Exclusive: A Look at MPD’s “Go-Go Report”
Every two weeks, a secret document gets passed around the D.C. MPD hierarchy: the “go-go report.” Prepared by the MPD’s hush-hush Intelligence Branch, the report details which bands are playing at which clubs, and when. Police officials have been compiling the reports for a while now, and they’ve claimed the work helps them tamp down violence by tipping off the cops about events that might attract feuding D.C. gangs. But MPD has never really discussed exactly what’s in the report, or released one publicly.
So City Desk figured we’d do that for them.
Below is the current go-go report, obtained by City Paper from a police source who didn’t want to be identified. Though it’s put together by the Intelligence Branch—which is rumored to have 60 officers and a generous budget—there’s not much in the document that MPD couldn’t have found by perusing City Paper’s music listings. The current report covers July 8 to July 22, and it’s broken down neatly into one-off shows and regular weekly gigs, including what times the clubs will open and—more importantly for police purposes—what time they’ll close, with crowds spilling out of the show. The bands it notes include ReAction, UEB, Renegade, Allstarz, TCB and Backyard Band (though they’re misidentified at one point as “Backyad Band”).
MPD frequently sends officers to venues listed in the report so they can monitor what’s happening there; police officials have claimed for years that go-go shows often draw violence, though bands and managers grumble that’s been used as an excuse to harass people involved in the scene. What’s odd about the document, though, is that most of the events listed are scheduled for Maryland clubs, like Tradewinds, the Skyboxxx, Legend and the Capitol Heights Ballroom. Prince George’s County Police officials couldn’t immediately be reached to discuss the report, or whether MPD shares it with them.
The document did raise some eyebrows. “We targeted for sure,” says Ben Adda, who manages TCB. Adda hadn’t heard of the report before City Desk contacted him, and he noticed that MPD had mixed up TCB with another band he manages in some of the listings. The band is used to attention; P.G. Police Chief Roberto L. Hylton called TCB shows "violence masqueraded [sic] as entertainment," after a December shooting in Capitol Heights that police say began during an argument as a TCB concert let out. (P.G. cops said then that they didn’t know when bands were playing where, which may mean MPD doesn’t circulate the report over the state line.) Adda says the band has become a scapegoat for go-go-phobes like Hylton. And as a result, it’s beefed up its own security.
“We have 12 officers when we play in D.C.," he says. The city requires the band and the venues it plays to hire police details to protect crowds. But none of that necessarily bothers Adda: “I don't have any problem with them saying where we are. I don't mind the extra attention or the police presence.” The safer TCB's fans are, the better, he says.
7:32 am
that's funny!!!
8:49 am
This is really an outrage. Not only is this a targeted campaign of police censorship, it's a waste of taxpayer money.
9:31 am
Well Honestly there is no such as DC gogo anymore. Police in the District has moved us out because there scared to do there job which to protect and serve. instead they harass us out of our own city and tell other venues and club not to have our events so we cannot have a great time in the District. yes at time gogo music do bring violent Activites because of neighborhood crews that want to represented from the bands and rival neighborhoods usally dont like it so violence "sometimes" occur but violence happens everywhere in the District so why ban the music.I personally feel as that this is wrong under the freedom of country we live in as a right of free speech, mind and creativity and I find it as very unconstitutional of our rights of freedom. DMV police are Lazy good for nothing Bums . they are quick to shut down a event with African Americans show of unity but never cooperate with us to make shows safer for the youth but i been to rock and roll show where ive seen 100 white kids beat one man with spike wrist and not a single police report was written. this city is backwards.
9:35 am
And to State one Last thing
GOGO MUSIC DOES NOT=Violence
10:10 am
Anweezy, you bring up some really valid points. Some folks would argue that "This doesn't affect me, or anyone I know. Why should I care." Well, let's put it this way. If the feds came and started busting up some of the DIY venues and houses that a lot of rock bands, there'd be public outcry. As a black musician playing "indie" (i use the term ever so loosely) rock, I'm acutely aware that the cops could come and bust anytime. The fact that MPD is scanning the City Paper and the blogs for word about go-go shows is sickening. It's a slippery slope - what if they were scanning DCist, BYT and other sites for some of the house shows I play?
One day it's "them". The next day it's "you"
10:17 am
I just laugh whenever I see this kind of non sense.. Just like Anwar said, just because the police are too lazy, afraid and hesitant to do their JOBS, they want to ban the one thing that alot of the youth in the community get to look forward to on the weekends. Everybody who reads this needs to go on Youtube and search a "Moshpit". Moshpits only happen at heavy metal rock concerts (a generally caucasian genre of music), but I've NEVER seen a news report about police wanting to ban metal or rock.. Sounds a little hypcritcal if you ask me
10:18 am
Hypocritical*
10:22 am
Anwar, have you ever been at a Go-Go show where the band encouraged neighorhood beefing and violence by giving "Shout outs" to crews, neighborhoods or gave kids the mics to do their own shout-outs, encouraging more violence?
You say it yourself, "yes at time gogo music do bring violent Activites because of neighborhood crews that want to represented from the bands and rival neighborhoods usally dont like it so violence "sometimes" occur"
Allowing crews and neighborhoods to represent causes the violence and must stop.
A friend's white gogo band played at the Black Hole around 1986-87. I rolled up in my parents' station wagon with my friends and as I drove by it many guys on the corner bent down and gave me the fish-eye, literally threatening me from the sidewalk. It was 1986, we did NOT find a place to park and go on in, we drove home. We saw them at a house party near American U a few weeks later.
10:25 am
And to state a real fact, Go Go Venue draws not all but a large percentage of wana be thugs,thugs fighting over so call turf -aka- public housing location,apartment complex of which they have no ownership and a lot of baby momas and looking to be baby momas who have an infatuation for thugs with their pants hanging off their ass!!, Yes I said it know, let the real truth hit ya in the face and while ya at it,pull that dam pants up!!
