walks listeners through his history testifying for the LAPD in numerous Board of Rights Hearings, the crooked detectives who threatened him to keep quiet, passing polygraph exams, LAPD's involvement in the murder of Biggie and MUCH more. **If you you’re a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meetups with other Dossier fans and the Dossier team. Go to Patreon.com/Dossier to subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join hosts Nicole Luciano and Johnny ‘The Greek’ Anagnopoulos, two of the producers of The Dossier, as they break down all things crime and hip-hop, gleaned from their years of investigative work on the topic. From the Biggie and Tupac murders, to the twenty plus killings that are tangentially related to Death Row Records, Suge Knight, the Bloods, the East vs. West rivalry, the gangster cops inside the LAPD and much more. This week, we bring you part two of The Timeline, aptly titled 'Goin Back to Cali' by Niki. We pick up the timeline minutes after the shooting at The Peterson, courtesy of the LAPD's own Chronological Record. Our hosts dissect the Willshire Division's investigation through their own documents, beginning the night of the shooting until early April when the case was given to Fred Miller, Russell Poole and the Robbery Homicide Division. Episode note - We'd like to thank our friend RJ Bond for providing us the chronological record! **If you you’re a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meetups with other Dossier fans and the Dossier team. Go to Patreon.com/Dossier to subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join hosts Nicole Luciano and Johnny ‘The Greek’ Anagnopoulos, two of the producers of The Dossier, as they break down all things crime and hip-hop, gleaned from their years of investigative work on the topic. From the Biggie and Tupac murders, to the twenty plus killings that are tangentially related to Death Row Records, Suge Knight, the Bloods, the East vs. West rivalry, the gangster cops inside the LAPD and much more. This is Part one of ‘The Timeline.’ Niki and Johnny have been working on creating a timeline of events leading up to and following what transpired on March 9th, 1997 at the Peterson Automotive Museum. And who better to walk us through the days leading up to the murder of Biggie than Eugene Deal. Anyone who has listened to The Dossier or this show knows how we feel about Big Gene. This is a man who stepped forward when not many others would – at great personal and professional risk to himself. For over 27 years Gene Deal has fought for justice for Miss Wallace and her son, his only thanks being constant attacks by internet gangsters and those who are still trying to cover up police involvement in the murder of Biggie. **If you you’re a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meetups with other Dossier fans and the Dossier team. Go to Patreon.com/Dossier to subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join hosts Nicole Luciano and Johnny ‘The Greek’ Anagnopoulos, two of the producers of The Dossier, as they break down all things crime and hip-hop, gleaned from their years of investigative work on the topic. From the Biggie and Tupac murders, to the twenty plus killings that are tangentially related to Death Row Records, Suge Knight, the Bloods, the East vs. West rivalry, the gangster cops inside the LAPD and much more. This episode, Niki and Johnny start off by tying up some loose ends from last week's Kevin Gaines episode. Then, they tackle a topic that listeners have overwhelmingly been asking for: a deeper look at the mystery man in the murder of Biggie Smalls - Amir Muhammad. While he claims to just be a simple mortgage broker, some very interesting information exists inside LAPD and FBI documents.  There is also the information given to law enforcement officials by a former member of the Nation of Islam in 2010. Finally, make sure to stick around for the end of the episode, as Niki gives the Greek a big surprise! **If you you’re a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meetups with other Dossier fans and the Dossier team. Go to Patreon.com/Dossier to subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join hosts Nicole Luciano and Johnny ‘The Greek’ Anagnopoulos, two of the producers of The Dossier, as they break down all things crime and hip-hop, gleaned from their years of investigative work on the topic. From the Biggie and Tupac murders, to the twenty plus killings that are tangentially related to Death Row Records, Suge Knight, the Bloods, the East vs. West rivalry, the gangster cops inside the LAPD and much more. This week Niki and Johnny begin the episode with a conversation about the Keefe D - Wack 100 snafu that resulted in Davis being temporarily refused bail. Then, they take a deep dive into the theory that deceased ex-LAPD officer Kevin Gaines may have been involved with the events on September 7th, 1996 in Las Vegas. Is it possible Gaines was part of the Tupac murder and attempt on Suge Knight? They also look through information that exists inside LAPD's Internal Affairs report on Gaines for clues... Who was Kevin Gaines, according to his superiors? What other criminal activity was he tied to and more importantly, who else was part of Gaines' inner circle?? Finally, Johnny lets Niki have center stage for an epic rant! **If you you’re a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meetups with other Dossier fans and the Dossier team. Go to Patreon.com/Dossier to subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join hosts Nicole Luciano and Johnny ‘The Greek’ Anagnopoulos, two of the producers of The Dossier, as they break down all things crime and hip-hop, gleaned from their years of investigative work on the topic. From the Biggie and Tupac murders, to the twenty plus killings that are tangentially related to Death Row Records, Suge Knight, the Bloods, the East vs. West rivalry, the gangster cops inside the LAPD and much more. This week, our co-hosts begin the episode with a look at New York Magazine's embarrassing profile titled The Tupac Cop. Speaking of "The Tupac Cop", Big Gene Deal responds to Greg Kading's accusations that he identified someone other than Amir Muhammad in a six-pack provided by LAPD investigators. Then they take a deep dive into our criminal case of the week - the murder of Suge Knight's main muscle, Alton 'Buntry' McDonald. Was this a continuation of the Blood on Blood killing between the Mob Piru's and the Fruit Town / Leuders Park Piru's crew being led by George Williams? Also, why was Buntry driving a truck registered to Reggie Wright Junior when he was gunned down in Compton? **If you you’re a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meetups with other Dossier fans and the Dossier team. Go to Patreon.com/Dossier to subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join hosts Nicole Luciano and Johnny ‘The Greek’ Anagnopoulos, two of the producers of The Dossier, as they break down all things crime and hip-hop, gleaned from their years of investigative work on the topic. From the Biggie and Tupac murders, to the twenty plus killings that are tangentially related to Death Row Records, Suge Knight, the Bloods, the East vs. West rivalry, the gangster cops inside the LAPD and much more. This week, Niki and Johnny begin the conversation with the latest in current events, specifically a strange YouTube video from everyone's least favorite former head of Death Row security. They also look into one of the infamous murders from the Death Row days - the torture and murder of Piru Blood Vence 'V' Buchanan at a Compton graveyard. Was this all because of a beef that began inside Death Row Records between Suge Knight and the main suspect, George Williams? Included in the conversation is break down of some FBI documents on the case, specifically a long rumored video tape of Buchanan's murder. **If you you’re a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meetups with other Dossier fans and the Dossier team. Go to Patreon.com/Dossier to subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join hosts Nicole Luciano and Johnny ‘The Greek’ Anagnopoulos, two of the producers of The Dossier, as they break down all things crime and hip-hop, gleaned from their years of investigative work on the topic. From the Biggie and Tupac murders, to the twenty plus killings that are tangentially related to Death Row Records, Suge Knight, the Bloods, the East vs. West rivalry, the gangster cops inside the LAPD and much more. This week, Niki and Johnny start off with a discussion on King Combs' latest release, the ugly video released by CNN of Diddy assaulting former girlfriend Cassie Ventura, as well as his 'apology' video.' Then, they focus on this week's case - the murder of Tupac Shakur's half brother Yafeu Fula, aka Yaki Kaddafi. Just two months after the killing of Tupac, the only witness to tell Las Vegas police that he could identify one of the suspects is gunned down in Orange, New Jersey. Was this really an accident, like fellow Outlaw Napolean claims, or were there more sinister motives at play? **If you you’re a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meetups with other Dossier fans and the Dossier team. Go to Patreon.com/Dossier to subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Stranger things, The Upside-Down is an alternate dimension existing in parallel to the human world. It contains the same locations and infrastructure as the human world, but it is much darker, colder and obscured by an omnipresent fog. The Upside Down is devoid of human life, instead being overgrown with ropy, root-like tendrils and biological membranes covering practically every surface. At least one recognizable animal, a humanoid predator, was native to this dimension, while ash-like spores floated in the air.  