Many, many individuals have called out hip-hop performers for merely being storytellers and not the actual "gangstas" their music portends. Incidents and events at award shows have backed up the stories they tell as perhaps no other platform can. Today marks the tenth anniversary of Yung Buck's legal troubles following the 2004 VIBE Awards (read more below). Check out a history of police intervention at awards shows below.
Onyx @ The Source Awards (1994)
The original Source Awards somehow got more attention for Tupac Shakur running onstage mid-A Tribe Called Quest's performance, rather than the behavior of rap group Onyx. The collective came up to play "Throw Ya Gunz" as scheduled and member Sticky Fingaz decided to get the crowd pumped up by sticking his own gun in the air...and firing five live rounds into the ceiling. The crowd seemed less than panicked and the emcee managed to lose the gun before law enforcement showed up to question him post-performance. The ceremony wasn't televised until live footage found its way to YouTube during 2008 (which you can watch below).
The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards...in general (2000)
The Source had actually managed to run a series of safe and healthy hip-hop awards shows between 1995-'99, aside from some subtle jabs taken between the East Coast/West Coast rivals. Things got out of control during the first ceremony of the new millennium however when a brawl broke out in the audience. What or who started the fight is still unclear as many in attendance weren't willing to speak to the press about it, but DJ Quik was hospitalized for his injuries and the event was shut down after only five of the night's 15 awards being handed out. Police were pelted with bottles and CD cases as they ushered the crowd into the street. The show was to be aired later in the year so footage of the fracas isn't available. Needless to say, Source was banned from holding future events in Pasadena.
Young Buck at The VIBE Awards (2004)
G-Unit Member Young Buck was in the company of Dr. Dre when the producer was approached by so-called fan Jimmy James Johnson, who asked for an autograph. Dre declined and Johnson punched him in the back of the head. Somehow an all-out brawl followed (were people on Johnson's side?) and in the mess Buck managed to stab him in the chest. Video evidence confirmed Johnson's claims that it was Buck who dealt him the blow. He was brought to court in Santa Monica but managed to strike a deal that would prevent a trial. We feel his want to flatten the attacker but the knife probably wasn't necessary.
T.I. @ The BET Hip Hop Awards (2007)
Rapper T.I. used to be much more of a "Trouble Man" than he is now and the peak of his troubles may have occurred before he headed over to the BET Hip Hop Awards, where he won two awards in absentia. Perhaps trying to be efficient with his time, he opted to meet with a bodyguard (who was also an FBI informant as it turned out). He was arrested for trying to purchase three automatic weapons and two silencers, and the ensuing search of his home and vehicle turned up nine more weapons. His problems only increased due to his felon status. Fortunately he's cleaned his act up since then.
Rick Ross, Young Jeezy and others @ BET Hip Hop Awards (2012)
Rick Ross and Young Jeezy were two former friends who had fallen into disagreement, which boiled over at the BET Hip Hop Awards. According to Ross, he instigated the fight just because Jeezy say "wassup" to him backstage. That fight was broken up by bodyguards and security with no major trouble. Gunplay, a rapper on Ross's Maybach Music Group, got into more trouble when he tried to front on 50 Cent and affiliates. That fight had to be broken up by mace-wielding law enforcement members, although no one was ultimately charged. Ross and Jeezy apparently patched things up, as the latter appeared on Ross's track "War Ready" during 2013.