10:34 am
The reason MPD doesn't go after rock shows is because there isn't a continuing trend of people being shot and killed after rock shows. MPD doesn't give a shit about the music, they DO care about juveniles getting killed in their jurisdiction after gogo shows. Hell, a kid got murdered not more than a few weeks ago on Georgia Avenue that was directly linked to a gogo show. When kids start gettin murdered outside of bluegrass shows with regularity, I'm sure MPD will come out with a Banjo Report as well. Until then, spare us the "MPD hates gogo / MPD is racist" bullshit.
11:04 am
When we let the police compile bi-monthly lists of go-go artists or ticket skateboarders, we are letting the terrorists win. Just putting it out there.
11:27 am
I agree with "Spare Us", and for some of you gogo heads, you all need to do more to protect your music and your crowds, believe it or not, you have a voice at the GoGo shows, speak into these kids ear constantly something positive to them, and they will respond positively.. Peaceaholics is not the only one who needs to speak to young people, but you who hold them mics each night standing in front of them, need to speak to them, we all know they dont getting help at home, most of the parents are at the damn GoGo's too.. "grown n sexy" , so all the bands in that spotlight need to create a order and move on it.. like Martin Luther King, Jr. preach you dont fight violence with violence.. GoGo music doesnt have true leaders, you are loosing the fight at the table, do to ingnorance in the forum of GoGo reps..
11:29 am
There are pros and cons to every situation.. But I myself have been to PLENTY of gogo's where there were no fights or any kind of violent activity afterward.. Granted there are a few stupid wanna-be thugs that are going to come and try to start trouble.. But don't punish the people that came to party in peace and just have a good time with their friends.. But I GUARANTEE, if they were to completely ban gogo, the crime level in this area will drastically increase.. Mock my words
11:35 am
yeah i understand gogo brings violence, but let me ask you a question? What do you the youths will be doing on the weekend if they have nothing to do.A lot of African Americans in this area like and go to gogos taking that away from them would im sure bring more violence because they have nothing to do
11:43 am
[COMMENT DELETED: Racist trolling.]
11:43 am
I don't see why having a police presence is necessarily a bad thing. It deters potential incitors and it should be a comfort to everyone who is there soley for the music and for a good time. I know that DC police do not have the best reps for being diplomatic in these such settings, but I would welcome it no matter where I was in public, if it stops at least one violent act.
Anyone arguing that it infringes on their freedom- how exactly? Do they stop you from singing? Do they stop you from dancing? What exactly is it that they do that makes this a violation of your rights?
11:45 am
Fenty has been trying to get the GO GO vote, but many of the hoodlums that listen to this garbage isn't registered to vote, don't care about their community or what's going on in the city, or are former convicted felons like Ron Moten.
11:52 am
@ Jon Bon Jovi - Hard to care about your city when DC Council and most of the public services either a) don't care about the people or b) antagonize their constituents.
@Adrian Bent-me - It is the responsibility of these clubs to provide adequate, well trained security. Deferring to the police not only puts an unnecessary burden on a public service, it also introduces a dangerous element of heavy handedness.
There is no reason for any artist in a free country to have their name tacked on a police surveillance list. Zero.
12:02 pm
Jon Bon Jovi.. how can you seriously try to connect someone's concern with the community to the genre of music they listen to? I've been listening to gogo as long as I can remember. I'm 20 years old and I registered to vote as soon as I turned 18. And even if music did sway your decision to register for voting, the gogo community would DEFINITELY have a higher voters count. Gogo leaders like Big G, The Peaceaholics etc. always campaign on the radio to influence people in the area to register to vote.
12:05 pm
Colonel K, are you saying the city should be taking care of lazy people who refused to get an education or work? This is socialism and this is why the United States is going bankrupt because the government has been taking care of lazy people who expect the government to take care of them. The education system is free in the United States, but many of these hoodrats refuse to get an education. Hearing Ron Moten open his mouth and speak shows this guy is lacking an education. Too many young blacks has a thug mentality. Why isn't the so called black leaders speaking out against black on black violence? I have never heard of a white person killing a black in the District of Columbia nor have I heard of whites killing whites in the District. Too many D.C. blacks and other urban blacks around the United States is lacking morals and class. Blacks only make up 13% of the United States population and they are the most violent race or group of people in this country.
12:09 pm
Weezy, the Peaceaholics is managed by thugs and criminals. Ron Moten is a poor example of a leader. This man is a ghetto radical and is no better than the racist Black Panthers in that indimidated people at the voting polls in Philadelphia by referring to whites as crackers and devils. The Negro Attorney General Eric Holder refused to investigate this group, but if they were a white racist group, the Justice Department would have been all over this story. Let's talk about refuse racism in the United States against white U.S. citizens.
12:09 pm
@Jesse Helms,
Your racist filth has no place on this message board. Not only is your little paragraph riddled with basic grammatical mistakes, your understanding of how American government works is painfully poor.
City Paper, don't you guy screen these comments? WTF
12:10 pm
Correction:
Let's talk about reverse racism in the United States against white U.S. citizens.
12:15 pm
I understand why the police would monitor Go Go music and RAP because it's usually associated with violence taking place at these concerts. New York City recently canceled a free concert with the Rapper DRAKE because there wasn't enough NYPD coverage to be at this RAP concert. Blacks must start taking responsibility for their actions and stop blaming the white man for all the troubles in their life's.
Slave to the Rhythm and Pull Up To The Bumper Baby were my greatest hits.
12:16 pm
Jesse Helms.. after reading your reply to Colonel's comment.. I really don't feel the need to even say anything.. Your ignorance just proved my point
12:19 pm
Colonel K, it's called freedom of speech. Have you not heard of this under the U.S. constitution. By looking at your sentence structure, you are the pot calling the kettle white.
