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Veteran Expediter
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Lil Poopy: Father Of 9-Year-Old Rapper Probed
Child abuse or Free Speech?
US authorities are investigating whether a nine-year-old boy who raps under the name of Lil Poopy and appears in sexually suggestive videos is the victim of possible child abuse.
The boy, whose real name is Luie Rivera Jr, is seen slapping a woman's backside and riding in a Ferrari in some videos.
In another instance posted on YouTube, he sings: "Coke ain't a bad word" – and then appears with the drink Coca-Cola in his hands.
Lil Poopy music that was posted to an online mixtape site last October has lyrics that include him singing about being a "bad boy" and a "cocaine cowboy", the Associated Press news agency reported.
Police from the boy's hometown of Brockton, Massachusetts, have filed a complaint against his father, Luie Rivera, asking state child welfare officials to look into possible abuse and neglect in relation to the videos.
The move followed a report in a local newspaper, The Enterprise, on Lil Poopy.
The Department of Children and Families said officials are looking into the case, adding that the investigation will include interviews with family members and school officials.
A lawyer representing the young rapper's family has criticised the investigation as "racially-tinged".
Joseph Krowski Jr said Lil Poopy, who is of Puerto Rican descent, is a well-adjusted fourth-grader with a good family life and musical talent.
"This is just what I would call a racially-tinged investigation because whoever watched it probably doesn't understand rap," Mr Krowski said.
"This isn't some child left alone that's not going to school."
Mr Krowski argues that content in the videos is protected by the First Amendment of the US constitution, which guarantees free speech.
Lil Poopy: Father Of 9-Year-Old Rapper Probed
Child abuse or Free Speech?
US authorities are investigating whether a nine-year-old boy who raps under the name of Lil Poopy and appears in sexually suggestive videos is the victim of possible child abuse.
The boy, whose real name is Luie Rivera Jr, is seen slapping a woman's backside and riding in a Ferrari in some videos.
In another instance posted on YouTube, he sings: "Coke ain't a bad word" – and then appears with the drink Coca-Cola in his hands.
Lil Poopy music that was posted to an online mixtape site last October has lyrics that include him singing about being a "bad boy" and a "cocaine cowboy", the Associated Press news agency reported.
Police from the boy's hometown of Brockton, Massachusetts, have filed a complaint against his father, Luie Rivera, asking state child welfare officials to look into possible abuse and neglect in relation to the videos.
The move followed a report in a local newspaper, The Enterprise, on Lil Poopy.
The Department of Children and Families said officials are looking into the case, adding that the investigation will include interviews with family members and school officials.
A lawyer representing the young rapper's family has criticised the investigation as "racially-tinged".
Joseph Krowski Jr said Lil Poopy, who is of Puerto Rican descent, is a well-adjusted fourth-grader with a good family life and musical talent.
"This is just what I would call a racially-tinged investigation because whoever watched it probably doesn't understand rap," Mr Krowski said.
"This isn't some child left alone that's not going to school."
Mr Krowski argues that content in the videos is protected by the First Amendment of the US constitution, which guarantees free speech.
