We’ve never been accused of homicide, but we imagine that the most difficult part of receiving a fair hearing on such charges is the fact that the word “murderer” - even with the word “alleged” in front of it - carries a pretty negative stigma akin to strike one. While strikes two and three are usually reserved for damning evidence and a subsequent judicial ruling, one potential inmate may have handed over all of the proof beyond a reasonable doubt with his choice of artistic expression and knack for catchy pseudonyms. Such is the case of Syko Sam, a 20-year-old, California-based Horrorcore rapper, who has been accused of murdering a Virginia Pastor and three others at a Longwood University professor’s home 50 miles outside of Richmond.
Syko Sam, whose real name Richard Alden Samuel McCroskey III is more ‘3rd generation Yale legacy’ than murderer, wrote extremely dark lyrics describing, among other twisted fantasies, the thrill of watching dying victims last breaths and a love of stabbing. We hate to land in the “murderer” box on our Jump to Conclusions mat solely based on effed up lyrics and a name (The Killers never killed anybody), but there’s some additional none-too-friendly evidence on the suspect’s Myspace page linking him to a weekend rendezvous with one teen victim - not to mention the fact that he’s thought to have split from the scene of the crime in one of the victim’s cars.
While we’re firm believers that “innocent until proven guilty” and artistic expression don’t often see eye to eye, there can sometimes be a thin line between talk and action that warrants our attention. This might be an example of the latter.
No offense regarding your music, although I’m ignorant of it, until now. I fully believe in everyone’s right to artistic expression. It often prevents the type of things that allegedly occurred here, because art is an outlet and a freeing, therapeutic form.
In terms of his guilt, I thought I’d add something regarding evidence. I am in Virginia, and he was asked by a local reporter why he did it and, on camera (I saw/heard this), said “Jesus told me to.” So, that is pretty damning in terms of admitting that he did this.
I surely hope for healing for everyone around this terrible tragedy. I’m sure it is difficult for your community as well.
One Love!
As a member of the horrorcore community, i have to say that this tradgedy happened not because of the music I and the artists in my genre create makes people kill. If that was the case, violent media such as mainstream horror films, certain cartoons, and other forms of media that exhibit violence would expose you to the same very things. Even the news nowadays is violent. What has clearly happened here was it was definitley a crime of passion, and its unfortunate that the media, decides to make a media circus out of a art form created by people, for people who can understand it is entertainment, and a form of art and expression to us all. For you to pass judgement and say all of it is causing people to commit acts of insanity, lemme ask you this, where are the guardians/parents in all this? Wouldnt or shouldnt they know what their kids listen to or immerse themselves in their lives? All of us in the horrorcore community are very sad and shocked such a thing like this would happen, even the suspect in the murder, who supported alot of the music from the genre.But that’s about it. He did what he did for reasons, i dont understand. Seemed from what i know to be a good kid, so it’s really a sad thing indeed, and alot of us are in mouring for those who’s lives were lost.
And in closing, i believe in god, and 95% of horrorcore music artists and music is not satanist. For a fact. What is disgusting About the media is that they take somethng and spin it as hard as they can to get a reaction. Horrorcore ia a genre that has many subgenres within it, and a good amount of it is not satanist, or brutal. Some of it is downright art, like any other media.
The person who committed these acts was in dire need of help for a long time, and it’s unfortunate that the media will say the music did it, when its clear that the young man needed guidance, so i ask, what did the parents do with this kid in the past year? did they go into his room and check on what he does? Did they spend enough time to really know what was going on?
I realy am upset over this as anyone else. But to pigeonhole the genre of horrorcore as purely satanist is a incorrect statement and accusation. I have a family like much of you do, and i watch what they do. I supervise what they watch and hear. And alot of times i check what things are about before the kids even get near any thing they want to watch, etc. I make sure they don’t even listen to my music, because they are not of age.
We place advisory stickers on our work, such as cd’s, so its near impossible to buy unless youre of age. You have to be a certain age, just to get the work. But if you just hand them, cd’s and say here, go do what you want, you cannot blame the music. You must blame yourselves, for not putting effort into what your kids watch and hear.
This was the case of a person, who was way in disrepair emotionally and mentally before this music was in his life. This was not about the music we make.
Its about separating whats real versus whats entertainment, plain and simple.
This crime happened because of SATAN. Satan works through evil music like this to warp people’s mind into a twisted reality where death and hate prevail. The fact that he said “Jesus made me do it” is complete PROOF that the father of all lies lived within this man. Jesus is light and love and everything beautiful. This man was possessed by a spirit of darkness and all those who experiement with this evil will fall prey to it. Jesus is the way OUT of darkess. God bless the family of that poor slain pastor.