Nine-year-old rapper Lil Poopy in one of the controversial videos.
Credit: YouTube
The dozens of videos posted online show the 9-year-old boy holding wads of cash that barely fit in his hand, rapping about clothing labels, being a “coke boy” and slapping a woman’s buttocks.
Police said the videos of the Brockton boy were enough to lead them to involve the state Department of Children and Families. But the boy’s father said he doesn’t believe his son is doing anything wrong and his lawyer said he believes the accusations are “racially-tinged.”
The controversy surrounding the boy, whose rap name is Lil Poopy, started after police watched the videos.
Brockton Police Lt. Robert Sergio told Metro on Monday that another lieutenant filed a report called a “51A,” which requests involvement of DCF. No charges have been filed, said Sergio, but police requested DCF to investigate whether there was any child abuse or neglect.
Sergio said the child was not taken from the home and there appeared to be no immediate danger to his welfare.
Cayenne Isaksen, a DCF spokeswoman, confirmed the agency received the report and is investigating.
Joseph Krowski Jr., an attorney who has represented the young rapper for several years, said that he believes the request for an abuse and neglect investigation are “absurd.”
“Because they – the police or the powers to be or other persons- don’t like something and they don’t see the artistic value of it, they take the step of getting the government involved in your life,” Krowski said. “There’s nothing criminal or abusive in the videos and to suggest otherwise is absurd.”
When asked about the boy being taken to nightclubs after midnight, Krowski said it’s not much different from a child actor working.
“He’s an artist and a performer. There are children singers, performers and athletes that go on the road,” he said. “What’s more abusive that or someone who sends their child away to train gymnastics 16 hours a day for the Olympics?”
Lil Poopy, whose real name is Luie Rivera Jr., was featured in The Enterprise for his videos that some believe are too edgy and harmful for a young boy.
Some of the videos posted online feature him rapping about being a “coke boy.” They also show him inside various nightclubs. One video of Rivera leads with text that it was recorded at a Reading, Pa., club at 12:32 a.m. Another video shows a woman bent over and Rivera slapping her buttocks.
Isaksen said that the agency has up to 15 days for their investigation which could result in a referral to police for criminal charges, leaving it open to work with the family or closing the case.
Rivera’s father told The Enterprise that he was going to contact a lawyer first thing Monday morning after learning that the police were filing a report.
“He’s not doing anything wrong. He’s acting,” said Luis Rivera, the boy’s father.
Rivera’s Twitter handle – @poopythedon – had nearly 5,000 followers as of yesterday afternoon. His profile said he is available for bookings.
Follow Michael Naughton on Twitter @metrobosmike.
