Teens under investigation for rap video with drugs, gun

Vacant lot gets Halloween patrols in response to controversial rap video
Youtube

Police confirmed Wednesday they are “reviewing” a music video by local rapper Apex P featuring Philadelphia students smoking marijuana, posted on Youtube this week, but no criminal charges have been reported yet.

The video for “Creep with Me” by Apex P, which sources believe was shot in the vacant 70-acre former Coke company site in Bridesburg, features teens smoking marijuana, drinking alcohol and at one point holding a gun.

“We are aware of the video and we’re reviewing it,” said Lt. Dennis Rosenbaum of the Northeast Detectives Division. “We haven’t made any decisions on it.”

Twitter exploded with messages among teens criticizing and praising the video, with some complaining that they are now in trouble and required to enter disciplinary programs.

Sources said some of the minors in the video were students at Franklin Towne Charter High School in Bridesburg.

The school did not respond to requests for comment.

One girl in the video is seen wearing a hoodie from Father Judge High School, but as the school is boys only, she is not believed to be a student of that school. Sources could not confirm what other schools participants in the video attend.

Apex P did not respond to a request for comment.

But music video director DJ Bey said everyone participated in the video willingly.

“It’s just business,” Bey said via email of the controversy over the video. “I asked, did everyone wanna be in the film, they said yes.. that’s on them.”

Community members said the video was definitely shot in Bridesburg.

“I think it was just stupidity on the kids’ part,” Bridesburg Town Watch leader Frank Kruzinski said. “There’s drugs, there’s twerking, some of these girls are 13 years old. … but it’s the gun that really shocks me.”

The land where the video was rumored to be filmed, known locally as Cokies, has been vacant since 1982 and is a frequent site of teen parties.

It is owned by National Grid. Councilman Bobby Henon had rezoning the land for use by a business, but dropped the plan due to community opposition.

“Our office is gathering any information on this and similar incidents at the site reported to police (along with the video, if and when it’s authenticated). This will be shared with National Grid, which owns the property,” said Henon’s spokesman, Eric Horvath, in an email. “Ultimately it is the property owner’s decision to press charges.”