To go into the mainstream media, social media and inner workings of the music business, the story of Sean Combs, is starting to descend into an upside-down dimension, the problem as I see it, is that in today’s ingestion of news or just fodder to throw around at a BBQ, this story not only has it all, but it also has pieces of it that at this point again is unraveling into a game of searching for meaning and truth, something to grasp onto that is close to reality it’s hard. To wait for the Vanity Fairs, New York Magazine, the New Yorker or anyone at the NY TIMES to really dig into this is an exercise in futility as far as I can see it, the masses, they want fodder as fast as 50 Cent or Akademics can post, and they want more and more gluttonous hot takes into what exactly is going on, and what will happen next.  Was Diddy engaged in satanic rituals, or on Epstein’s Island, adopted a young white teenager, this stuff, is just getting Upside Down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the media scrum has gone quiet and the news cycle has moved on from the Homeland Security raids into Diddy’s homes, I am sure many media operations, and gossip hounds are really curious about what is next in this story? What is going to be the next puzzle piece in all of this?  I propose a quick game of looking into the uknown future for just a second, and to advocate an exercise in caution on a number of fronts before we ALL assume Diddy’s guilt or innocence.  Not many people truly understand the inside baseball of federal prosecutions, and federal investigations and WHY would you as a great majority of us have never found ourslves inside this world at all. One thing that I want on the record now is — the media, the Hip-Hop instagram meme machine have all indicted Diddy, and in the era of cancelling careers, legacies, and human beings what should be a cautionary tale is that right now Diddy has not been charged with crimes by any state or federal jurisdiction, and I outside of some vague social media posts, Diddy has been quiet and he is getting great legal advice because right NOW is not the time to talk. AND, to define HOW fast things move as I was writing and recording this episode CNN had breaking news and has acquired a piece of surveillance video of Sean Combs, dragging, kicking, punching, and yelling at Cassie Ventura in the hallway of a hotel, to say the least the video is immensely disturbing…. But cue again social media and the vultures who I imagine will make many memes of Diddy who in the surveillance video is running in the hallway half naked with a white towel, the memes will yet again deflect from the more serious issues at hand, but In America SALACIOUS SELLS, SALACIOUS without thought WINS! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join hosts Nicole Luciano and Johnny ‘The Greek’ Anagnopoulos, two of the producers of The Dossier, as they break down all things crime and hip-hop, gleaned from their years of investigative work on the topic. From the Biggie and Tupac murders, to the twenty plus killings that are tangentially related to Death Row Records, Suge Knight, the Bloods, the East vs. West rivalry, the gangster cops inside the LAPD and much more. This week Niki and Johnny welcome special guest RJ Bond to Collateral Damage! RJ helps our hosts dissect the murder of Bobby Finch in Compton just days after the shooting of Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas. Speaking of the shooting in Vegas, RJ gives us his thoughts on the 1996 Compton PD Search Warrant and the '10 days of Hell' that allegedly followed Tupac's murder. Finally, they break down another infamous shooting from 1997 - the attempted murder of Long Beach PD officer Brian Watt with a weapon that had a suspicious background. **Episode note - in a true life case of the dog eating our homework, Nicole's puppy decided to take a bite out of her computer in the middle of recording this week's episode! Johnny and RJ soldiered on through the last segment, but our co-host with the most will be back in all her glory next week!! If you’re a fan of The Dossier, please subscribe to our Patreon page for free and paid content - featuring exclusive documents, audio, video, online meetups with fellow Dossier fans and show creator Don Sikorski! Subscribe at Patreon.com/Dossier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this final episode of this audio series, I needed to come full circle with an idea that I started twenty years ago as a young man, my instincts to uncover a battleground between Hip-Hop music and law enforcement was way ahead of the curve, and at that time with the completion of my documentary film Rap Sheet, I thought I had some answers, and clarity on what I set out to accomplish.   In hindsight, when I look at the landscape between our criminal justice system today, and the many cases of murder, or crime tied to the music of Hip-Hop, I wonder if in those twenty years if nothing has changed, maybe it has gotten worse. There is something bittersweet about that analysis because that would mean within our society, the leaders we have, the intellectuals, and more importantly law enforcement just can’t seem to evolve in anyway.  2020 brought what many thought was a monumental cultural shift, or awakening for us, but three years removed the prison industrial complex, the corrupt prosecutors, and the so-called system just seems to labor on, with no concrete and lasting change, I could make a case it is getting worse.  If you you're a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meet-ups with other Dossier fans and the show creator, Don Sikorski. Goto Patreon.com/dossier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join hosts Nicole Luciano and Johnny ‘The Greek’ Anagnopoulos, two of the producers of The Dossier, as they break down all things crime and hip-hop, gleaned from their years of investigative work on the topic. From the Biggie and Tupac murders, to the twenty plus killings that are tangentially related to Death Row Records, Suge Knight, the Bloods, the East vs. West rivalry, the gangster cops inside the LAPD and much more. This week, Niki and Johnny begin the episode discussing a certain former LAPD detective’s recent attempt to muddy up the truth and smear one of our favorite people. Then they look into the murder of Bruce Richardson in 1996 and some interesting information surrounding the killing that exists in LAPD documents. If you’re a fan of The Dossier, please subscribe to our Patreon page for free and paid content - featuring exclusive documents, audio, video, online meetups with fellow Dossier fans and show creator Don Sikorski! Subscribe at Patreon.com/Dossier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the news cycle churns, and people search for more answers around the HSI investigation of Puff, this last week an excellent article dropped in New York Magazine by acclaimed journalist Craig Jenkins, someone I admire, and a damn good writer.  The New York Magazine article stood out for various reasons, because as of now with no breaking news, Jenkins as the author took a more , “think piece” approach to it, and was immensely analytical and thoughtful in a way that I have not read anywhere else, but I also wanted to dig into his point of view just a bit, as I know he has the right instincts and chops to elevate the reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

