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Paddy Duke has been at Hot since 1994, right as the converted to a hip hop format... a mere FIVE YEARS after Yusef Hawkins was murdered. It’s not like he joined the station ages later. This is CRAZY. https://twitter.com/hot97/status/1297594552992313351
For those unfamilair: Paddy Duke is a long time exec @ Hot 97. Storm Over Brooklyn, HBO’s doc about Yusef Hawkins’ murder in 1989 has revealed he’s Pasquale Raucci, one of the teens charged and acquitted of killing Hawkins.
Emmis Communications had to know this shit though. Google searches weren’t a thing, but they knew his real name even if coworkers and listeners didn’t, and he still had charges on file.
I’m wondering how many times he was in convos about Yusef, or the Exonerated Five (the Central Park jogger case was earlier that year), and just fucking sat there.
This isn’t on them if they didn’t know (and I’ve already seen a former Hot employee say he had no idea). Current personalities/employees may have been told by legal not to comment yet. This is on Emmis Broadcasting & corporate.
https://twitter.com/sonofajones/status/1297632747184427009?s=21 https://twitter.com/sonofajones/status/1297632747184427009
https://twitter.com/sonofajones/status/1297632747184427009?s=21 https://twitter.com/sonofajones/status/1297632747184427009
I really need people to breathe when shit happens and direct accountability to the RIGHT people.
Folks can’t just jump out and make public statements about something involving their employer and former coworkers in something this high profile off rip.
Folks can’t just jump out and make public statements about something involving their employer and former coworkers in something this high profile off rip.
Hot is owned by Emmis, a white broadcasting company.
Like I said the other week with the Billboard thing - stop targeting the visible Black talent/ work-for-hire immediately instead of the white decision makers when something goes left.
Like I said the other week with the Billboard thing - stop targeting the visible Black talent/ work-for-hire immediately instead of the white decision makers when something goes left.
I want to come back to this for one minute because I see people tweeting Ebro, calling out Angie and Flex...
A few things:
1. Paddy Duke ain’t never in his career been known to coworkers and industry affiliates as Pasquale. (1/)
https://twitter.com/naima/status/1297633609961144331?s=21 https://twitter.com/naima/status/1297633609961144331
A few things:
1. Paddy Duke ain’t never in his career been known to coworkers and industry affiliates as Pasquale. (1/)
https://twitter.com/naima/status/1297633609961144331?s=21 https://twitter.com/naima/status/1297633609961144331
2. Even if he had been, this was an 89 murder, 94 start at Hot. No google. And even people who remember the names of the Bensonhurst teens remeber the main 2. Paddy was down the chain.
But, most importantly...
But, most importantly...
3. If you’re a Black or Latinx from NYC who was a teen or young adult when Hawkins’ was murdered - same year as Central Park Jogger case - that shit is still with you NOW. Today. The whole city was hot.
... it is unconscionable to believe that Emmis corporate or Paddy himself would have ever found a “right” time to make that info known to the original Hot talent. I understand a cpl of Emmis staffers say they (staff, not talent) heard later...
For at least the entire ‘90s, I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that info would likely have put a target on Paddy’s back.
That said, people LOVE this dude. Maybe he was doing his own personal penance, but it would have become harder for him to reveal as years passed.
That said, people LOVE this dude. Maybe he was doing his own personal penance, but it would have become harder for him to reveal as years passed.
Yusuf Hawkins wasn’t just *A* Black teenager murdered by a white lynch mob in NYC. He was THE Black teenager murdered by a white lynch mob in NYC who represented an entire era of racial conflict in the city. Still one of the biggest racial incidents in the city’s history.
So no matter how little you think of public personalities, if you’re calling Hot talent out and asking them to answer for this, consider what you’re really accusing them of keeping covered/hidden/protected.
I’m sure they’ll all have something to say in time.
I’m sure they’ll all have something to say in time.
Paddy Duke will have to make an statement to the hip-hop community eventually as well - this is a massive betrayal to ppl who’ve rocked with him personally for years.
Emmis’ email to staff @ Paddy Duke being let go.
That second to last graph... maybe nobody CURRENTLY at Emmis, but SOMEBODY along the way knew.
https://twitter.com/fwmj/status/1297653937781104640?s=21 https://twitter.com/fwmj/status/1297653937781104640
That second to last graph... maybe nobody CURRENTLY at Emmis, but SOMEBODY along the way knew.
https://twitter.com/fwmj/status/1297653937781104640?s=21 https://twitter.com/fwmj/status/1297653937781104640
For the record, I have no idea what kind of vetting process there might have been in 94 (I’ve only had one background/reference check that included criminal my whole career, but I don’t know how radio worked), but Paddy was NOT convicted of manalaughter. He didn’t even do time.
Multiple counts of menancing, inciting a riot and unlawful imprisonment. Most of his statement was inadmissible bc cops didn’t read all of the teens their rights (likely on purpose for that very reason). https://apnews.com/fbc03f89eddbebba87118997410a772d