12:23 pm
Quote in Wikpedia:
While go-go's international profile was on the rise in the 1980s, go-go clubs in D.C. were acquiring an unfortunate reputation for violence. In some areas of Washington—even today—clubs are not permitted to play go-go or have go-go bands appear. In 1988, an all-star go-go band dubbed the Go-Go Posse recorded "D.C. Don't Stand for Dodge City," conceived, written and produced by the "I Hear Ya Records" production team of Jonathan Smith, Mitch Bebbs and Derral Johnson a.k.a JJ&J. as an attempt to raise awareness and stop the violence.
One well-publicized venue with trouble was Club U, located inside a District-owned building at the corner of 14th and U Street NW, where numerous incidents—including murder—occurred, leading to the revocation of its liquor license,[18] and eventual closing.[19]
In March 2007, Jack B. Johnson, County Executive in nearby Prince George's County, Maryland, also cracked down on go-go music, announcing the indefinite closing of nine area clubs that had experienced a high frequency of police calls many for violent incidents in the past year.[20] A court battle is ongoing over whether the closings were justified, with a court order temporarily stopping the closing of five of the clubs.[21]
12:26 pm
I agree with Anwar and Weezy.
Go-go doesn't equal violence. If anything it has cut violence down a little. The city has cut back on after school programs leaving the youth with nothing to do. With the rise of go-go more of the youth HAVE PICKED UP instruments instead of weapons. And I also would like to point out that go-go bands have done more than the Police have and ever will to stop violence Everywhere in the DMV, which isn't part of the bands jobs but is a part of the police's job.
12:27 pm
Jesse Helms, the CityPaper is not bound by an injunction not to abridge the right of people to freely express themselves, as that Constitutional limitation is placed solely upon the US Government.
Further, no one commenting here has any imperative to support your free speech or agree with it. You have been afforded the privilege of using this comment board to air your opinions, and we all have the privilege of telling you where you can stuff those opinions. (Hint: It is in your ass.)
12:27 pm
I understand by the Metropolitan Police Department have a surveillance unit to investigate Go Go. Too much violence has been associated at these venues.
Weezy are you familiar with the "no snitch" policy within some black communities and how some blacks hate or disrespect law enforcement?
12:36 pm
LOL@ Jesse Helms
12:58 pm
@ Van Helsing... I'm very familiar with said policy and I agree that it's a bittersweet policy of the streets.. Sadly that policy holds up until something happens to someone you know, love, or are related to.
As far as the hatred towards law enforcement, I can vouch for that because I myself have been unjustly mistreated by our beloved Metropolitan Police on numerous occasions. Before anyone asks, no I don't have dreads and I carry myself very well. It's just unfortunate that we have some HORRIBLE officers patroling our neighborhoods. So you really can't be too mad at the people who are fed up with the clowns that we call our "protection"
1:48 pm
@ Northwestener
I am Actually A promoter of a Well Known gogo Band know as 3DB and Also do my own events in the DDC/MD comuunity. Like I said GoGo does not = Violence ... the activities that happen after the show on Georgia ave was a activity that happen on Georgia Ave. that was there Personal Issue with that other person so the decided to act on ignorant terms and made the person Rest in Peace but just because the fact the the situation happen after a gogo event gogo is to be blamed. people fight all the time wether if its in the streets,school,work, party. people are not perfect. Bands have represented local Neighborhoods and crews for year going back to the 70's for the love and respect that they show for the fans so its a tranditional thing so that will not stop..,, you do not goes go our current events to know what goes on. I have and been to event where rival neighborhood where in there and not one strach was inflicted to no one and Ive to alot of events when Theres been a suffle or two... someone getting shot or stab are actually very rare in our shows because majority people do not come to our gogo events to start nonsense but situations may happen here and there but DMV police just sees our music as something that creates violence in the community which is very false and our officers of the Law do not support us at any levels as much as they say they do. They are against us 100%. Ive seen it in my own eyes as a promoter in the gogo. Ive seen other Managers and promoters getlocked up for having a peace jam event. we are music for the community not for violence.
2:02 pm
This is basically and enemies list. A list of addresses to harass. Most Go Gos already employ police officers for security. This so called intelligence report is really just a listing of buisness to target for revocation of liquor licenses.
As for the stop snitching policy in the hood. For over 400 years (yes the PG Sheriff Dept. started in 1605) the job of the police was to disenfranchise, harass and beat africans. That was the job of the police. To control the african population and protect whites. Now, in the last 20 years or so police have begun to change their mission to include the protection of african americans. But do you really expect the community to trust police overnight after 400 years of mistreatment. Stop snitchin is the direct result of the law enforcements treatment of the african american community. As law enforcement changes its ways, the community will change as well.
2:29 pm
Go-Go is a way to get away from doing wrong for some teens. If you take that away they will be found on the streets doing wrong so instead of taking it away from us try to help bring more smiles to the teens faces and bring go-gos to community centers. Its violence all over the world you cant say go-go makes or brings violence because everyday people fight and argue over different music. Do you take that music away? So why take away our music our way out
2:41 pm
Oh if you say that our music doesnt do anything for the community...but the wholetime our music was made by the community.... We contrubutes more voices to the youth than anyone the District of Columbis/PG county Area
2:43 pm
I wonder if this is the whole report?
Also, if this is an intelligence report, the more important question is "What are they doing with this information? How are they using it?"
If this is the whole report, how chief lanier possibly say this report has stopped homicides?......Unless there is more to the report than they are letting on. Or unless she is lieing.
What evidence does MPD have that linking homicides to Go Go. I'm guessing none.
2:46 pm
Jon Bovi.... Fenty is a Fraud... He is the main one that does not support gogo music for the youth in the District.
All this GoGo for Fenty nonsense is just to get the Support of Black community that he has betrayed for about 6 years.
