Power 105.1’s DJ Envy has gained a new vantage point on the stop and frisk search method, implemented by the NYPD, after an informative conversation with John Legend.
On Tuesday (Sept. 27), the co-host of The Breakfast Club shared with listeners his thoughts on the policy, stating it “got guns off the streets and that’s all that matters.” His comments reignited a conversation on how the police highly targeted African-Americans. The program also did little to effect homicides in the city, which was already headed to a historic low before the policy came into fruition in 1994. It was also deemed unconstitutional by a federal judge in 2012.
Envy’s comments also held a chilling backstory. The DJ claimed last week he nearly lost his life during a failed armed robbery and carjacking. Posting a photo of the bullet wounds from his vehicle, Envy explained how Legend’s commentary helped him separate the country’s problem with gun violence and racial profiling.
“I said that stop and frisk could be an option if it could be administered PROPERLY and FAIRLY,” he said on Thursday (Sept. 29). “Voicing that opinion created a much-needed discussion about the topic. It angered a lot of people and caused a surge of information to rise to the surface… some information that I was not aware of previously… After several conversations within my community with @johnlegend and with my wife, I am not too proud to say that my views on Stop and Frisk have changed. I spoke too soon..”
Legend also informed Envy and the rest of the hosts on crime’s global decline, the importance of voting and more.
Take a look at the interview below.