Chief Keef faces jail after breaching his probation order by firing a gun

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/jan/16/chief-keef-faces-jail-gun

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Chief Keef has been arrested for violating his parole, after visiting a gun range during a filmed interview with Pitchfork Media. The notorious 17-year-old rapper had been prohibited from using firearms under parole terms imposed on him in 2011.

Judge Carl Anthony Walker declared on Tuesday that Keef had shown a "wilful disregard of the court" when he took a Pitchfork reporter to a New York gun range. Although he is still a juvenile, the Chicago musician now faces a prison sentence; he will be held in jail pending a sentencing hearing on Thursday.

Chief Keef, whose real name is Keith Cozart, came close to being shot in December 2011, after he brandished a handgun at Chicago police officers. He was subsequently charged and sentenced to 18 months' probation. Under the terms of the probation, he was ordered to stay away from guns, drugs and gang members, as well as to complete a GED diploma – a high-school equivalency qualification.

Unfortunately, Keef's 2012 did not consist of a quiet return to school. After being hailed by underground hip-hop fans and even Kanye West, the rapper became one of the year's most talked-about MCs. Instead of earning his diploma Keef spent time in California and released his debut album.

He also filmed a Selector video for the music website Pitchfork, answering their questions at a gun range in New York. Pitchfork took the video down in September after the murder of another Chicago rapper, Lil JoJo, saying the clip was "insensitive and irresponsible" given Chicago's ongoing gun violence. "This concept was rushed and never should have happened," said editor-in-chief Mark Richardson.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that prosecutors cited the Pitchfork video as the main reason for his arrest. Dennis Berkson, Keef's attorney, conceded the video was "stupid" but claimed his client was just obeying the adults around him. Besides, Berkson argued, by firing a rifle on private property, for a promotional video clip, he was not violating the spirit of the probation order. Judge Walker disagreed.

Keef's album, Finally Rich, reached No 2 in the US rap charts and has sold almost 100,000 copies.