91 MURDERS in Hip-Hop, that is the current number of Hip-Hop artists who have been killed since 1987 when Scott La Rock was killed in the Bronx, and TakeOff was tragically taken from the world in 2022. 91 Murders, wherein close to 50 of those murders remained unsolved by the police. Some are long running investigations and some of these cases have taken on mythical status where the narrative of who murdered who is now lost down a rabbit hole of Internet conspiracy theories, YouTube misinformation videos, and social media sleuths who spread speculation, and bullshit theories.   The funny thing about the Hip-Hop Police is that they have done absolutely nothing as it relates to crime, or murder, they have just existed for sexy storylines.  If you you're a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meet-ups with other Dossier fans and the show creator, Don Sikorski. Goto Patreon.com/dossier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join hosts Nicole Luciano and Johnny ‘The Greek’ Anagnopoulos, two of the producers of The Dossier, as they break down all things crime and hip-hop, gleaned from their years of investigative work on the topic. From the Biggie and Tupac murders, to the twenty plus killings that are tangentially related to Death Row Records, Suge Knight, the Bloods, the East vs. West rivalry, the gangster cops inside the LAPD and much more. In this week’s episode, Niki and Johnny touch on Suge Knight’s recent speaking tour on the podcast and YouTube circuit. They also delve into the incident that turned Death Row Records and Bad Boy from rap rivalry to blood feud. Finally, they answer a listener’s email about another infamous and unsolved murder in Los Angeles’ history. If you you’re a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meetups with other Dossier fans and the Dossier team. Go to Patreon.com/Dossier to subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the ticker came across the screen on CNN on March 26th, 20024 there was news footage of a HSI or Homeland Security tactical team raiding Diddy’s home, and it was at that moment people started to wonder what HSI is and why do they look like a paramilitary operation in the United States…. So, I wanted to be clear and really understand where did Homeland Security come from? AND WHY would they be involved in investigating arguably Hip-Hop’s biggest mogul? Well, 11 days after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge was appointed as the first Director of the Office of Homeland Security in the White House. The office oversaw and coordinated a comprehensive national strategy to safeguard the country against terrorism and respond to any future attacks. With the passage of the Homeland Security Act by Congress in November 2002, the Department of Homeland Security formally came into being as a stand-alone, Cabinet-level department to further coordinate and unify national homeland security efforts, opening its doors on March 1, 2003. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The story of the Hip-Hop Cops when I started the documentary back in 2004, was that it was a secret unit, and it was shrouded in mystery, for many reasons. The journey of going inside Hip-Hop and law enforcement for two years, left me with a few takeaways, but more importantly it left me with a question inside my head that played over and over. Why was the Hip-Hop music industry at War with the Cops, and more importantly why did Hip-Hop have such a distinct connection to the War on Drugs.   While the NYPD, FBI, HIDTA, and the United States Attorney looked at the business of Hip-Hop what they really were looking to do was connect 80s era crack kingpin organizations to known and famous faces, it made for a more interesting story, it made headlines, more importantly for young and hungry cops and investigators it gave them purpose and a sexy reason to pursue these cases. While Hip-Hop artists are music storytellers, when cops solve a big case or they feel they have a story they too want to become storytellers, and while I was doing the documentary, there was a retired NYPD Cop, who was brazen enough and understood Hollywood, to start calling himself THE HIP-HOP COP, his name was Derrick Parker. If you you're a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meet-ups with other Dossier fans and the show creator, Don Sikorski. Goto Patreon.com/dossier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join hosts Nicole Luciano and Johnny ‘The Greek’ Anagnopoulos, two of the producers of The Dossier, as they break down all things crime and hip-hop, gleaned from their years of investigative work on the topic. From the Biggie and Tupac murders, to the twenty plus killings that are tangentially related to Death Row Records, Suge Knight, the Bloods, the East vs. West rivalry, the gangster cops inside the LAPD and much more. In this inaugural episode of Collateral Damage, Niki and Johnny give listeners some background on their work and how they’ve gained some expertise on the topics that will be discussed on the podcast. Then, they take a look at the murder of Kelly Jamerson during a Death Row Records party in 1995 and give their opinions on the actions of those involved. Speaking of Death Row, they also have a spirited debate on Marion ‘Suge’ Knight – is he a victim, victimizer, or a bit of both? **If you you’re a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meetups with other Dossier fans and the Dossier team. Go to Patreon.com/Dossier to subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where to begin, with the news of Homeland Security Investigations raiding the homes of Diddy in Los Angeles, New York, and Miami, it is very clear to me that something is afoot, combine that with rumors being reported that the Southern District is interviewing 3 what they are identifying as Jane Doe victims, and one John Doe, and Diddy has really hit a trifecta.  But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here, and let's make some early analysis.  Personally, I have some experience covering HSI or Homeland Security Investigations, and in my work I have also embedded with them on an operation that involved the DEA, the FBI, ICE, and a branch of Mexican Special Forces, they mainly do transnational crime cases, which means heavy heavy shit, not to mention HSI has a lot of toys, a lot money, and incredible investigators. The case I was embedded on involved going after a cell of the Sinaloa Drug Cartel just over the border from Phoenix Arizona. THAT IS THE TYPE OF SHIT HSI DOES. Secondly, for listeners of the Dossier podcast, you might be familiar with the Phrase The Southern District of New York, or as they sometimes are refered to as the Soverign District.  So HSI, teamed up with the Southern District is really bad news for Diddy, and let me explain why for you very simply.