AllHipHop.com has
confirmed that both DJ Drama and DJ Don Cannon have been released from the Fulton
County Jail, where they were held overnight on Tuesday (January 16) on racketeering
charges. The
two DJ’s were freed on a $100,000 signature bond this afternoon (January 17).
They
are set for a second appearance at the Fulton County Court on January 24.
The raid on
the Aphillates Music Group’s offices in Atlanta were apparently the result
of a partnership with a nationwide joint vice task force working to stop the sale
of pirated music. DJ
Drama, born Tyree Simmons and Donald “Don” Cannon, were arrested on
felony charges under the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
In a May 2006
report posted on the RIAA’s website, Atlanta was named one of 12 “Piracy
‘Hot Spot’ cities last year, along with Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Houston,
Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Providence, San Diego and San Francisco.
The
report stated that in 2007, the RIAA would “step up law enforcement training
and commit additional investigative resources in all of the cities.”
Meanwhile members
of the Mixtape and Internet communities continue to show their support for DJ
Drama and Don Cannon, who have become champion for a much debated cause. A
supporting the DJ’s has received over 200 signatures, since it was started around
11:00 am Wednesday morning. Fans,
fellow DJs, journalists, and even record label executives have all come forth
to share their opinions and voice endorsement.
