On February 5th, 2006, 29-year old bodyguard and father of three, Israel Ramirez, was shot to death by a yet to be identified, assailant at a video shoot for the rapper Busta Rhymes. Caught in between what appears to be a simple dispute between rappers, security, and their entourages, a man is dead, and the police are asking questions. 

Stop for a moment. Think about this.

Do you realize how many young Black and Latino men wind up dead over issues that were easily resolvable? Or how many have been killed over a simple misunderstanding, or misinterpretation of words or actions? Someone thought another person was trying to disrespect them and they were killed. This kind of madness has got to stop! As all of the parties present and involved in the killing of Israel Ramirez reflect back on the events that lead to his demise, they must all be thinking the same thing: Was it worth it? Was the conflict on a level that someone had to die over? Were millions of dollars at stake, or was someone's family being violated? Probably not. This appears to be a situation where too many egos and entourages were in the same place at the same time.

Busta has probably replayed the events in his mind 1000 times trying to imagine what he could have done differently. Unfortunately for him, he now has some other more pressing things to contemplate because a man is dead and the police have reports that Busta was on the scene when it happened. As an entertainer and a member of a culture where cooperation with police is looked upon harshly, Busta has some tough decisions to make. Israel Ramirez's family wants him to tell the police what he knows. The camp that the killer belongs to (possibly G-Unit) would obviously prefer for Busta to remain quiet.

This situation has the potential to reach a point where he is forced to testify (subpoena) or he may face charges himself. Furthermore, if he is subpoenaed, and lies to protect the guilty, he could end up in prison. Growing up in the hood we have all learned that snitching is a bad thing, you don't tell on other people or get them in trouble - you just don't do it. But Busta is no longer growing up, he is a grown man, and now a man who was a father of three children is dead. On top of that he is an artist that doesn't even market himself as a "gangster rapper". When he posed in a prison jumpsuit for an issue of XXL Magazine the following month the magazine received a number of letters from angry Busta Rhymes fans.

In light of the immense pressure Busta is under, and the spotlight being shone upon him, here is what Busta should do.

Make an arrangement to go on the radio and make a public statement. Whatever he chooses to do will be publicized anyway, so he might as well go on the radio and try to shape the public perception of it, before the pundits and personalities do. It could be a watershed moment in hip hop and in Black and Latino communities if he does this. It is also a gamble and could backfire, but the bottom line is this, a man was unjustly killed and that is not right. This in a nutshell is what he needs to get across to the public and this is what he needs to say:

"First of all, my definition of snitching is this: If I agree to commit a crime with someone else, and I get caught and the other person doesn't, and I tell on that other person to make things easier for my self. THAT is snitching. I don't respect that because you knew all of the risks involved in the crime before you committed it, and I believe you should take responsibility for your actions if you get caught. If you get caught, keep your mouth shut, hire a lawyer and try your best to beat it or get the least amount of jail time possible. Or plan well before you commit your crime so that you minimize your chances of getting caught. But really the best option is to stay away from crime altogether."

That is how I view snitching and what I've always understood the definition of snitchin' to be. Somehow this basic understanding has been lost and many Black and Latino communities are suffering for it. I'm not sure how it all got confused, but I know the commercial rap world's "stop snitchin'" campaign isn't making it any better. The whole "don't snitch" mantra is overrated anyway. The truth is most people whether criminals or otherwise are prone to cooperate or give others up in their place when faced with the prospect of death or an extended prison sentence. When the D.A. starts offering people "football numbers" (double digit prison sentences) people tend to get real cooperative. People can play tough and talk slick all they want but that's how things work in real life! "The Streets" confer larger than life "gangster" status to infamous 80's drug lords like Harlem, New York's, Alpo who has been immortalized in movies like "Paid In Full". But for all his legendary crimes and other deeds when he go caught, even Alpo gave up other drug dealers to get his sentence lessened. Better yet, let's take a look at the Italian mafia which commercial rap seems to have a borderline homo-erotic obsession with. John Gotti, the mafia's most recognizable crime boss since Al Capone, was brought down based on the "cooperation" of hitman Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, who through his court testimony we know was responsible for at least 19 murders. In fact much of the way crime and prosecution in America works is related to the whole practice of "cutting deals" with captured suspects or criminals to capture other suspects or criminals. 

