I love how they think that a "big time" rapper is selling drugs. They obviously don't watch tv, movies, or music videos. Rappers on a long trip like that?! Are going to supply themselves with as much marijuana to last them.

The 'people on that bus', as Brooks so eloquently refers to them, were not pulled over because they had drugs on the bus. A traffic stop was made due to a traffic violation. The evidence of drug use came into play when the officers made contact with the occupants. Gee, with a personal net worth of $600 million I believe I could afford to fly, and not just figuratively.

OH I LOVE IT!!!! I can bet if it was hank williams jr or montgomery gentry there woulda been a probe for law enforcement tokin it up and taking pics with the band....theres truck drivers that almost run over cars everyday and it seems law enforcement just looks the other way on that one...but oh get a few black guys in town and we gotta book em...so really how many black ppl are on kingsport law enforcement...whats the ratio...2500:2??ok yes i understand it was wrong..drugs are bad and nobody else in the world has a carbine SHORT RIFLE...but uh seems kinda lop sided dont it...so what black ppl dont go hunting now??? man seems racist to me. next truck i see all over the road and nobody pulls him over or he dont get charged with dui ill bet hes white.

Mr Brooks, I think your comments are ridiculous. Drugs are illegal, which makes anyone who has drugs a criminal. If you would read the article, you would see they are not charged with being drug dealers, they are charged with having it(illegal activity). If they were legit Business Men, they wouldn't have drugs on the bus.

I think it is a joke! East TN local law enforcement is ridiculous, they have nothing better to do than to harass people. Just one of the people on that bus has an estimated net worth of 600 million dollars. Why would they be trafficking drugs. I will say it once again what a joke they are business people not criminals.

Everyone here would probably like to see the, umm, "news report?" I stumbled upon on Youtube.com. Its "interesting" to say the least. Unfortunately, I was unable to get the link to show here, but get to www.youtube.com, and search for "kingsport birdman".

Black, White, Purple or Plaid, if you have guns and drugs you are breaking the law!! Race is not an issue, so get over it Ms. Dukes. My hats off to our local law enforcement, keep arresting the ones who violate the law regardless of skin color. Oh, as for Mr.CarterJr, do you actually talk like you type? If so, you're going to have a hard time finding a respectable job.

Within 4 hours of these arrests there were already 2 different stories being reported. Times-news told one story & Ch.5 news told a different tale. The only people who know what really happened are the ones on the bus & the officers on the scene. Now, I wondered just how "famous" these people were because I never heard any mention of it on Entertainment news shows..I was hoping to hear about someone besides Brittney Spears.. EBONICS isn't a language it is however lazy wanna-be english which is really sad. That's my opinion.

Although I strongly disagree that East TN has evolved into a place of brotherly love for all races. I strongly disagree that this rapper and his crew were pulled over because of their race. It is ridicules to believe that the cop would have thought "hey a swerving vehicle with black people its my lucky day, let me pull this weed out my pocket and this gun out of my car and place it in the vehicle".

Maybe instead of making a race issue out of this you should thank the cop for pulling over someone who was driving erratically plus with the report of marijuana smell the driver quite possibly may have been high. I believe I am more comfortable reading "Rapper behind bars" instead of "Traffic jam on I80 leaves 5 dead and 15 wounded drug use involved". Maybe its just me and I am Black.

Hey Richard, Le` Michelle here again. By the way, did you read the whole statement that I wrote concerning your question? If not, read the next few lines under the statement you questioned me on for clarity. I do believe I clearly stated what blacks are doing there in their want-to-be lifestyle. And after all Richard, you have to admit; everything has a price in the choices that you choose from. What are these young rappers going to
do for security later in life, when right now they're getting this fast money with most likely no tax deductions? When you work, you have something to pull from. But on the other hand, fast living as my parents described it to me, isn't gonna get you anywhere.
Sorry for sounding like an old rooster in the hen barn, but I was raised to be something in life that took going to school, not following a dream that had no direction. Even dreams are good, BUT you must have some course of direction. That means having sound wisdom of those to help you in the right path. But like many youngters today, that doesn't make much sense.