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As my persistence to tell the story of the Hip-Hop Cops increased, my “fixers” —Steve Lobel and Pistol Pete, delivered on their promise to secure me interview subjects. What sounded good in theory, was in reality far different, as their strategy was to merely accost artists and executives pretty much anywhere—at studios, at parties, concerts, on the street, back alleys—they even spotted Kanye West at an album release party and convinced him to do an interview in the back of the club’s kitchen. In true Kanye fashion he gave me a great sound byte, even though I was only able to ask him one question. Here is his response to me asking him about the scrutiny that the police had on the industry. This was polo Kanye, College Dropout Kanye… but still it was Kanye in the back of a kitchen…. I was trying to tackle racial issues, but my execution was off—it was sloppy. I just had to grab anything I could from the celebrities as it was rare to get an actual sit-down interview. If you you're a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meet-ups with other Dossier fans and the show creator, Don Sikorski. Goto Patreon.com/dossier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As I have started the introspective study of my life since the documentary I created 17 years ago, I don’t want to stray from my initial inspiration that catapulted me into my fascination with law enforcement and Hip-Hop, but more specifically, the nuances, perception, and uneven legal ground created by criminal prosecutors using lyrics, and their visuals, to pursue their criminal cases.  Like the secret book I found, the use of song lyrics or the use of a music video to create a criminal narrative seemed as odd to me today as it did back in 2005. Art imitating life, or life imitating art, these questions I still struggle with as my understanding has deepened.  Jaeah Lee who wrote the aforementioned New York Times article, opens the piece with the story of Tommy Munsdwell Canady, an aspiring rapper from Racine, Wisconsin, and when I say aspiring, I mean he uploaded a few songs to Soundcould, a feat my 10yr old niece can do. Police in Racine were looking for suspects in three recent shootings, one of the victims, Semar Mcclain who was 19 at the time, was found dead with a bullet in his temple. If you you're a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meet-ups with other Dossier fans and the show creator, Don Sikorski. Goto Patreon.com/dossier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you have been listening in, a New York Times article about rap lyrics that I read by a pool in the Spring of 2022, really brought me back 17 years when I decided to explore the origins of a secret Hip-Hop dossier, and why the NYPD and federal government wanted to surveil, track, arrest and indict Hip-Hop Superstars.   The way I chose to tell my story was in the form of a documentary I called Rap Sheet, and where I left off was, I was now in business with Pistol Pete and Steve Lobel, and my best buddy Rick Phillips was my main source of financing. I was in the hole $50K and I had never gone to film school so what did I really know, but there were some core themes that were important for me and remember I wanted to tell a story that resonated this connection between Hip-Hop and law enforcement. In this episode we hear from Murder Inc's Irv Gotti about his case with the Feds and his relationship with none other than the mythical street legend, Kenneth "Supreme" McGriff. We also meet THE Hip Hop Cop himself, Derek Parker. If you you're a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meet-ups with other Dossier fans and the show creator, Don Sikorski. Goto Patreon.com/dossier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Episode one, I talked about securing a weird dossier that was compiled by federal and state law enforcement to track Hip-Hop superstars, and their entourages, associates, and record labels. With the book in hand as a young journalist, I decided the best route to tell the story of the book was to actually make a documentary, but I had no experience, no money, and I didn’t know anyone inside the Hip-Hop industry, but fuck it I started anyway. At that time in 2007 I was fascinated by what they called the Hip-Hop Police, and I was also fascinated with how much mystery was behind this unit.  In revisiting the film almost 17 years later in hindsight my quest, my search or curiosity was one part bold, two parts naïve, and somewhat dangerous, at that time Hip-Hop was just hitting the mainstream, so violence, gangsters, and a certain allure was all a part of the story I wanted to tell, but I need some help, I needed people who knew the industry, could get me interviews, or people who could talk….  So, I traveled down to Miami, where the annual Source Awards was going on, to this day why I went, and who I met, changed everything.  If you you're a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meet-ups with other Dossier fans and the show creator, Don Sikorski. Goto Patreon.com/dossier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My name is Don Sikorski. I grew up in the confines of suburban Norwalk, Connecticut, a fan of the hip hop music of Public Enemy, KRS One and Rakim. In 1994, at the age of 18, I left to pursue an interest in journalism and New York University. I was always fascinated by the rumors I heard surrounding hip hop culture, about murder, extortion, the laundering of drug money, the connection between criminal activity and the music. Little did I know at the time, that fascination would eventually take me on a three-year journey into a very complex relationship between hip hop, violence and the likes of the NYPD, LAPD, DEA and FBI. Hip Hop vs The Cops is the story of a clandestine joint task force of law enforcement, that have been surveilling hip hop stars. I would soon learn that even A-list artists who claimed to be targets of the so-called Hip-Hop cops, had no idea who these law enforcement officials really were or why they might exist. Most officials questioned about the rumored secret unit refused to speak on or off camera may no comment are categorically denied knowledge of such a task force. I would prove otherwise. If you you're a fan of The Dossier, please visit our Patreon page for free and paid content featuring exclusive documents, unedited interviews, monthly online meet-ups with other Dossier fans and the show creator, Don Sikorski. Goto Patreon.com/dossier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rehashing the day after Biggie was killed is old news, for you maybe it isn’t. What isn’t old news is Chuck Philips’ article on March 10th of 1997. In reading this for the first time with fresh eyes, it’s like staring at a painting in the Louvre for three days, and on the fourth, you find a different pattern. The headline of the article reads “Gangsta Rap Performer Notorious B.I.G. Slain.” Barely 24 hours after the murder of Biggie, the narratives being pushed by the LAPD begin to form through their future mouthpiece – the LA Times & Chuck Philips. The Dossier II: The Secret Biggie FBI Files is a production of Criminal Minded Media, Action Park Media and DCP Entertainment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After CMM's Don Sikorski is contacted by ex-LAPD Detective Frank Lyga, we take a closer look the facts and rumors surrounding Kevin Gaines. While he’s always been connected to the Biggie murder, was Gaines also involved in the killing of Tupac in Las Vegas? We also check in with RJ Bond, our resident Tupac expert, to get his thoughts on Kevin Gaines. The Dossier II: The Secret Biggie FBI Files, is a production of Criminal Minded Media, Action Park Media & DCP Entertainment.

