05/07/07 - Philly Firefighter Cal Akbar Responds To Dismissal...

J-Banks · 05-07-2007, 12:20 PM

Exclusive: Philly Firefighter Cal Akbar Responds To Dismissal, FOP; Talks Free Speech

Days after being fired over a rap song he wrote last year, Philadelphia firefighter/rapper Rodney Jean-Jacques aka Cal Akbar, is speaking out about what lead to his dismissal, as well as the real story behind a controversial song.

Jean-Jacques was terminated last Monday (Apr. 30) by Engine 9 fire commissioner Lloyd Ayers, following the posting of a an untitled song by Akbar on , a web site that posts forum discussions from police and firefighters.

During the song Akbar raps: I got a surprise for them cops I hope the news is taping this/ 'cause I'm gonna turn pigs into bacon bits.

"They had to do something. They had to act because of the high profile situation. But my main thing is I still got freedom of speech," Jean-Jacques told AllHipHop.com. "When I’m in uniform, I’m doing my job, I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. I have never had any negative action taken against me at work. I’ve been on the job for like four years. Two years ago, I got an award from the senator, I got another award for fire prevention. I was highly commended for the stuff I did in the department."

Although he understood the pressure the department was under from the Fraternal Order of Police and the media, Jean-Jacques believes it was "a bad decision" by Ayers to let him go because the song was not meant to be an attack on police.

According to Jean-Jacques, it was a story he created that was inspired by the character "Marv" from the film adaptation of Frank Miller’s Sin City graphic novels.

"I wanted to do the exact same thing that he [Miller] did," Jean-Jacques said. "A police chase scene...in the movie, he drives into the water and swims away. Me, I wanted to end it off my own way, put my own twist on it. It wasn’t like I’m sayin’ 'go off and shoot police' or nothing like that. That wasn’t my intention with the thing. I I was like ‘I like this movie. Let me just flip it and do my own little thing with it.'"

Once word spread about the song, members of the Fraternal Order of Police demanded an apology from Jean-Jacques, who Ayers said was ultimately suspended for conduct unbecoming a firefighter, in writing a rap song about killing cops.

When none came, Robert V. Eddis, President of Lodge 5 of the FOP demanded Jean-Jacques be fired.

"The Fraternal Order of Police stands firm on our initial recommendation that he be dismissed from city employment," said Robert V. Eddis, president of Lodge 5 of the FOP, in a written statement last week.

"When I spoke to the president of FOP on the phone candidly, he was like ‘Oh, I didn’t know what it was about. But I just knew some firefighter said something about killing cops.’ And I’m like ‘Did you know the context of it?' He was like ‘No, I didn’t know.’ He didn’t even investigate to see. That’s part of the reason why I was like ‘there’s no reason for me to apologize.' I know about my rights as an American citizen," Jean-Jacques said.

Jean-Jacques’ intent to stand his ground was put to the test when he was approached by fire department officials, who tried to persuade him to sign a contract that would require him to not have any contact with his own record label, Larsiny Records.

When Jean-Jacques opted to have his lawyer look at the contract before signing it, the rapper said the group pressed him to sign the contract that day, but he refused.

"And then immediately after that, they [the fire department] brought charges [violations of code of conduct] upon me," Jean-Jacques stated. "They was like ‘OK, since you don’t want to sign it, here you go. You get charged with harassing the public' and all these absurd charges that don’t even pertain to me writing songs or entertainment."

In less controversial news, the rapper's group Larsiny is back together and have recorded two songs for fellow group member Cassidy's new album.

The Larsiny reunion also served as a time for the group to work out its internal issues, according to Jean-Jacques, who gave his opinion of what fans can expect from Cassidy musically and down the road.

Cassidy was seriously injured in a car accident in Oct. 2006, when a truck swerved into oncoming traffic and crashed into Cassidy's side of the SUV he was traveling in.

The rapper suffered a fractured skull and numerous broken bones in his face.

"His album is crackin’. He’s a new Cassidy, a new man in my eyes," Jean-Jacques revealed. "He got a lot of different stuff and a new perspective in life. It’s not really the same old stuff that you used to hearing out of him. He’s fully recovered. He was in a coma and he fully recovered from the coma."

Source-allhiphop

GMNRecordsCT3 · 05-07-2007, 02:50 PM

Well Firefighters and Police are kinda in the same league so why would you be rapping about the people you work with? I guess you don't have to like who you work with but... I don't know...

bksoulja905 · 05-07-2007, 03:47 PM

man fucc that shit where this freedom of speech shit ur suppose 2 have.
they charged him 4 sayin shit like that..y dont they charge 50 cent or jim jones or sumthin they say that shit all the time yo