Hey Richard, I like your question of my statement you entered saying; That's the price that blacks have to pay when they choose to want to be like something that they weren't made to be." -- please clarify how African Americans were "made" to be.
The answer to that question is simple. When blacks used to use common sense and listen to sound wisdom and people that knew what they were talking about, you didn't here of them {blacks} getting wrapped up in all kinds of mess like you see today. Matter of fact, blacks worked HARD years ago, meaning less than 20 yrs. back, to make something out of their lives, and it wasn't handed to them on a silver platter. But you see today, on the average of young blacks, they can't seem to see that. They got to follow everything that looks glittery, and as you know, everything that look like gold, isn't gold. Rather than get a regular job and work like most of their parents did, the younger blacks rather try to be some supper star, and try to make it over night. Now mind you that if you are trying to do all the right things in life, and NOT trying to be the man like the pimp, you might just make it. You may not agree, but on the average, most young black africian americans don't have a clue what it is to really work hard to make it. Instead they try to better themselves by trying to be like these superstars in sports, etc. The only difference is, those guys went to college to learn and do, and THEN became who they are. Not going to be some rapper, and trying to just get through the door. Things now days are to easy and simple for young people to do. It seems as though they are to good to work hard. And mind you that a little hard work isn't hard for nobody.
I hope I answered your question!

Hey Richard. Hippo says to tell you; Did you get that THING i sent you?

Le' Michelle -- you say "That's the price that blacks have to pay when they choose to want to be like something that they weren't made to be." -- please clarify how African Americans were "made" to be.

You go Victoria Bryant!!!! You said it all.
Now! I-81 as we all should know is a pipeline for people to transport drugs, weapons, and illegal items or people as well. However, we must not forget that since we live in a area that's right off the interstate, most of us aren't stupid in knowing that we all must beware that there is lot?s of dangers traveling through our region, if not stopping through our city.
For those of you that think BLACKS are being picked on because of their so-called or professional lifestyle, get over it! That's the price that blacks have to pay when they choose to want to be like something that they weren't made to be.
I mean after all, isn't it funny how Vick is in trouble for doing wrong?
Stop, take a GOOD smell at the coffee cooking in our want-to-be hit stars, and be careful whom you support or want to support in that arena.
Everybody isn't wrong, but it's funny how $$$$$ will make you get into the wrong choices of life.
You have to admit, {The officers I find couldn?t have planted these drugs, weapons, etc., and how do you plant thousands of dollars physically in a persons bra or pants or underwear or even socks, without not first asking for a shakedown? I mean after all, most people hiding something generally hides things in one of those areas on their persons. And they asked the people if they could search their bus? Like a dummy, they said yes. So who?s fault is that? Looks like to me Poe - Poe just did their job, and should be commended for the right choices.} And as far as to the out-of state tags being blown up? GIVE ME A BREAK Loleta!
Quite frankly I?m happy to see justice happens when it does, cause most people these days must think this is Dodge City.

Ms. Dukes, I'm very surprised at your attitude on this news matter.
Matter of fact, you need to be a little more wise about your attitude. It doesn't pay to have an attitude and try to be a Christian at the same time. Be careful who you try to example yourself after, cause they too could be causing you to have a real bad attitude, since they have one themselves.

Oh Ms. Dukes? where are you from Hazzard county? No seriously how naïve can you be? Do you honestly believe your own rhetoric? I totally get the rapper lingo and am very familiar and like a lot of the hip hop music?. That doesn?t bother me at all? it is sort of a media hype for that genre?but as far as the insinuation that this was trumped up charges and that the weed and weapons were ?planted? ? Come on.. is it so hard to believe that a musician and his entourage would have pot? most of them do? and most of them are brazen enough to sing about it in their lyrics. I would expect his security detail to be packing with licensed legal weapons?.notice they were not brought up on weapons charges because it was legal. However they are not innocent? had their driver not cut off a tractor trailer in front of law enforcement? they would probably have made it threw Kingsport?s (Roscoe P. Coltrane speed trap) lol? and this would not be an issue?. As far as the race card that you threw out there? Come on ? it?s 2007? all men and women are created equal? I am not racist and treat all human beings as my equal. I do not look down my nose at any human being. So why is it that you want to throw the race card out there? whether birdman was black has nothing to do with the charges?obviously the tour bus had tinted windows and the law enforcement officer could not have known his race to plan his ?planting? as you suggested. Furthermore, your remarks hint of reverse racism or white racism? you are assuming since a white officer pulled over a black tour group that by all means he must be racist? How ridiculous this is to be in 2007 and still be playing the race card?. ?5 Star G? will pay his fine and keep on rapping?and it will all blow over. I suggest you give more thought to your word choices before trying to incite actions over race?

Sounds as if "Li'l Wayne" needs to do a web search on English.