In today’s episode, we are releasing the Mario Hammonds deposition in its entirety, as he's questioned by Rob Frank, one of the lawyers for Voletta Wallace. Also included in today’s episode, the late Sergio Robleto and Don Sikorski discuss Sikorski’s secret meeting with Hammonds.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Bonus Episode, James Rosemond discusses how the government turned friends and allies into weapons against him. He and Don Sikorski also begin breaking down the murder charges he faced after the death of Lowell Fletcher.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I have been investigating the case of James Rosemond for six years, through all his federal criminal trials, and in doing a reconciliation of the story, I keep going back to two major points that need explaining and examination. The first is the idea that Jimmy has a harsher sentence than El Chapo, and just put that into context, El Chapo led an organization that imported billions of dollars’ worth of drugs. Rosemond is alleged by the government to have run an organization with five guys, who dabbled in the drug game, El Chapo laundered billions of dollars through American banks, while government at trial never proved or showed evidence that Jimmy laundered any money, it was the exact opposite. So just think about the dichotomy of the federal criminal justice system, and levers of power that has allowed for this to transpire.   The second part that I need to reconcile, is the story behind Jimmy’s pardon by President Donald Trump, and his administration, for that part of the story, I will use a Washington Post article and exclusive audio I recorded with Jimmy around his experience, and what exactly happened from his perspective, the story of the pardon has taken on more importance as it has floated through the appeals court, and the Justice Department has responded to Jimmy’s lawyer.   It is a bizarre epilogue to Jimmy’s story as he remains behind bars currently. 

