THE composer behind a song and music video posted on social media last week in which Prime Minister Perry Christie and his family are negatively referred to, has been released from police custody after being detained over the weekend.

The rapper, who identified himself as “Gee the Producer”, is behind a second song that negatively referred to Mr Christie and family this month. He claimed he was coerced into turning himself over to the police’s Cyber Crimes Unit last Friday.

“Gee” said officers contacted him and asked if he could come in to the Central Detective Unit to answer a few questions about his social media post.

“They said it would take two minutes at best. I asked what it was in reference to - they wouldn’t answer. The officer just kept asking me to come in to talk to them. Since I had nothing to hide or be afraid of I went in,” he said.

“Gee” said he arrived at CDU shortly after 4pm on Friday.

Once inside the facility, he claimed officers questioned him intensely over his connection to the now viral post.

“I let them know right off the top that the song was all on me. The Empire Facebook page of which I am in charge of, there we do this freestyle Wednesday segment. In that segment, rappers would do a verse about things they want to speak to, and it was my turn. I wrote my verse and got ready to recorded it,” he added.

“Gee” said shortly before recording his verse he was made aware that another song insulting the prime minister had gone viral a few days earlier.

On Thursday, August 11, police took two men into custody in connection with that song. They have since been release without charge.

The song sparked debate on social media, with many agreeing that the song was vile, disrespectful and crossed the line.

After looking into that matter, “Gee” said he, like many other musicians felt that civil liberties were being infringed upon.

He told The Tribune that the investigation into the first song propelled him to change the lyrics of his rap.

“I was aware of the law on freedom of speech, and I just wanted to give my take on the matter. So changed my lines up a day before we did the video. I knew it was a risk because I heard about what happen to those guys and wanted people to understand that music is an art and that rap just reflected what was going on in the community.”

“Gee” said while he was sure his track would get some attention, he had no clue that it would have resulted in the firestorm that followed.

“I spent all Friday at CDU. I called my lawyer and police explained to her that I would have to be held until Saturday morning. Saturday came and officers refused to explain to me what I was being charged with or if I was going to be charged at all,” he said.

“I spent Friday night at the Central Police station and Saturday night at the Cable Beach police station - at no point did they tell me what I was being held for. All they did was question me over the song and asked me what I was thinking while I did it,” he claimed.

“Gee” said he does not feel like he committed an offence because he was only attempting to shine a light on the plight of Bahamians who are suffering throughout society.

He said his music movement would not stop in the future.

He was released on Sunday at 6pm from CDU without being charged with any offence.

When asked if he would seek legal recourse for his detainment, he did not respond.

By Ricardo Wells, Tribune Staff Reporter

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