"You know you’re hot when you got the Hip-Hop police on your ass," said
one internet poster on DJ Don Cannon‘s myspace page. "FREE
DRAMA & DON CANNON." The Hip-Hop community has immediately responded
to the office raid and arrest of DJ Don Cannon and DJ Drama of
the Aphilliates, a collective of DJs based in Atlanta.

Yesterday, 17 people were apprehended from the company’s offices in a raid
where all off the mixtape CDs, computer and recording equipment were confiscated
by the federal government and the RIAA. Drama and Cannon, the most recognizable
faces of Aphilliates Music Group, were the only people arrested and slapped
with racketeering charges.

Now, the graphical image of DJ Drama emblazoned with "Free Drama &
Cannon" has begun to spread across the Internet, through message boards
and artist’s music pages. The arrests have raised questions about the validity
of the charges, by fans and professionals. "These guys weren’t selling
official barcoded albums, like the type you buy on 125th Street in Harlem, but
should be buying from a legitimate retail store," said one music industry
professional under the auspices of anonymity. "The artists were apart of
the creation process on most – if not all of the Gangsta Grillz."

DJ Drama, who serves as T.I.’s DJ, has received a number of accolades for his
ability to turn his mixtape CDs into wholly new works of art with the aid of
rappers like Lil’ Wayne, Bun B, Young Jeezy, 8Ball & MJG
and a host of others. The RIAA raids aren’t a new phenomenon. Days after mixtape
staple Justo Faison died, the RIAA announced a series of raids that were executed
in New York City. "Retailers who are making money on the backs of musicians
and record companies by selling pirated CD’s should know that this is absolutely
no way to conduct a business," said Brad Buckles of the RIAA to the New
York Times in 2005.

Of the RIAA, one protester inquired as to the apparent conflict in raids like
the Aphilliates and others that create Hip-Hop mix CDs. "[DJ Drama and
Cannon are] putting out mixtapes , creating a buzz for an artist and then the
artist sells records and the major [label] makes the bucks, so what’s wrong?"

A high ranking executive that is familiar with both DJ Drama and Don Cannon
said the arrests of DJ’s of their stature would have a chilling effect on the
entire mixtape culture.

"Record labels have always utilized the important DJ’s to help promote
the records," the unnamed executive told said. "The DJ’s help promote
the records. For the most part the records they put out are given to them by
the labels. It’s something that has to be taken into consideration. The mixtapes
are done cooperatively, where the labels and the mixtape DJ’s work together
to break artists. It’s a tough position. The RIAA and the corporate people feel
a certain way."

Until the question is answered, supporters of DJ Drama and Don Cannon will
continue to protest their incarceration. Matthew Kilgo, who oversaw the RIAA’s
role in yesterday’s raids of The Aphilliates office in Atlanta, was unable to
comment due to a recently imposed gag order.