Before diving deeper into the murder for hire trial, James Rosemond reflects on his life, mentally surviving prison & his unwavering belief that he will one day walkout through those prison gates. 

Bruce Maffeo has been a high profile criminal defense attorney in New York for decades. He was James Rosemond's lawyer in both of the murder for hire trials. He sat down with Don Sikorski to discuss Rosemond's case.

After being given 7 life sentences on drug charges, the government apparently felt they  hadn’t buried James Rosemond far enough beneath the jail. He would soon be indicted on  murder for hire charges in the death of G-Unit affiliate Lowell Fletcher. Rosemond & Don  Sikorski begin detailing the government’s allegations surrounding Fletcher’s killing. 

Rosemond must watch as former friends and allies testify against him in order to avoid jail time. He reflects on the trial and the lack of evidence that was used to convict him

Reeling from losing Jeff Lichtman as his attorney, Rosemond scrambles to find a new lawyer who can handle his case. Two former associates of Jimmy go on the record, disputing the government’s narrative of the case.

Jeff Lichtman is one of the best criminal defense attorneys of his generation, once defending El Chapo and John Gotti Jr. He discusses his longtime client Jimmy Rosemond and the lengths prosecutors took to get him thrown off Jimmy’s defense team.

In today’s episode, we are releasing the Mario Hammonds deposition in its entirety, as he's questioned by Rob Frank, one of the lawyers for Voletta Wallace. Also included in today’s episode, the late Sergio Robleto and Don Sikorski discuss Sikorski’s secret meeting with Hammonds.

As the investigation picks up steam, several of Rosemond’s close friends and associates are targeted by Kaminsky. As the walls close in, Jimmy makes the decision to go on the run.