Chee5e · 05-08-2007, 04:58 PM

Cazyness mayne

05-07-2007, 12:20 PM	#1
J-Banks Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 21,015 Repped: 5,294 Repped 53,425 Times in 7,839 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Neg Reps: 53 Neg Repped at 93 Times in 86 Posts	05/07/07 - Philly Firefighter Cal Akbar Responds To Dismissal... 05/07/07 - Philly Firefighter Cal Akbar Responds To Dismissal... Exclusive: Philly Firefighter Cal Akbar Responds To Dismissal, FOP; Talks Free Speech Days after being fired over a rap song he wrote last year, Philadelphia firefighter/rapper Rodney Jean-Jacques aka Cal Akbar, is speaking out about what lead to his dismissal, as well as the real story behind a controversial song. Jean-Jacques was terminated last Monday (Apr. 30) by Engine 9 fire commissioner Lloyd Ayers, following the posting of a an untitled song by Akbar on , a web site that posts forum discussions from police and firefighters. During the song Akbar raps: I got a surprise for them cops I hope the news is taping this/ 'cause I'm gonna turn pigs into bacon bits. "They had to do something. They had to act because of the high profile situation. But my main thing is I still got freedom of speech," Jean-Jacques told AllHipHop.com. "When I’m in uniform, I’m doing my job, I’m doing what I’m supposed to do. I have never had any negative action taken against me at work. I’ve been on the job for like four years. Two years ago, I got an award from the senator, I got another award for fire prevention. I was highly commended for the stuff I did in the department." Although he understood the pressure the department was under from the Fraternal Order of Police and the media, Jean-Jacques believes it was "a bad decision" by Ayers to let him go because the song was not meant to be an attack on police. According to Jean-Jacques, it was a story he created that was inspired by the character "Marv" from the film adaptation of Frank Miller’s Sin City graphic novels. "I wanted to do the exact same thing that he [Miller] did," Jean-Jacques said. "A police chase scene...in the movie, he drives into the water and swims away. Me, I wanted to end it off my own way, put my own twist on it. It wasn’t like I’m sayin’ 'go off and shoot police' or nothing like that. That wasn’t my intention with the thing. I I was like ‘I like this movie. Let me just flip it and do my own little thing with it.'" Once word spread about the song, members of the Fraternal Order of Police demanded an apology from Jean-Jacques, who Ayers said was ultimately suspended for conduct unbecoming a firefighter, in writing a rap song about killing cops. When none came, Robert V. Eddis, President of Lodge 5 of the FOP demanded Jean-Jacques be fired. "The Fraternal Order of Police stands firm on our initial recommendation that he be dismissed from city employment," said Robert V. Eddis, president of Lodge 5 of the FOP, in a written statement last week. "When I spoke to the president of FOP on the phone candidly, he was like ‘Oh, I didn’t know what it was about. But I just knew some firefighter said something about killing cops.’ And I’m like ‘Did you know the context of it?' He was like ‘No, I didn’t know.’ He didn’t even investigate to see. That’s part of the reason why I was like ‘there’s no reason for me to apologize.' I know about my rights as an American citizen," Jean-Jacques said. Jean-Jacques’ intent to stand his ground was put to the test when he was approached by fire department officials, who tried to persuade him to sign a contract that would require him to not have any contact with his own record label, Larsiny Records. When Jean-Jacques opted to have his lawyer look at the contract before signing it, the rapper said the group pressed him to sign the contract that day, but he refused. "And then immediately after that, they [the fire department] brought charges [violations of code of conduct] upon me," Jean-Jacques stated. "They was like ‘OK, since you don’t want to sign it, here you go. You get charged with harassing the public' and all these absurd charges that don’t even pertain to me writing songs or entertainment." In less controversial news, the rapper's group Larsiny is back together and have recorded two songs for fellow group member Cassidy's new album. The Larsiny reunion also served as a time for the group to work out its internal issues, according to Jean-Jacques, who gave his opinion of what fans can expect from Cassidy musically and down the road. Cassidy was seriously injured in a car accident in Oct. 2006, when a truck swerved into oncoming traffic and crashed into Cassidy's side of the SUV he was traveling in. The rapper suffered a fractured skull and numerous broken bones in his face. "His album is crackin’. He’s a new Cassidy, a new man in my eyes," Jean-Jacques revealed. "He got a lot of different stuff and a new perspective in life. It’s not really the same old stuff that you used to hearing out of him. He’s fully recovered. He was in a coma and he fully recovered from the coma." Source-allhiphop __________________ JBanksblog.com - check it out __________________

05-07-2007, 02:50 PM	#2
GMNRecordsCT3 Macaroni wit the Cheeesse Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wash Heights, NYC Posts: 17,615 Repped: 6,784 Repped 2,310 Times in 619 Posts Neg Reps: 203 Neg Repped at 50 Times in 40 Posts	Well Firefighters and Police are kinda in the same league so why would you be rapping about the people you work with? I guess you don't have to like who you work with but... I don't know... __________________ myspace.com/bummydavis - soundclick.com/gmnproductions "The name on my car insurance is YOUR FUKIN FAULT!!"

05-07-2007, 03:47 PM	#3
bksoulja905 $-Money In Da Bank-$ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: durrty shwa Posts: 1,071 Repped: 712 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	man fucc that shit where this freedom of speech shit ur suppose 2 have. they charged him 4 sayin shit like that..y dont they charge 50 cent or jim jones or sumthin they say that shit all the time yo __________________ C'z ^ M2M..CMC 4 Life Its Killa Time! G-G-G-G-UNIT!!!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-08-2007, 04:58 PM	#4
Chee5e Banned Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 49 Repped: 0 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Cazyness mayne