2:59 pm
I Just Want To Say Gogo Together As A Whole (Bands, Venues, Music) Does Not Cause Violence. And For Some To Say The Gogo Community Isnt Doing Anything To Stop The Violence Is Simply Preposterous. We Have Lead Mics And Bands Trying To Defuse Some Of The Drama Before It Hits Critical Levels. We Have Promoters, Show Promoters Emphasising Strictly No Violence. I Myself Am In A Group That Strictly Promotes Non Violence In The DMV Called The Movement. We're Trying, Thats Something I Cannot Say For The Police. Im Not Against Police Presences At Shows, They Are There To PROTECT US. But What Is The Point Of Having Police When They Sit Back And Watch, Doing Nothing? Ive Been To Many Shows Where If The Police Had Stepped In LIKE THEIR SUPPOSE TO DO, Situations Wouldn't Have Escalated. Myself And Others Are Taking The Initiative To Do What Others Not Only Fail To Do, But Fail To See. You Cannot Fight Negativity With Negativity. Take Away Gogo And You Will See It Will Cause More Harm, More Damage Than It Would Help.
For More Information On The Movement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp6PofSg0W8
or Search: The Movement On Facebook
3:26 pm
"TAKE AWAY GOGO AND THERE WOULD BE MORE VIOLENCE AND MORE BLACK MEN KILLED IN THE STREETS"
3:44 pm
I can throw alot alot events where MDP have lied to the Council to get events shut down in the District of Columbia and price georgies county just because they're to too lazy to take care of what goes on in our communities music. Idont have issue with police being at our event. infact they can be security if they ask for the offer but Ive never seen any support for any police officer for the DC community.
Im sorry to the colonel K but im very strict on this issue and ive been wanting to address this for the longest.
3:49 pm
they wasnt doing that @@@@ back in da day
4:40 pm
There is nothing Exclusive nor Intelligence about this article. Nothing but promotion for the band & shows. Cathy Lanier is a clown word from our cheif >>> The reports “have to stay that way to be effective." For now, though, feel free to use this particular report to plan your next night out. Are u serious !!!
4:51 pm
Like Anwar said, the gogo genre does not equal violence. The ppl that are in the club "beefing" equal violence, never have i heard a band say "Hood A pop off on Hood B". The "hoods" or whatever take it upon themselves to fight and shoot. Yes it makes gogo look bad because thats where it happens. But picture if there were no gogo's what would kids have to do on weekends? Fight, kill, rob, etc, crime would actually raise if there wasn't an event for people to attend on weekends.
5:10 pm
Police need to start taking a closer look at the "All Ages" GoGo events that take place every week. Those are we're most of the violence occurs, most of the time its jumpings. Also most of these teen events also contain a big ordeal of child pornography taking place. Don't believe me? Just look at this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diKwOUm9--E or go to the Club Icon in Waldorf or Capitol Heights Ballroom in Capitol Heights. Theres kids as young as 10 in these events looking at older females shake their a**. I mean you might as well let them go to strip clubs too.
5:20 pm
Why Are They Waisting Time Conducting Weekly Reports And Connecting Violence To A Genre Of Music That Several Individuals Of The DMV(DC,Maryland,VA) Area Listen To, Party To, And Get Out Of The Area Individuals Exposed To??? Violence Is Everywhere,You Can Basically Consider A Gogo A Concert, People Have Never Got Into Altercations At Concerts????? Im Not One To Condone Violence Outside Of Defense But There Are Bigger Problems In Our Area Besides These Allegations Attacking And Misrepresenting That Have Been A Topic Of Discussion Lately. Have You Know, Without Gogos, The Crime Rate Escalates. It Keeps Several Of These "hoodlums" As Someone Mentioned Within The Comments Off The Streets...All Of The People Who Attend Gogos Are Not Uneducated, For Those Commenting, Some Of Your Bias Opinions Are Simply Based Off What You Heard. Fact, DC Is No Longer The Murder Capital, If Im Not Mistaken Baltimore Has Taken That Title. But Do Yall Have A "Unit" Dedicated To The Baltimore Club Music Clubs, I Doubt It. But Ultimately, Theres No Issues With Having Police Posted At Gogos, There Usually There Anyway. Also Police Help Some Fans Feel Safer About Attending The Functions. I Attend Gogos Weekly, But I Also Have A Future, I've Been Attending Them Since 2005, I Don't Believe Nor Support Coming To The Gogo To Fight Either. But As You Know, There Is Always One Bad Apple In The Bunch Who Ruins Things For Everyone Else.
5:25 pm
@truthlife unless you been to the icon or to the ballroom. don't comment on thing you don't!!! Any body can post a link from a video from youtube..
5:33 pm
@ truelife1
Do you see any actual SEX in the video????
People love to have a great time... yeah the crowds of a all age event gets younger but if it was a issue for yungsters to be alil stuck on there hormones growing up in adolestance LOL..... if its really a issue then Ban music videos, magizines, movies and anything thats has anything with reality... what you see on them gogo videos is no different than what they do in high school...
you must have forgot how it was to be a teen my brother
5:56 pm
all age gogo ISNT the problem, because sad to say you can go to and 18+, 21+ gogo or even a regular club and their STILL be violence, stupid unnessary violence. so is that gogo's fault? NO
5:59 pm
Cut the bullsh*t. I'm pretty sure both anwar and the gameoca dude is over 18 and like seeing minors strip up on the GoGo stage. Any parent that lets their child attend these events are bad parents. and don't say that ole "gogo keeps kids out of trouble" because if these parents we're doing what they are supposed to do the kids would have a good head on their shoulders. Hell join a sports team do something productive. Most of these kids who go to GoGos still get in trouble nevertheless and are in crews and gangs, YES gangs because anything you jump someone or do other tedious and illegal activities you are a gang.
6:00 pm
How can you say Gogo=Violence?
We have tried to reduce violence through numerous peace jams and still we are the problem? We even have Gospel Gogo as a time to praise God through our music. Do you see us getting credit for trying to do something positive? No all you see Is MPD attacking BLACK MEN who have found there own ways to actually reduce crime and violence due to the fact they wouldn't do It for us. As to us being "hoodlums" this year as a 10th grader I averaged a 3.250 for the year and I can graduate early as a junior. If we played music where encouraged throwing things and moshpits as stated earlier would we be left alone? Why must something positive for us be viewed as negative by those who arent aware of what really happens?
