Two new developments rocked D.C. drill rap last week.
The first came last Wednesday, when notable drill rap affiliate Traquon McCalip, known within the scene as TwinGlock, was arrested on suspicion of illegal gun possession and assault with a dangerous weapon.
McCalip is the twin brother of local drill rapper MoneySet Twin, who is known for songs like “Hustle” and “Lit Onna Box.”
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, McCalip, 20, encountered the victim in the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue NE at about 11:47 a.m. McCalip then allegedly brandished a gun, shot the victim, and fled the scene.
MPD says they arrested McCalip a few minutes later at a traffic stop without incident. The victim was transported to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.
And as one case against a drill rapper in the District was beginning, two more were coming to a close.
Last Friday, Ricardo Glass was convicted in D.C. Superior Court.
Glass, known as Baby Jamo, is a prolific drill rapper from the District, and is the man behind hits such as “14,712 Hours Later,” which has more than 1 million views on YouTube.
On Nov. 6 of last year, Glass was arrested by U.S. Capitol Police alongside an accomplice Onosetale Okojie. The two were apprehended after crashing a white Infiniti Q50 into a barricade outside of the U.S. Capitol Building and attempting to flee on foot. USCP claimed the Infiniti Q50 was stolen in Prince George’s County, and said officers recovered two firearms—one from inside the vehicle with an extended, 22-round magazine, and the other in a flower bed. The second gun was fitted with a “giggle switch” that allows it to fire like a fully automatic weapon.
The pair of 20-year-olds were arrested and charged with almost 20 felonies, including two counts of carrying a pistol without a license, unauthorized use of a vehicle, possession of a large-capacity magazine, fleeing from a law enforcement officer in a motor vehicle, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and unlawful possession of a machine gun, among others, according to a press release from USPC.
This month, a jury found Glass guilty of fleeing from law enforcement, reckless driving, destruction of property (all felonies), and driving without a permit, a misdemeanor. Glass was acquitted of carrying a pistol without a license, felon in possession, and other charges. Okojie was convicted of carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. The pair will be sentenced on May 24.
The news adds more pressure to the already-contentious relationship between drill rappers across the DMV and police forces in the area.
Last year, Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy dealt with two high-profile drill rap cases. She spoke to WUSA9 about the problem of drill rap lyrics coinciding with crime.
“We are very concerned that this particular form of rap music that not only celebrates violence, but also directs violence and talks about what has happened, not just in theory, but in practice,” Braveboy said.
“When you’re talking about violent acts that have actually happened or things that you actually intend to do, that causes other people to react, and has caused homicides, shootings and other acts of violence to actually occur, that is not protected and that is something that we’re going to go after,” she adds.
Advocates of the subgenre say that the relationship between drill rap and criminal activity is superficial at best. And Maryland lawmakers are looking to protect the creative expression of drill rappers in their songs from being used against them in legal proceedings across the state.
On March 5, the Maryland Senate Judicial Proceeding Committee held a hearing on the Protecting the Admissibility of Creative Expression (PACE) Act. The bill would limit Maryland prosecutors’ ability to admit rap lyrics as evidence when building a case against a rapper.
As more and more drill rappers face criminal charges across the DMV, this new legislation could be essential in protecting freedom of expression within drill music made in the area.