BY TANYA ALBERT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
A California rap artist arrested in Cincinnati on gun and drug charges two years ago put on a special concert Tuesday for Judge Melba D. Marsh of Hamilton County Common Pleas Court.
You could say Shawn Thomas, who performs as C-Bo, performed for his freedom after his attorney, Kenneth Lawson, said Mr. Thomas had cleaned up his act.
"Hearing is believing," Judge Marsh said before she sentenced him. "Why don't you give me a selection?"
With that, Mr. Thomas broke into song:
"We don't commit crimes we spit rhymes . . .
"Livin' life in hell hard for a young black male.
"Crime only pays the time you're doing in jail.
"So Cincinnati, focus on your family life. . . .
" 'Cuz guilty in the court law ain't no way to beat 'em.
". . . You'll never see better days.
"Runnin around thinkin' that crime pays."
Spectators smiled and Judge Marsh put Mr. Thomas, 26, on probation until 2000 for his no-contest plea to possessing a loaded firearm and almost a pound of marijuana in Over-the-Rhine in April 1996. Mr. Thomas must also put together a rap video to be distributed in Ohio, Judge Marsh said.
He will serve his probation in California, where he is already on probation until 2000. There, he cannot write song lyrics that promote violence or bash law enforcement and must perform community service. Judge Marsh said those same conditions will apply for the Ohio probation.
"If I hear something I don't like," she said, "you'll be back here."
Mr. Thomas is on probation in California for firing a shot into the air amid rival gang members several years ago while he was shooting a music video in Sacramento.
The shot, police said, sparked a fight that left one fan dead and three wounded.
A report from California said Mr. Thomas is no longer involved with gangs.
"Tupac Shakur is dead because he couldn't leave the streets behind," Mr. Lawson said. "Shawn's contact with the justice system has taught him" to leave the streets behind.