LOL While I seldom agree with you Mr Simmons I must on that comment.Too funny!

weezie is the man no matter how much you make fun of his "jumbled garble" he outta play a show down here and rub it in all your faces cause he has the money and the power

Nov 28 2007 4:57 PM EST

Baby -- A.K.A. Birdman -- Tells His Side Of Marijuana BustComments 0
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'People are making the situation out worse than what it is,' MC says.
By Shaheem Reid

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Bryan "Baby" Williams ? a.k.a. Birdman ? reached out to MTV News on Wednesday afternoon (November 28) to talk about his arrest for marijuana possession on Tuesday night. According to a copy of the report from the police department of Kingsport, Tennessee, Williams was among 16 people charged with possession of nearly a pound of marijuana after the RV they were riding in was pulled over by police officers who observed it weaving on Interstate 81. Officers said they found a plastic bag of "plant material" believed to be about 1 pound of marijuana.

"We was on the bus. I was asleep in the back," he said. "Why they pulled us over, I don't know. The people are making the situation out worse than what it is. We got arrested for a misdemeanor amount of [marijuana] ? we didn't have no pound. The police just found something minor in a garbage can the dog sniffed. We all got out on bond."

Baby also maintained that he is not in trouble with the law for carrying guns. He said he and his security personnel are all licensed gun carriers and their weapons were returned by the authorities.

"The guns we had were good," he said. "I do carry a gun and I am licensed. Tennessee is one of the states I can tote in. We know the guidelines [for carrying weapons]. They make you aware of everything in [marksmanship] class."

Birdman also emphasized that he is not married, as has been widely reported. He said the young woman was a friend of one of the guys traveling with him.

"I'm not married," he insisted. "Never! Been! Married! Plus, that girl was 18! I don't get down like that! Plus, if I was married, why would I keep it a secret?" However, he did allow that perhaps the right woman could make an honest man out of him one day.

Baby is on the road promoting his new LP, 5 Star G, which comes out on December 11. He said he's due back in court on March 18.

"Hopefully all the charges will be dropped by then, and we won't have to go to court" he said. "But we good. Everybody is fine."

Police had not returned MTV News' calls for comment at press time, however WVLT in Knoxville, Tennessee, reports that Baby was charged with possession of more than a half-ounce of marijuana and released on $1,500 bond at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, along with "several others."

It takes a lot to produce more gibberish than some posters on this forum, but Mr. Carter, you are simply the least understandable period.

Ms Dorton, you are missing the point here. There were drugs on board the bus. It takes money to buy drugs. If the two are linked together than it all gets seized. I guess that would be considered a down fall of doing drugs!! I agree with you that most money in circulation would probably have the smell of drugs on them. However, if you are not carrying drugs, then your money wont be sniffed and seized. Great Job Corporal Horne!!!

I don't know when I have heard anything that sounded like that. I guess it was when I was a kid and watched Fat Albert and heard Mush Mel talk. I have a great idea Mr. Carter, instead of "lill weezie" getting off his lazy butt and coming up from N.O.to bail his buddy out, it would be a much better idea if Birdbrain... or what ever his name is... would just keep the weapons and dope out of Tennessee the next time he cruises through. Drive Safely now boys. Hope you have enjoyed your stay. Y'all come back now, Hear!!!

Who is "lil weezie" and do you speak English? Thats the biggest mess of jumbled garble I've seen on these forums. "I get money"..."pop bottles". Give me a break.

Yo dis be lil weezie. I come to ya from new orleans and i want to say, first off, i get money, second, that weed is not my dads and he got a video to shoot in da big NYC that he need to get to so yall best quit commentin about it and get baby outta jail b4 lil weezie gotta bring his lazy butt up from the NO and do it himself...carter 3 comin feb, 12 2008...pop bottles

i like the part about how they wouldn't be seizing the money unless the dog smelled marijuana on it. if there is 12-15,000 in cash there is more than likely going to be drugs on it. i'm not taking anyone's side but i get money sometimes that's taped together and everything else. there's no telling how many people have rolled it up and used it to snort something and whatever else people do with dollars. i just think it's kind of stupid to seize all that money because the scent of drugs might be on it. we could all have cash in our purse or wallet with drugs on it. not to mention i'm sure birdman has plenty of money from rapping that he doesn't need to sell drugs so i seriously doubt that was drug money.

KUDOS Mr. Griffin for the wonderful lyrical sample of such an exceptional (Please note extreme sarcasm*) group of entertainers! To Ms. Dukes, your attitude and twisted, warped view of reality and "racism" as you define this instance, is simply laughable. The only bit of racism related to this event whatsoever is yourself Ms. Dukes. You are barking up the wrong tree, madam. You will find that your allies in this area with the same old-fashioned, backwards sense of society are few and very far between. Enough is absolutely enough with the "racism" allegations. The only major obstacle we as a society still face in the battle for equal rights based on race, are those who must cling to the past in their attempt to justify their beliefs and opinions.