US Attorney Todd Kaminsky becomes obsessed with the rap game and Jimmy Henchman, starting his investigation in earnest. He will have an unlikely ally in reporter Chuck Phillips.

Jimmy is pulled into another rap war, this time involving 50 Cent and The Game. This beef will spiral out of control, eventually involving Jimmy’s family and law enforcement.

After Ethan Brown writes a profile on Rosemond for Vibe Magazine, he becomes the target of others in the media, most notably Chuck Phillips of the LA Times. These articles will put Rosemond in the crosshairs of law enforcement and Todd Kaminsky.

Don Sikorski speaks with RJ Bond about the breaking news coming out of Las Vegas on Tuesday - that Vegas PD served a search warrant in nearby Henderson, Nevada, related to the murder of Tupac Shakur. RJ shares his thoughts on who the search warrant targeted and what could come next in the police investigation.

Despite being arrested and sent back to prison, Rosemond continues his rise in the entertainment industry. He reaches the pinnacle after negotiating the Mike Tyson - Lennox Lewis fight and signing his own rap superstar, The Game. .

William ‘Bill’ Courtney spent his career investigating street figures and their connection to hip hop. He gives us his perspective from the law enforcement side on Rosemond, Haitian Jack, Tupac and others involved in the game.

While entering Quad Studios to meet Jimmy for a recording session, Tupac Shakur is robbed and shot in the lobby. The incident will haunt Jimmy forever and start the infamous East vs West rap war.

Growing up on the streets of Brooklyn, Jimmy Ace becomes one of the most feared gangsters in the city. After serving time in Rikers Island, however, Jimmy makes his play to go legit.

In the narrative of Biggie's murder investigations, former LAPD Investigator Greg Kading has stated that he has solved both the murders of Biggie and Tupac. Journalist Don Sikorski explores Kading's theory and statements about Phil Carson and the LAPD cover-up. Misinformation has thrived for years, supported by unchallenged evidence in the murder of Biggie. Is it possible that Greg Kading will change his opinion on who killed Biggie? Sikorski explores an interview by Geg Kading on the Gangster Chronicles podcast.

Filmmaker/Journalist RJ Bond sets the record straight with Don Sikorski about his vast work surrounding both the Biggie and Tupac cases. He talks about the final days of Russell Poole and the internal dynamics of the Los Angeles Police Department and the City. RJ also delves into his history investigating the Compton Police Department, Death Row, and Reggie Wright Jr.

Phil Carson continues to break down his FBI investigation into the LAPD cover-up in the murder of Biggie. He goes in-depth about his FBI operation to wire Psycho Mike and confront alleged hitman Amir Muhammad. Richard Valdemar of the LA County Sheriff's Department connects the dots on who Psycho Mike was and why he was a trusted informant for the Sheriff's department and the FBI. Valdemar uncovers the relationship between Suge Knight, Reggie Wright Jr., and Amir Muhammad.

Author Randall Sullivan has investigated the LAPD cover-up of Biggie for close to twenty years. His two books Labyrinth and the sequel Dead Wrong are really the Bible when it comes to information on how the LAPD, City of Los Angeles, and Us Attorney inside Los Angeles orchestrated the cover-up. Randall sits down with Phil Carson and Don Sikorski for a wide-ranging conversation, and new information on Perry Sanders refiling the lawsuit against the LAPD and City of Los Angeles.

Journalist Don Sikorski tracks down the audio from a rare documentary series done by PBS and Frontline. Sikorski analyzes, criticizes, and deconstructs the story of the Rampart Police Scandal. Audio interviews with LAPD Chief Bernard Parks, Robbery/Homicide Detective Bryan Tyndall, and LA District Attorney Gl Garcetti as it relates to the Rampart Police Scandal. Rare Audio of Corrupt LAPD Officer Rafael Perez from interview testimony defines this controversial era in the City of Los Angeles. The Origin Story of the murder of Biggie is explained.

Phil Carson explains how the LAPD used the LA Times as a tool in the cover-up. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chuck Phillips has secrets buried to this day surrounding the murder of Biggie and his relationship with LAPD brass Mike Berkow. Exclusive audio from inside California's San Quentin Prison ties Suge Knight to David Mack, Rafael Perez, and Amir Muhammad.

FBI Agent Phil Carson completes his story about the operation to wire up FBI Informant Psycho Mike Robinson to meet with alleged triggerman Amir Muhammad. Former LAPD Homicide investigator Sergio Robleto was hired by Violetta Wallace and her attorney Perry Sanders. Robleto reveals information and evidence secured in the course of his own investigation during the civil trial, filed by Miss Wallace against the City of Los Angeles and the LAPD.

Prison Inmate Kenneth Boagni spent time in protective custody with former LAPD Officer Rafael Perez. While in jail Perez confessed to Boagni his involvement in the murder of Biggie. Boagni also describes the efforts of LA City Attorney Don Vincent to muzzle him and the information he holds.