If someone harmed someone my family cared about and there were people there who saw what happened and are not saying anything, I would be upset about that. I would want them to tell the police, so they can do their jobs. If someone kills a family member of mine, at the very least I want them in prison, and I don't know anyone who feels differently. Some of the people I know would want to handle the situation themselves. Personally, I have no intention to pretend like I am a mobster, nor do I have the desire to get involved in any kind of retaliatory murder. I am a responsible adult and a father, and do not want to risk my freedom to protect someone who killed my bodyguard and friend. There are things I would go to prison for but it makes absolutely no sense for me to risk my freedom to protect the identity of an individual who killed my friend. If I don't retaliate on behalf of my friend, and don't tell the police what I saw, then the person who killed my friend will be free to live his life, while my friend is no longer free to live his. In all likelihood Busta Rhymes has no intention of retaliating for the murder of Israel Ramirez. In that situation, I would likely have no intention of retaliating either, and as a result I would feel I have an obligation to say what I saw.

As a man, I could sleep well with the decision I made, I don't see another sensible alternative, nor do I see any logic in protecting the people who killed my friend. Too much of Hip Hop seems to be about being stuck in adolescence and fantasy, thinking and behaving like a child or teenager. The problem with this is, few of us are adolescents. I am 30+ with a family and so are most of these artists and producers. The fact that someone allowed their temper and ego to elevate to a point where they killed someone, is not my fault. The fact that certain individuals could not control their friends or entourages, is also not my fault. I cannot and will not be held accountable for their actions. That night, from what's been reported, Busta tried his best to settle what were probably minor disputes, though obviously he was unsuccessful.

Since Busta has been put in a position where he could face charges if he does not speak, and will face charges if he lies, he may have no choice but to tell the truth. Whoever would like to label him a "snitch" because of that decision, can kindly kiss my ass. He shouldn't be willing to go to jail for something someone else did, especially when what they did was unnecessary, avoidable and ended the life of his friend.

We are not talking about a crashed car, or stolen jewelry, or a even a bullet in the leg, this is a fucking human life! Three children lost their father and his children's mother lost her man. Not to mention the pain his mother and other families are going through. This is as serious as it gets. If I didn't stand up, then I would see myself as a coward. If one won't stand up after someone is killed senselessly, then they will never stand up, period. It is easy to lay back and do nothing, and pretend like you are some kind of thug because you don't talk to police. I am no fan of how the police have historically treated Black and Latino people. Like any man of color, I have had my fair share of negative experiences with cops and have grown to really dislike them. But the police didn't kill my friend and the police aren't the real issue here. The real issue is Hip-hop and our community in general, and the way that we resolve conflict and communicate. All because someone wanted to be a tough guy, Israel Ramirez is dead. Now, the same "tough guy" who killed him is running and hiding hoping the police don't find him because he doesn't want to go to prison. Some people will have negative things to say about Busta for speaking up and saying what he needs to say, but what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong. Killing Israel over a very minor dispute was wrong and there is no way around that. No one deserves to die over something so trivial.

Maybe it would come out a lot different but more or less this is what must be said, if he even feels the need to give an explanation. I wasn't there that night so I can't say for sure what Busta did or did not see, but if he is a witness then he needs to step up like a man and help to put Israel Ramirez's killer in jail. Allowing your friend to be murdered while his killer walks free because you are trying to protect "your image" is the ultimate act of cowardice. Maybe somebody should make up some T-shirts with that message.

Released: February 13th, 2006

The views and opinions expressed herein by the author do not necessarily represent the opinions or position of Playahata.com.