A Tennessee man was met with armed police at his front door after he recited the lyrics to “99 Problems” by Jay-Z.
Davon Eddington, a Black man residing in Spring Hill, Tennessee, told TMZ that he was in his backyard, talking on the phone with his brother about basketball when he referenced the song. Eddington’s brother called him a bandwagon fan, to which he replied, “I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain’t one.”
After overhearing Eddington’s conversation, a neighbor called the police. The unidentified neighbor apparently feared for the safety of Eddington’s fiance, who was upstairs bathing. Police rushed to Eddington’s home with their guns drawn before realizing the near-grave misunderstanding. According to TMZ, the police then apologized.
Many people weren’t surprised at the incident. Eddington is only the most recent Black person to have authorities called on them after doing nothing wrong. There is a growing online trend of outing the callers and labeling them with monikers like BBQ Becky and Permit Patty.
https://twitter.com/blkstash/status/1064611790875779072
In response to TMZ’s post on Facebook, one user commented, “Rapping while black is now an arrestable offense.” Another reader was just grateful that Eddington got out of the situation unharmed. “Glad that turned out ok, because it could went in the other direction,” the user wrote.
Last week, a similar situation did go “in the other direction,” when 26-year-old Jemel Roberson was shot to death by police after a fight broke out at a Chicago club. Roberson was the body guard on duty who had responded to the shooting before police arrived.
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