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Violence, Youth, and Cities: The Rapping Undercover Cop, Eric Davis.

Eric Davis, an undercover cop who patrols Chicago housing projects. Davis grew up in one, but life in the projects is much tougher today. The proliferation of drugs and guns has made the environment almost hopeless. There's a lot of distrust of cops in the projects but Davis has won the respect of a lot of young people...some of them are fans of his group "The Slick Boys," a rap group composed of three Chicago undercover cops. (Rebroadcast of 2/28/1995)

39:58
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Other segments from the episode on August 31, 1995

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, August 31, 1995: Interview with Eric Davis; Review of the film "The Brothers McMullen."

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The Ripple Effect of Recent Rap Murders

In light of the deaths of rappers Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur, a discussion on the culture of rap and the violence that surrounds it with Chicago police officer Eric Davis. He's a member of the rap group the Slick Boys. Davis and two other officers founded the group in 1991 to provide positive role models for the inner-city kids they encountered on their jobs every day. The group has received national acclaim for their songs about the importance of getting an education and staying off of drugs and out of gangs.

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An Officer from the Projects On Policing His Old Neighborhood

Chicago police officer Eric Davis, known as "21" in the rap group the Slick Boys. Davis and two other officers founded the group in 1991 to provide positive role models for the inner-city kids they encountered on their jobs every day. The group has received national acclaim for their songs about the importance of getting an education and staying off of drugs and out of gangs. Davis grew up in the Cabrini-Green development of Chicago, where the three officers work.

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