Last week, news broke that hip-hop icon Dr. Dre had been handcuffed after a scuffle with a motorcyclist outside his home in Malibu, California. The motorcyclist allegedly pulled up outside the rappers home and when Dre pulled out his mobile phone to record the incident, the motorcyclist made a call to police and claimed that Dre had pulled a gun on him.
Image: Hip-Hop DX
Now, Dr. Dre’s former N.W.A manager Jerry Heller has had his say on the incident, noting that the episode appears to be a racially motivated. In a video posted to YouTube, a TMZ asked the controversial music guru what his thoughts were on the incident. The response was as diplomatic as it was thought-provoking.
“Personally I’m not a fan of Dr. Dre, but I think this is all bullshit… what did he do? He was just trying to leave his house! Without knowing all the facts, it seems to me like it was a racial issue, and it upsets me.”
When asked if he thought the same thing would have happened if it had been a white person involved, or even himself, Heller simply said “No. If it was me, definitely not.” You can watch the interview below:
The incident has once again highlighted the ongoing issue of racial profiling in America, a situation which has reached a new low point with multiple incidences ending in tragedy over the past few months.
Thankfully, leadership figures are starting to emerge from the fold, with Snoop Dogg and The Game holding a forum for gangs in LA last week. In addition, figures such as Kendrick Lamar and Iggy Azalea have been recognized for the influence they have brought to the wider community through their art and message concerning human rights.
However, if this incident is true to reports, there is still a long, long way to go.
Image: The Source