Phil Carson interviewed Eugene Deal in 2004 as part of his sprawling FBI investigation into the murder of Biggie. Now, 17 years later, the two of them are reunited to discuss their individual journeys inside the case and the lies that have evolved over the course of time. Phil and Gene also talk about a mysterious photograph that is in the possession of the LAPD that points to the triggerman in the murder of Biggie.

Don Sikorski interviews Compton based journalist Michael Carlin about his work and information related to the murder of Biggie. Carlin traces the deep connections inside Compton, California, that led to Biggie's murder. Carlin also shares audio he recorded of Death Row Records founder Marion "Suge" Knight. Suge discusses both the murders of Tupac and Biggie. Suge also outlines the stealing of close to $30 Million from Death Row accounts by famed defense attorney David Kenner.

Reggie Wright Jr goes on the record with Phil Carson about the murder of Biggie. Reggie also talks about his relationship with the FBI and Death Row Records .

Phil Carson investigated the murder of Biggie for close to 2 years inside the FBI. With the approval of his bosses, Carson took the prosecutive report to the United States Attorney in Los Angeles to file charges against LAPD Officers David Mack, Rafael Perez, and the LAPD as it relates to the cover-up in the murder of Biggie. Journalist Don Sikorski receives a phone call from Compton based journalist Michael Carlin, with an audio interview with Suge Knight, speaking about the murder of Biggie.

Journalist Don Sikorski interviews Phil Carson on the treasure trove of documents acquired through the Freedom Of Information Act. Phil breaks down an elaborate ruse by LA City Attorney Paul Paquette that involves David Mack taking a lie detector test. Phil Carson also speaks about the ballistic evidence in Biggie's murder and how the LAPD handled it.

FBI Agent Phil Carson has held onto a dark secret for fifteen years, which will prove for the final time that there was a cover-up of the murder of Hip-Hop Superstar The Notorious B.I.G. by officials at the LAPD, LA Times, and US Attorney. Agent Carson is talking, and journalist Don Sikorski has the FBI Files to prove it.

Journalist Don Sikorski is able to track down FBI Agent Phil Carson, the only FBI Agent to ever investigate the murder of Biggie and the triangle of corruption of the LAPD, City Attorney, and LA Times. Phil Carson goes on the record for the first time.

FBI Informant Mario Hammonds was deposed in San Quentin Prison by lawyer Rob Frank on behalf of Voletta Wallace during the civil trial against the LAPD. In the deposition, Hammonds implicates Suge Knight, Reggie Wright Jr, David Mack, and Rafael Perez in orchestrating the murder of Biggie. Journalist Don Sikorski reveals a hidden document created by LAPD's Internal Affairs that has detailed information that implicates both Mack and Perez in the murder of Biggie. Phil Carson discusses the implications of this document on the case moving forward.

FBI Agent Phil Carson walks Don Sikorski through different layers of the LAPD Cover-Up and the connection between upper management in Police Chief Bill Bratton's operation at the LAPD. Phil Carson also connects journalist Chuck Phillips and the LA Times to the cover-up.

Director Brad Furman has spent the last two years working on the feature film City of Lies, starring Johnny Depp and Forrest Whitaker. The film is based on Randall Sullivan's book Labyrinth, which delves into LAPD Robbery Homicide Investigator Russell Poole's work. Don Sikorski, Furman, and producer Jess Fuerst talk through the movie's origin story, the battle for truth in the case, and the Wallace Family's involvement in the movie.

Police Activist and LA insider Xavier Hermosillo goes on the record about investigative documents in the murder of Biggie that members of LAPD's Robbery/Homicide Division locked into a secret compartment at their offices. These files show proof that the LAPD covered-up the involvement of David Mack and Rafael Perez in the murder.

Journalist Don Sikorski goes in search of David Mack and Rafael Perez. The closing episode of Season One of The Dossier leaves more questions than answers. Will the FBI reopen this case based on the evidence and the story of Phil Carson? Will Miss Wallace and Perry Sanders refile the civil case against the City of Los Angeles and the LAPD? Finally, will there ever be justice in the murder of Hip-Hop's biggest star? Please stay tuned for updates on the case and look out for Season 2 of The Dossier, launching soon. Special thanks to Griff, Nicole Luciano, Rick Phillips, Dave Sikorski, John Anagnopoulos, Brandon Blackburn, Mike Caruso, Seth Lawrence, Andy Hill, Andrew Rath, Adam Leibner, and all the listeners of Season One, thank you for all the support.

Before Phil Carson opened an FBI Investigation into the LAPD corruption and the cover-up of Biggie's murder, he was one of a handful of FBI assigned to a federal task force called RAMFIT. This task force was supposed to look into all the officers inside the Rampart Division and track down the alleged crimes defined by Rafael Perez's deal with the LA District Attorney. The pattern of deception between Phil Carson and officials at the LAPD and City Attorney started with Rampart.