6:03 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLX5MBfPg8s
As you see here, there are two crews (gangs) fighting and jumping one another at the Morgan Blvd metro station in Capitol Heights not too far from the Le'pearl gogo night club. This video was recored at 1am. Tell me this, what business do teenagers have being out this late or early in the morning. Nothing but trouble I mean what do you think these kids do after the club go home peacefully and in a well mannered fashion? No they leave only to start more trouble.
6:07 pm
If you know so much, do you have a solution?? @truth1life.
6:09 pm
THIS COMMENT IS DIRECTED @truth1life
BOTH FEMALES IN THE VIDEO AND THE MALES IN THE VIDEO YOU POSTED ARE OF THE AGE 18 OR OLDER. ALTHOUGH IT IS AN ALL AGES WELCOMED EVENT, THE TIME FRAME IS FROM 10:00PM-2:00AM SO 80% OF THAT CROWD IS 18+. CHILD PORNOGRAPHY? WHERE IS THE NUDITY? JUST BECAUSE THE FEMALES ARE SHAKING THEIR BUTTS DOESN'T IMPLY PORNOGRAPHY. IF A 10 YEAR OLD IS IN THE GO-GO WATCHING GIRLS DANCE LIKE THAT HOW IS IT ANY DIFFERENT THAN THEM WATCHING BET OR MTV JAMS WHEN VIDEO VIXENS DANCE IN MUSIC VIDEOS WITH WAY LESS CLOTHING ON? IF YOU GOING COME, THEN COME CORRECT...LEAVE ALL THE BIAS COMMENTS AT HOME.
6:16 pm
^^^^^^ i approve this message^^^^^^^
6:19 pm
@truthlife
Now, To Counter That Wouldn't That Make It The Parents Fault Not The Gogo???? The Theme Is On The Flier, It Speaks For Itself, That Makes It The Parents Fault For Allowing Their Kids To Attend, They Knew What They Was Walking Into....And Nobody Forced Nobody's Child To Go To The Front Of The Crowd And Do What They Do For Fun, Which Is DANCING!...
As For The Video, Clearly That WAS NOT AT THE GOGO, Do You See Anything From The Actual GOGO...NO...Was You There?? NO....Is Your Bias And Perspective Of This Given Situation Directly Taken From Youtube Clips...YES...What Do You Mean What Business Do "TEENAGERS" Have Being Out At 1pm...Obviously, They Were Getting On The Train Home, So Evidently You Can't Put The Genre Of Music Or The Clubs At Fault For An Incident That Occured Miles Away..Some Individuals Make A Living Or Benefit In Other Ways From Gogo, Others Use It As A Leisure Activity, To Get Them Out The House, Or Off The Streets, Thats Like Saying..."THESE "GROUPS OF PEOPLE" KEEP COMING TO OUR MOVIE THEATERS AND YELLING AND SMOKING IN OUR THEATERS...." You Ask Yourself, Why Would You Put The Theaters At Fault For What Those Individuals Are Doing..You Can't Put The Theaters, Movie Directors, Or Staff Of The Theaters At Fault For That Now Can You????Exactly, So Why Are Yall Saying This About Gogo???? Even Regular Clubs Have Incidents Where Everyone Does Not Go Home In A Peacefully And Well Mannered Fashion, Thats Just The Society We Live In, We Are All Human...
6:20 pm
all im going to say is @truth1life dont post what you dont no because you dont no how they are
6:20 pm
Say YES on Maryland State Proposition 19, BAN ALL GOGO EVENTS!
6:25 pm
@truth1life
that has nothing to do with GOGO. seems like your making this personal. GOGO is a genre of music. ignorance comes from people such as yourself. because your statements are VERY ignorant
6:26 pm
Ban Gogo? Then ban rock metal screamo anything thats music. Take away our freedom to gather and freedom of speech? I thought we were entitled to equal rights? Obviously not.
6:50 pm
Typical "GoGo": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9Z6Axpydvo
Looks a lot like the zoo.
6:54 pm
Typical Rock Screamo Hardcore show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7w7m4lb2ok Two can play that game sir.
6:55 pm
SEE NOW THIS THE BULLSHIT....WAT HAPPENED TO OUR RIGHT AND FREEDOM IN NOT GOIN TO TURN THIS INTO A RACIST MATTER BUT YALL TURNED IT INTO ONE ALREADY....LIKE COMMENTS STATED BEFORE HEAVY METAL AND ALL THAT TYPE OF MUSIC THE HAS BIG DRUG AND VIOLENCE ISSUES ARE NOT IN THE PROCESSED OF BEING BANNED BUT PEOPLE OVERDOES AND KILL EACHOTHER AT THEM FUNCTION....BUT ALL I CAN SAY IS BRING GOGO TO A END AND YOU ***WILL*** SEE A ***RISE*** IN ***VIOLENCE*** BEACUASE THESE ARE PLACES WHERE YOUNG TEENS CAN COME OUT AND HAVE FUN EVERY WEEKEND...NOW PICTURE THIS ***THOUSANDS*** OF TEENS THAT USE TO GO TO GOGO'S BUT CANT GO ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION WAS STRIPPED AWAY FROM THEM...IT WONT BE A PRETTY SCENCE
6:57 pm
sooooo.....this list is not doing anything but having the same police at the same shows........what are we complaining about again?
6:59 pm
OMG thats a zoo...then explain this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQW8eb1P3dk
6:59 pm
MR.1 .... that crew fight had nothing to with a gogo... Infact how you know if they came from the lepearl??? ... the gangs where from the Bvld around largo town center where alot of crews hang out at and start trouble..... wether if they did or didnt come from a gogo event ... what does have to do with the music itself.... Nothing.... 95% come to gogo events to have a good time represent there crew/hoodsometimes for a dead brother due to nonsense in the streets) and go home but sometimes you do have them fake lil kids starting drama and small altercations occur but Ive notice this much more at hangout spots such as gallary place sliver spring Largo town center(blvd) and even the the more maturer spot such as Adams morgan.... one of them place have nothing to do with gogo but violence have much more than gogo events its self.... explan that my fellow
7:00 pm
@truth1life
you must be one of them niggas that cant get in the gogo or a hater of somesort ... let us have our fun , make our money and continue living ... not all us in the gogo game has negativity so leave that bullshit to yourself pimpin
7:01 pm
Now I don't care how many years ago this happened,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HzQURZd7vg
gun fights don't happen at rock concerts.
