Nicki Minaj Seen Arriving At Heathrow Airport on April 17, 2012 in London, England. Photo: Alex Moss
Are rappers being unfairly targeted for harassment at airports? According to Nicki Minaj, they just might be as the Young Money mistress has claimed that a female airport security official “overtly fondled” her body while she was on her way to the Philippines. Such incident is the latest in an ongoing series of rappers having issues at the airports. Lets review the major milestones.
1. DMX vs. J.F.K. (2004)
The king of rap shenanigans, DMX was infamously caught attempting to steal a car and then pretending to be a federal agent in the parking lot at New York City’s J.F.K. airport. It was a ruse possibly designed to get the stash of crack cocaine and weapons the canine-crazed rapper was also found with through customs. (Note: below footage is of DMX coolin’ at a different airport.)
2. Snoop Dogg vs. British Airways (2006)
Having once caused a British newspaper to run a front page headline declaring, “Kick This Evil Bastard Out!” Snoop should have known what to expect when he signed up for a seat on a British Airways service out of London’s Heathrow airport. After a fracas broke out when the rapper’s entourage (who only had economy class tickets) attempted to access the executive lounge, police were called to the scene. The outcome? B.A. announcing that they’d banned the Doggfather and his pups for life.
3. Kanye West vs. Los Angeles International Airport (2008)
Temper tantrum ahoy! When the shy, retiring Kanye West decided that he really didn’t want to be in the worldwide spotlight anymore, he snapped while walking through Los Angeles International Airport and smashed a photographer’s camera on the floor. Cue the sirens!
4. Dizzee Rascal vs. British Airways (2011)
Following the lead of Snoop Dogg, grime loud-mouth Dizzee Rascal is also currently banned from plonking his bum down on a British Airways economy-plus seat. His crime? Going a little bat-shit crazy and yelling at people while he was waiting for his plane to take off. In a sour kicker to his fellow passengers, the Rascal’s antics resulted in the plane taking off three hours late.
5. 2Chainz vs. LaGuardia (2012)
In a potential case of ridiculous jewelry misidentification, the lofty guest-verse artist 2Chainz was arrested at LaGuardia airport this past May after someone found what they claimed were a pair of brass-knuckles in his manly carry-on bag. Chainz’s camp countered by saying it was a four-finger ring embellished with the phrase “Dope.” Discerning rap fans the world over have T.S.A.’s backs on this one.
http://youtu.be/t4U41_rQEAA
