Fans of Lyfe Jennings will now have to reflect on what could have been, instead of wha is next to come from the once-promising artist. That’s because the next move for Jennings will find him behind bars for the next 3 ½ years thanks to a ruling just handed down by a Cobb County, Ga. court.
The sentence stemmed from an October 2008 incident when Jennings got into a confrontation with Joy Pound, the mother of his children. According to reports, Jennings kicked the door in, and fired rounds from a .40 caliber glock into the street.
When Cobb County police tried to apprehend Jennigs following the incident, the singer refused to pull over. He then refused to take a sobriety test and was subsequently charged with DUI test refusal, criminal trespassing, discharging a weapon near a street, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and fleeing or attempting to elude a police offer.
When the ruling was set to be handed down, Jennings took to Twitter to share a final goodbye.
“This will be my last post. To everyone who gave me a chance I am forever in your debt. I have had a fabulous career because of you. All I can say in parting is that I have been honest with yaw [sic]. I didn’t sugarcoat a word didn’t hold back a single sylible [sic] of my life from yaw [sic]. I’ve lived a hundred lives in these 6 yrs so I not only won’t, i don’t have the right to complain. I would like to think that I’ve changed lives by changing my own, tho I can’t be sure. But one thing I am sure of is God gives and takes away in measure. He is fair, just and forever. Amen from aman [sic] … Smile, it’s contageous:)”
There’s no word as to when he will start serving his time, but this is just another example of an alarmingly high number of musical artists that choose to live their lives on the wrong side of the law. From Lyfe to T.I. to even individuals like Ron Isley, so much great music is being lost thanks to black men’s irresponsible behavior.
The question is, who should take the blame? Is it the music industry who builds these artists up to God-like stature, making it impossible for them to still be in touch with reality? Or is it the justice system, which has historically made examples out of black men?
I contend that it’s more on us as a community. If it really does take a village to raise our children, then it’s time for us to band together and get to our kids early on. We can’t keep blaming external factors for the continued incarceration of black men. It’s on us … it’s time to make a change. –djr