Matter of fact there was an outdoor GoGo event more recentin March of 2009 in Silver Spring we're shots was fired and multiple fights broke out. Nice try, "son".
7:05 pm
Simple as this. Anything a BLACK MAN does positive. People figure out how to make It negative.
7:06 pm
um @bob koons i was at that event
there was NO shots fire
it was a HOUSE PARTY hours later
in wheaton that there was a shooting
which had nothing to do with gogo
nice try
7:15 pm
@truth1life, you are really a clown, you say ban go-go, but if it ever happenes when things get really bad in the community, it's funny how yall wanna blame everything on go-go, how can you blame the violence on go-go if thats the case blame it on hip hop, r&b, and reggae, jazz, everything, go-go is mostly our remix of that music, and as far as child pornography if you wanna post links for off youtube, post the ones of the little girls dancing to Soulja Boy in there own homes it's not child pornography then is it???? Stop trying to place the blame on Go-Go, when thats not the cause of it. and yea i'm goin say it and i don't care parents need to start watching and paying attention to what the hell there kids are doing.
7:16 pm
Its obvious that truth1life doesn't get attention from anyone. ANd for a person who doesn't like gogo you sure watch a lot of youtube videos about gogo and research gogo clubs bands and everything else involving gogo.And you responded the most on a topic involving gogo. And you should change your name because nothing you say is the truth.
7:21 pm
agree with lil TY
7:26 pm
Notice that Northern Virginia, Montgomery County, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, and Calvert counties rarely have GoGo events. They are also low crime counties and wealthier unlike Prince George's County, which has turned into a crime infested crap hole. Heck even Bowie said no to GoGo when a club was about to open there. I'm glad they did and should be that way. GoGos main audiences are bunch of hood rats and the bands make it no better when they "call out" two rival "hoods" knowning something is going to happened. Disembark GoGo.
7:30 pm
I read this entire thing and comments and I will not try to pull any race card or say that the police are out to get us. But i must stress the fact that in this area, DC and MD i cant speak for Virginia. Gogo Music is the only thing we have of our own. If the police eventually crack down on all gogos like they try to do than it will be much more violence in these streets and anyone thats actually out in these urban areas can agree. For every ex-convict or juvenile delinquent that is in a band, and practicing 15 20 hours a week in a studio so they can "crank" think of one more person thats not serving a life sentence in Lorton or Hagerstown. I cant speak for every neighborhood, but around Cheverly Terrace Apartments and Hanson Arms Apartments, and even in the "whiteside" of Cheverly there is nothing at all for the youth to do. The recreation center does not allow children to come in unless its a special event. The terrace children have a run down playground and a basketball court.Think on a friday night instead of selling weed or other drugs, the cheverly terrace kids are out at a gogo having fun.Lets not act like children who love gogo are the only ones who give there group of friends names.Fly Money and Wildboys is no different from a group of white kids in bowie who go to rock parties and fight in mosh pits. I have personally been to over a thousand gogos and have never been in a fight. Another point i have is the fact that not only are the children who love gogos affected, but the band members. I just read a article on Big G who is now a janitor. There are some bands making thousands a show and some who do it for free. In both instances they do it out of love. Whatever the other motives may be whether street cred, popularity to get girls; they could be doing something else with there time.
This should not be a if one messes up everyone suffers situation. People fight everywhere, I was just at Adams Morgan and seen to Asian men fighting. Drunk white women were fighting at Dupont Circle during one of USA's world cup matches. There is going to be violence, but it seems gogo is taking the blame for a few bad seeds. Love Nightclub was shut down a few months back for a stabbing, they probably play 2 gogo songs on a good night, is gogo the blame there too?
And to the comment about letting kids get on mic. Let me tell you something coming from a kid who loves his neighborhood, not a gang banger or some hoodlum.We take pride in our neighborhood and getting on mic to say where we from is something we enjoy.
7:30 pm
Waldorf Is a gogofest, check the crime rate up here. Doubt that Its high
7:33 pm
MR BOB I WAS THERE at that event
I was a test from the Mo-county Police to have heat on us to shut down all our events in Mo-county knowing to put our favorite band out there in the open for us to act ingorance in a peace show in a already violent hangout spot on weekends so they can take it court and ban the music from the county... there wasnt even a gunshoot at the event... it was another location in the area.... oh course a event with little police guidess is going to start drama common sense.... wether its gogo,hip hop or music that have a minority fan base not saying that we are a ignorant bases race but anyone should know that violence happen everywhere
7:36 pm
its people like spacestarsstripes that the police love.
First off now that bowie is more populated with african americans who came from other areas there are going to be more people wanting a gogo in bowie. Gogo is not only for "hoodrats", because if that were the case than why does Club Icon in Waldorf always pack out with children from the Charles County Area?
Know some facts before you speak because Club Blackout has been throwing gogos in northern virginia for more than a year.
As for your comment about the rival hoods.. there are many lead mics and groups like "peaceaholics" who have put a stop to neighborhood beefs.The tv reports this stuff and you soak it all up! No one goes to these areas to try to squash the beefs and stop the violence just write these kids off!
A Big G or Polo or Rick Ross, people who like us are from the streets and are well respected have stopped plenty of murders from happening by squashing beefs and geting these hoods to party with one another
and sir or maam whatever you are by no means am i a hoodrat. I am a junior at Morgan State University, majoring in graphics design. Ill probably be designing the game your kid will be playing in 10 years.
Some hoodrat huh..
7:37 pm
STamp at my PG brother Malik....
