Being accused of snitching, or helping the government as an informant in a case, is a dangerous thing in the world of hip-hop, so much so it became an oft-discussed topic surrounding T.I.’s recent conviction on felony weapons charges (Tip’s former bodyguard reportedly helped police build their case against the rapper).
Now some very damaging documents have surfaced about Cedric “Alfamega” Zellars, an artist on T.I.’s own label, Grand Hustle Entertainment, indicating that he had a 1997 prison sentence reduced after testifying in a drug trafficking case against a man named Ali Baaqar, The Smoking Gun reports.
After Zellars was caught trying to sell weapons to an undercover federal agent, the court document obtained by The Smoking Gun say he “agreed to cooperate with authorities and was debriefed” on various cases in which he could potentially assist the DEA. Alfamega then offered information to federal agents and testimony at the trial in the case against Baaqar for conspiracy to distribute heroin.
It will be interesting to see if T.I., who has frequently spoken out against snitching, was aware of Zellers’ past before they “did a handshake deal, never signed no contracts or nothing.”