Ms. Dukes, I think it is you who needs to know what they are talking about before they speak. To even insinuate that the drugs or guns were planted by the KPD is completely asinine to say the least. It's obvious by your ignorant statement, you have no idea how big a pound of marijuana would be, or how long a .223 assault rifle or even how impossible it would be to sneak a 9mm into the waistband of another individual without their knowledge. I also take issue with your statement "...just because they are black...". Race plays absolutely no part in this case. The arresting officer could not have known that the individuals on that bus were African-American when the traffic stop was initiated. If Willie Nelson's bus had been pulled over instead and 16 people had been arrested for possession of 1lb of pot, I can guarantee we would still be reading about it today. Oh and yes I can quote "Baby's" lyrics, not that it makes any difference whatsoever. Here's an interesting bar that seems fitting for this article
Fifty on a Caddy wit' the swine suede seats
Twenty on a bike, third world peace
Two on the yacht, million on the fleet
Fo' five fo' a pound of that leaf

Ms. Dukes, They were not arrested because they were black and from out of state.... as you conjecture. In your post you write "it is just weird how people talk when you are a star". That is a part of why it is a big deal. He is, as you call him, a "star". It wouldn't have made any difference if it was George Jones..,who made world headlines when he was pulled over driving drunk on a lawn mower, and incidentally,is not black. But no, we have to play the race card in everything now don't we? Do you really believe that the KPD planted a .223 assault rifle (as well as other guns), drugs and money just so they could humiliate someone? According to the article, the driver was driving dangerously and was pulled over. And I wouldn't doubt but what that Cpl. Horne had it all on in car video (I hope he does). Police departments just don't carry .223 rifles to plant on folks when they pull them over. They are generally a more expensive weapon. With such an arsenal... along with drugs, I can only assume that these poor unfortunate victims of "racism" and "planted evidence" had not heard that Limelight had been closed. LOL

I couldn't agree more with you Ms Bryant!People can say what they want to about illegal immigrants but they do the work that the majority of Americans are too lazy to do and might I add they are some of the hardest workers that I've ever encountered!
And yes,Ms Bryant you are correct again,celebrities do tend to think they are above the law but I suppose that is because they are treated differently even in the court of law and it is usually in their favor.Sad when even our own justice system seems to be "star struck".

Ok, I'm not sure why the topic of illegal immigrants is even being dicussed in this forum, or where these people even get these foolish ideas about that topic, but that is a completely different subject matter that I will express my views on shortly. Now, the sixteen individuals arrested were in fact detained for... well I can't even begin to put into writing the list of numerous charges they are behing held in account of. They had drugs. They had weapons. The thousands of dollars in cash could render a bit... illicit. These things were not planted. They were doing unlawful things and got caught. It's the law, they broke it, but these days in a society such as the one we live in people tend to act as if someone who has celebrity status is above the law. Wrong. And for some reason people are inclined to say it's stereotyping, but it's just simply not. They were caught red-handed with drugs and guns in their pocket and it would be completely Foolish to call it that. I dont't see how anyone could think this was a case of "specualting", and for the record, no...I cannot repeat their Lyrics, but I can however recite lines from How To Kill A Mokingbird. Now, the first person to post said this bus was full of "Illegal Immigrants"...also commented that "the next thing you know, you will be out of work". Now, this is just beyond ridiculous. We all know that the situation with illegal immigrants is no ones fault but our own. America has produced a lazy mindset in the majority of our nation. If we as a population worked as enthusiastic as we should, no one would worry about their job being taken from them because of thier laziness. There is a reason your boss is hiring someone else, who may be from another country: he works harder than you. So wise up people and take some advice....Number one... it's not stereotyping when all the evidence is there....and Number Two... shape up, don't be lazy, go to work on time and do your job correct and you won't have to worry about losing it.

well first of all they are not immigrants an even if it was illegal acts how do you know that it was not planted...do you even know these young men???or can you repeat any of their lyrics? just because they are black from another state an out of state tags it's blown up!!!! everything is huge in KINGSPORT!!!! when it's nothing to sweat about. It's just weird how people talk when your STAR!!!! really before you comment you should know who an what your talking about...the rest is history !!!

I find it really amising that people who know nothing about something, talk like they know something. I guess that is just how it is. The bus was not full of illegals, it was "Bird Man" ( a hiphop rapper) and his friends, it is so funny how people are so quick to speculate and make themselves look so uneducated.

I'm astonished that no one has made the obvious "Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law" joke yet.

hmmmm well we know the brady bunch retired so it isnt them, word on the street has it that it was illegals being transported. wake up kingsport i have first hand knowledge how bad it can get here with the illegals immigrants if we do not stay on top of it. there all leaving arizona because of the new laws passed there and they are heading east. if you think it is bad now do nothing about it and next thing you know you will be out of work.