7:47 pm
Im am also a college student and have been regular attending gogos for about 5 years now
@ Starsandstripes all those places you listed do have gogos and its more often than it is rare and about those counties being wealthy Prince Georges County is the richest African American community in the world so check your facts before you criticize something that you know absolutely nothing about
7:50 pm
i see this as a way to get the whole thing shut down
like forreal just because a gogo tunrs out to be a big event full of ''black''people doesnt mean its a bunch of hoodrats and gangbangers. Like i live in waldorf and club icon my brothers place and the skyboxx is there. As u would clearly know waldorf is not a hood. its a suburban area. People take time outta their life to take a 30-45min drife from DC or anotha side of PGcounty just to come to da icon or da others. Waldorf ant a hood yet alotta waldorfians come to the icon erytime theres a big event their. And erybody das from a hood doesnt mean that they are a ''hoodlum'' or from a ''gang'' they just representin. You say that erybody that goes to a gogo has a ''gang'' or a crew'' there. I have nether and i still go. I may be with a group of frends but it ant no gang. So like if yall wanna come at us with dis nonsense step up cuz we got da whole gogo community with us....
7:51 pm
stamp @Malik
7:56 pm
so connecticut, hampton virginia, richmond virgina
north carolina, south carolina, atlanta georgia, florida
are all crime infest crap wholes?
because they ALSO have gogo events
sir your ignorance is showing
8:02 pm
And i notice alot of you put in "hoodlums" and other outrageous remarks about section 8 housing and apartment living.... AS a 20 year old male from Uptown(NW) DC I have seen and been through things that would make a man give up a early age... But Ive made stronger as a person... that why people represent where they from... but its what made them Stronger being raised in areas that made him who he is now!!!... so calling people hoodlums and gang bangers are not the appropiate terms to use for somewhere you was raised... I cant speak too much for crews these days but live a area of good for a month and see what you can overcome what they been doing for years
8:19 pm
smh... y do the police refuse to do their jobs. there are gogo's that have absolutly no problems and everyone has a great time. Why because the people are responsible i can't blame tcb or any gogo band because of what the crowd does. likewise you can't either. THE PEOPLE are the source of the violence not the music. althought i will admit that a gogo can be violent that is only because the crowd makes it violent. the flyers usually have a common phrase "this is a violence-free event". meaning that gogo music is not made to encourage fight but instead be a safe place for the youth to enjoy themselves. also, every year the gogo community has a peace jam to help stop the violence in the streets and in the gogo's
8:21 pm
I Honestly Do Not think That It Is The Bands Fault That Go=Go's Are Violent. The Band Just Does Their Job. They Do Not Encourage AnyOne To Fight And kill. The People Who COme To Gogo's Start The Problems. So Therfore The Bands And There Manageers Should Not Be The Blame. Many Kids Go To Gogo's And They Are not Always Violent And If They Do Get Violent Than The Police Should Be There To Do Their Jobs Instead Of Tryin To Shut Stuff Down. GoGo's Give Kids Somewhere To Go Instead Of Them Being On The Street Of Doing Things They Arent Supposed To Be Doing. There Can Be ViolenceAt Any Club With Anytype Of Music. ITS NOT JUST GOGO
8:47 pm
thank you for your two positive opinions... thank you
9:40 pm
EVERYONE HAS SPOOKEN IN THE COMMUNITY.... GOGO IS NOT LEAVING THE AREA....
12:29 am
Question for the Go-Go crowd---
How do you feel about the Mayor using you to try to get elected again while at the same time his administration (his Police andhis abc board) are doing everything they can to stop Go-Go's from even happening in DC? How can you support him after all you've been through the last 3 years with him and Laneir? They must be having a good laugh at your expense.
12:47 am
in my opinion all dese people that are against gogo is stupid forreal . how does gogo start problems? gogo is not an human being. humans start problems. us kids go to gogos to party and have fun not to be violent. VIOLENCE IS EVERYWHERE , so you really sound dumb saying that violence occurs only at gogos. another thing. girls choose to dance at a gogo , if they do not want anybody to look at them dance, dont dance or dont come simple as that or do not want to be recorded while dancing simply stop dancing and walk away point blank period. all i got to say gogo is keeping kids out of trouble nd it dosent increase violence.
12:58 am
if they ban gogo, police gonna have a lot on their plate just watch, they thought gogo still going is a problem, just think how bad its gonna be when there isnt any gogos, violence is everywhere, not just gogo's lets be real here
1:55 am
BTW that mosh pit shit is retarded who the fuck punches at the air?
9:15 am
Strongly Agree w/ Dc gogo on that!!! Like I said.... Fenty is using this "gogo for Fenty" BS to get votes but i never seen this man host or support a gogo event in his life or invested in one but him and his best friend Cathy and the ABC board do whatever they can to knock whatever event they have been in there eyes to.... They are not for gogo no where near it... I wish Fenty stop lying to the people and stop paying Sugar Bear for dumb ass radio commercials.... He is a Disgrace to the District of Columbia African American community
9:44 am
Some of you guys are liars.
GoGo doesn't cause violence?
Well a gun doesn't kill people, people kill people right?
It's still the same cause and effect, if you put that many people in one room something bound to get started. Also GoGo concerts do attract a certain group of people, and most of them are either from a hood or a crew. None of you can deny that. Maybe if there we're more religious GoGos such as My Brothers Place so many people wouldn't be whining. You can compare GoGos to Rock concerts all you want but the fact is people who go to Rock Concerts:
1. Do not get their "hood" stamped
2. The vast majority of them are not in STREET CREWS, though you do have the clique such as the goth, emo, biker gangs, the various brotherhoods, etc..
You guys say crime would increase of GoGo was "banned", well given that D.C. area is the only area that throws GoGo multiple times a week I wonder how other cities keep their kids intact or have for them something to do. I say go back to house parties and REGULAR teen night clubs.
