Philly rapper AR-Ab and 8 associates Arrested on drug conspiracy

AR-Ab (front center) No Brakes Bras (Left) both arrested

Topic: Philly Rap                               youtu.be/eS0i5EjJT7E

Two days ago Philadelphia rapper AR-Ab was arrested with 8 others on drug charges. The charges include "conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, 280 grams or more of crack, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 100 grams or more of heroin. The superseding indictment also includes individual charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, crack, and heroin; distribution of methamphetamine; and a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm." Along with AR, His little brother "Mulla", and OBH rapper No Brake Bras were also arrested. OBH is AR-Ab's rap group and record label.  
  AR-Ab is best known for his Disagreements with fellow Philly rapper Meek Mill and his recent mention in Drakes "Back to Back" During Drake's own beef with Meek. His catalog includes several mixtape albums and features with the likes of Swiss Beats, Cassidy, Meek Mill, Kevin Gates, Birdman, among others. AR-Ab is from North Philadelphia in a section known as "EA" which is the block and surrounding ares of and Erie Ave and Allegheny Avenue. Many popular Philly rappers are from this part of the city including Cassidy and several of the members of the infamous group Major Figgas (Who's frontman Gillie Da Kid wrote for Lil Wayne). It is this section in which OBH started as a group in the early 2000s.
​  AR's real name is Abdoul West. He started rapping in 2007 after a prison stint where he was locked up with the rapper Cassidy. At the time he was part of Cassidy's rap group "Larceny Family" but also acted as Cassidy's body guard. He went to prison in 2005 for allegedly committing a murder while trying to protect Cassidy from extortion. When he was found not guilty and released he decided to pursue his hip-hop career. West joined Cassidy and became a member of "Larceny Family" but fell out with Cassidy shortly after. After leaving (and selling Cassidy's Full Surface chain) he created his new rap group and named it after his street crew "OBH" for Original Block Hustlers. Shortly there after he appeared on Meek Mill's "Flamerz 2" Mixtape, and his buzz began to grow. Fast Forward to 2016 and you can see he has steadily grown to the point where Drake took notice and mentioned his name in his record "back to back" dissing Meek Mill. Drake felt that because there was tension between Meek and AR-Ab that he could use him put pressure on Meek in Philly and have an ally on Meek's home turf.
 OBH consists of several rappers and many more non-rappers who are just "street dudes". One of the questions that might be asked now is: How will Ab's street credibility and involvement affect him moving forward? Although West claims OBH is just a record label many people think that it is also a criminal organization. Ab has said in previous interviews that he is "the leader of Two gangs"- OBH, and his little brother's group "Goonie Gang". With his current charges, arrest, and imprisonment many people are wondering how statements like this will affect him. Ab has always been known for "talking reckless" in interviews, now that that he is facing federal drug conspiracy charges, these interviews could be used as evidence in a courtroom. Many fans and hip-hop lovers are pointing to his interviews on Vlad TV where he details how he started selling drugs, how he "took over and ran his neighborhood", how he's made thousands of dollars from drugs, and hows he's been shot at and also shot people himself.  
  It's interesting to note that many high ranking OBH members were not arrested including Ar-Ab's other brother and OBH rapper Lik Moss, as well as Dark Lo, who is probably the second most well known rapper in OBH after AR-Ab himself. It remains to be seen what involvement the feds are claiming each person had in the drug ring, there are still few details at this time. What we do know is that an investigation was started in March 2017 into a drug ring operating in the area of North Sydenham St, Philadelphia. This is very close to the Eire ave and Allegheny Ave neighborhoods. The indictment claims the drug crew was receiving drugs from California to be distributed in North Philadelphia. It states that two locations had search warrants executed on them and a multitude of drugs were found. At one residence on Christopher Columbus Blvd there were approximately 10 kilos of cocaine and nearly 6 pounds of methamphetamine recovered along with 20,000$ in cash. At another residence on N. Sydenham St. the FBI located 229 grams of heroin, 62 grams of crack, 48 grams of methamphetamine, 8,000$ in cash, and a handgun.

Read AR-Ab's Indictment on DOJ website www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/superseding-indictment-filed-charging-nine-members-north-philadelphia-drug-trafficking