Rhymefest releases song about police encounter after being robbed in Chicago
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Two days after Che 'Rhymefest' Smith tweeted about being robbed on the South Side, the Chicago hip hop artist has released a new song about the ordeal.
The song, released Monday on SoundCloud and titled #copsNrobbers, includes audio recorded by Smith after the robbery when he reported the incident at the Grand Crossing District police station.
Smith said he was rebuffed by Chicago police when he tried to report the incident, insisting that they were more interested in a game of Candy Crush than taking a report about being the armed robbery.
His cellphone video posted on Twitter shows the tense exchange while inside the police station.
"No one should go in to make a report and have to turn on a camera. That should never happen," Smith said.
The ensuing firestorm led to both the Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson and Mayor Rahm Emanuel to apologize.
"Had that officer acted appropriately, we'd be dealing right now with who did the mugging, which is where we should be doing," said Emanuel.
"Chief of patrol is investigating the situation and he will handle it accordingly," Johnson said.
The Grammy- and Oscar-award winning songwriter said he was sitting in his car in the 4300-block of South Cottage Grove at about 7:30 a.m. Saturday when a man jumped into the back seat, pointed a gun to his head and demanded he turn over his wallet.
Smith said the indifference and disrespect with which he was treated while trying to report what happened is unacceptable.
"If a doctor is desensitized to do a heart surgery and the next day he says, 'I can't do any more heart surgeries,' people die. Well that same thing happens when police become desensitized," Smith said.
Smith said he appreciates the apologies from public officials, but wants to make sure that average citizens are not ignored.
"The Mayor made a statement about me. I want the mayor to talk about how people should be treated in Chicago. Because if it wasn't Che "Rhymefest" Smith, and it was Joe Smith, John Smith, Sharon Smith, we want to make sure they get treated fairly."
In Smith's Twitter video, he is audibly frustrated with police. He captioned the video: "You wonder we (sic) don't report crimes? The police treated me disgustingly."
Smith said his stolen wallet only contained $3 and his identification.
He also tweeted: "I defend you against police brutality. I work on your behalf you robbed me."
Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi tweeted back to Smith and apologized. Guglielmi said, "disappointing to say the least. On behalf of CPD, I apologize for how you were treated. We will be addressing this today."