10:09 am
^^^^^ Argree and Disagree.... Ban these gogos and thats all them Kids going to have rely on is unsupervised house parties(Which is going to cause much worst probelms than gogos) and teen parties are much more violent that gogos from my own experience as a teen before.... Stop throwing this on people who want to party and have a great time... everybody that reps there neighborhood does dont do it to start drama... even certain gospel bands rep hoods in there gogos and nothing happens there....its because they love where but do agree on the bases of how much extreme pride they have for where theyre from which occurs in ignorance... Like I said b4 people do not go the these events to start drama... drama occur here and there but not compare things that see at local hang out spots that the DC and PG youth have to hang out at such as gallary and Largo town center where they got nothing to do because there is nothing to do so violent actitivies occur and mostly with no guidence and police that also harass and abuse there probelm just like they do towards gogos ..... alot people going say... do something positive like it easy to jump in a good wagon and ride along being raised in a area of so much struggle.... our music is positve...our music is for the community we where raised in and its been like that 30+ year and ill be damn to let it just vanish in my eyes...
11:37 am
Quite simply to say that GoGo as a genre attracts violence is a false statement. It would be more accurate to say that some of the people that attend the shows bring violence with them. With that being said violence isn't going to happen at every show, so banning GoGo as a genre wouldn't help solve the problem. Our police department(s) DC & PG County are both showing how they really feel about the youth in the community and for the genre of music. The start to finding a solution needs to be looking at each individual club that hosts these GoGo events, the officers that are assigned to that area, and what they are doing wrong. If bad things keep happening at the same place week after week, then the officers that are suppose to be on "duty" should have a heads up, and therefore should be able to do something to prevent it from happening again.
The main thing that I would like to comment on though is that someone above talked about Fenty wanting to get the GoGo vote and how voters of that age fail to come out and voice their opinions. While that may be true the main organization in the city that was a voice for the young people of the city, Peaceaholics, got its earmarked government funding cut this past year. While Fenty supported Peaceaholics, other city council members voted against continuing funding. So while our police department is spending money funding this "task force" which compiles information that could be found on gogocentral.com, facebook, etc. we have organizations that really are trying to keep our GoGo's and youth safe being forced to stop their efforts. So before you blame the bands, the genre, or even the people that attend the shows, you need to really blame the big fish because ultimately if they wanted to they could control, help, or hurt all of this.
12:09 pm
^^^^^^^ thank you^^^^^^^
1:36 pm
Well, there is a bunch in here that I would say is assertions without anything to back it up.
"Shout Outs" I think are usually taken as a "we're in here" thing and do not automatically "encourage beefing and violence". I don't think this by itself actually *causes* *ANY* disputes between individuals and groups.
"Teenage ass waggling" I think anyone who has spent time in a Go-Go would agree that Go-Go is not stripping and this kind of stuff is not a core necessary part of it, talking about this is just throwing chaff on the issues. Much of it is in my opinion tasteless and unappealing, but certainly not something I would worry about my kids being around. (My kids just think it is all too loud. And my son says what I play is always the same conga beat.)
More violence at Go-Gos: Look, parts of DC & PG have problems with violence. The same folks like Go-Go. Common sense that it would look like Go-Go might be part of the problem- but wrong. Personally, I think it has been a convenient scapegoat by those who don't know what to really do about the problems, or who know how hard it is to really address problems of culture, economics, broken families, inertia, and hopelessness. Not to mention boat!
"Hoodlums" & "Garbage" ... well, I'm a 48yr old professional who votes, which puts me in the minority, but, calling anyone "garbage" or a "hoodlum" is offensive to me. Maybe if you treated people with more respect you would be taken more seriously. I kind of doubt that if you got to know some of these kids you would still feel the way you do.
Realist - you are confusing your metaphors and stuff. Try again. And you know that the same demographics that have problems with violence in Go-Gos, also have problems with violence in other places. Or don't you read the news? Look, in my opinion, stuff doesn't usually 'get started' at Go-Gos, anyway.
Bottom line, I don't care if there are police cars outside the exits when a Go-Go lets out, and don't mind them keeping these lists. Honestly, when I heard about this list, I expected a lot more meat to be in it!
But I challenge those with such nasty attitudes about it to be a bit more respectful and tolerant of something which is, after all, a concert. Music. Art. Creativity.
There are a lot of worse things kids could be focusing on. I may wish they would practice the congas and chill on the timbales. I may hate the vegas keyboard hits. But I still respect a bunch of 13yr olds trying to succeed with a band.
4:22 pm
LMAOOOOOOOOOO
house parties lmaoooooo
think about it
da same "hood" and "crews" u ppl fear r out
but dere iz not security 2 protect da people
den wat lmaoooooo
6:41 pm
If the GOGO bands just play Fenty campaign events they will be just fine.
Talk about 2 faces--one face seeks the help of GOGO while another face allows the MPD to gather intelligence on GOGO bands.
Fenty and his two faces at their best.
8:38 pm
^^^ Fenty doesnt honestly support gogo... its all a gig Ms.Jackson... It is a Valid chance for people to understand for what it really isnt is which is known as a home of violence to people who have no truth of the music itself.... but fenty is a fraud... he supports the movement of banning all all age and 18+ events in the gogo community
9:33 pm
No grown and sexy venues. Just shitholes and nucklehead 3rd gen go go bands.
Be afraid very afraid.
4:34 am
The Go-Go community is being exploited for a lack of vision and organization. Discrimination is discrimination. MPD's infatuation with and demonization of Go-Go is not only unfair, its a criminal waste of scarce government resources. This "Report" really is only a club listing. A genuine report would furnish statistical data detailing the propensity of crime and analyze it in comparison to other events. These are the same people who'll mandate a Black crack dealer gets life in prison for the same amount of drugs a White cocaine dealer would receive a warning for. With such a budget and elaborate intelligence (spy) network, you'd almost think Go-Go artist were some underground terrorist operation.
I think the people need to complain or maybe release a study and report of our own. Maybe we'll find that Go-Go is no more violence-driven than the opera (where Lincoln was assasinated).
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