A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors. Many common law countries have now abolished the felony/misdemeanor distinction and replaced it with other distinctions such as between indictable offences and summary offences. A felony is generally considered to be a crime of "high seriousness", while a misdemeanor is not.

A person convicted in a court of law of a felony crime is known as a felon. In the United States, where the felony/misdemeanor distinction is still widely applied, the federal government defines a felony as a crime punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year. If punishable by exactly one year or less, it is classified as a misdemeanor. The individual states may differ in this definition, using other categories as seriousness or context.

Similar to felonies in some civil law countries (Italy, etc.) are ''delicts'', whereas in others (France, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland etc.) ''crimes'' (more serious) and ''delicts'' (less serious).

Overview [link]

Classification by subject matter [link]

Felonies include but are not limited to the following:

Murder;

Rape;

Aggravated assault and/or battery;

Arson;

Robbery;

Burglary;

Various forms of fraud

The manufacture, sale, distribution, or possession with intent to distribute of certain types and/or quantities of illegal drugs;

In some states, the simple possession (possession without intent to distribute, ''e.g.'', for personal use) of certain types of illegal drugs, usually in more than a certain quantity but regardless of quantity for some drugs in some jurisdictions (such as Virginia for cocaine and heroin) regardless of quantity;

Grand larceny or grand theft, ''i.e.'', larceny or theft above a certain statutorily established value or quantity of goods; and

Vandalism on federal property.

Treason;

Kidnapping;

Perjury;

Cheque fraud;

Broadly, felonies can be characterized as either violent or nonviolent:

Violent offenses usually contain some element of force or a threat of force against a person. Some jurisdictions classify as violent certain property crimes involving a strong likelihood of psychological trauma to the property owner; for example, Virginia treats both common-law burglary (the breaking and entering of a dwelling house at night with the intent to commit larceny, assault and battery, or any felony therein) and statutory burglary (breaking and entering with further criminal intent but without the dwelling-house or time elements, such that the definition applies to break-ins at any time and of businesses as well as of dwelling houses) as felonies.

Most offenses involving drugs or property alone are characterized as nonviolent.

Some offenses, though similar in nature, may be felonies or misdemeanors depending on the circumstances. For example, the illegal manufacture, distribution or possession of controlled substances may be a felony, although possession of small amounts may be only a misdemeanor. Possession of a deadly weapon may be generally legal, but carrying the same weapon into a restricted area such as a school may be viewed as a serious offense, regardless of whether there is intent to use the weapon. Additionally, driving while intoxicated in some states may be a misdemeanor if a first offense, but a felony on subsequent offenses.

:"The common law divided participants in a felony into four basic categories: (1) first-degree principals, those who actually committed the crime in question; (2) second-degree principals, aiders and abettors present at the scene of the crime; (3) accessories before the fact, aiders and abettors who helped the principal before the basic criminal event took place; and (4) accessories after the fact, persons who helped the principal after the basic criminal event took place. In the course of the 20th century, however, American jurisdictions eliminated the distinction among the first three categories." ''Gonzales v. Duenas-Alvarez'', (citations omitted).

Classification by seriousness [link]

A felony may be punishable with imprisonment for one or more years or death in the case of the most serious felonies, such as murder. Indeed, at common law when the British and American legal systems divorced in 1776, felonies were crimes for which the punishment was either death or forfeiture of property. All felonies remain considered a serious crime, but concerns of proportionality (''i.e.'', that the punishment fit the crime) have in modern times prompted legislatures to require or permit the imposition of less serious punishments, ranging from lesser terms of imprisonment to the substitution of a jail sentence or even the suspension of all incarceration contingent upon a defendant's successful completion of probation. Standards for measurement of an offense's seriousness include attempts to quantitatively estimate and compare the effects of a crime upon its specific victims or upon society generally.

In some states, all or most felonies are placed into one of various classes according to their seriousness and their potential punishment upon conviction. The number of classifications and the corresponding crimes vary by state and are determined by the legislature. Usually, the legislature also determines the maximum punishment allowable for each felony class; doing so avoids the necessity of defining specific sentences for every possible crime. For example:

Virginia classifies most felonies by number, ranging from Class 6 (least severe: 1 to 5 years in prison or up to 12 months in jail) through Class 2 (20 years to life, ''e.g.'', first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding) up to Class 1 (life imprisonment or the death penalty, reserved for certain types of murders). Some felonies remain outside the classification system.

New York State classifies felonies by letter, with some classes divided into sub-classes by Roman numeral; classes range from Class E (encompassing the least severe felonies) through Classes D, C, B, and A–II up to Class A–I (encompassing the most severe).

England and Wales[link]

History[link]

Sir William Blackstone wrote that felony "comprises every species of crime, which occasioned at common law the forfeiture of lands or goods." The word ''felony'' was feudal in origin, denoting the value of a man's entire property: "the consideration for which a man gives up his fief." Blackstone refutes the misconception that felony simply means an offence punishable by death, by demonstrating that not every felony is capital, and not every capital offence is a felony. However he concedes that "the idea of felony is indeed so generally connected with that of capital punishment, that we find it hard to separate them; and to this usage the interpretations of the law do now conform."

The death penalty for felony could be avoided by pleading benefit of clergy, which gradually evolved to exempt everybody (whether clergy or not) from that punishment for a first offence, except for high treason and offences which were expressly excluded by statute. During the 19th century criminal law reform incrementally reduced the number of capital offences to five ''(see Capital punishment in the United Kingdom)'', and forfeiture for felony was abolished by the Forfeiture Act 1870. Consequently the distinction between felony and misdemeanour became increasingly arbitrary. The surviving differences consisted of different rules of evidence and procedure, and the Law Commission recommended that felonies be abolished altogether. This was done by the Criminal Law Act 1967, which made all felonies (except treason) misdemeanours, and introduced a new system of classifying crimes as either "arrestable" and "non-arrestable" offences (according to which a general power of arrest was available for crimes punishable by five years' imprisonment or more).

Arrestable offences were abolished in 2006, and today crimes are classified as indictable or summary offences.

Procedure

The Trials for Felony Act 1836 (6 & 7 Will 4 c 114) allowed persons indicted for felony to be represented by counsel or attorney.

Terminology

A person prosecuted for felony was called a prisoner.

United States[link]

The reform of harsh felony laws that had originated in Great Britain was deemed "one of the first fruits of liberty" after the United States became independent.

In many parts of the United States, a convicted felon can face long-term legal consequences persisting after the end of their imprisonment, including:

Disenfranchisement (which the Supreme Court interpreted to be permitted by the Fourteenth Amendment)

Exclusion from obtaining certain licenses, such as a visa, or professional licenses required in order to legally operate (making many vocations off-limits to felons)

Exclusion from purchase and possession of firearms, ammunition and body armor

Ineligibility for serving on a jury

Ineligibility for government assistance or welfare, including being barred from federally funded housing

Deportation (if the criminal is not a citizen)

Additionally, most job applications and rental applications ask about felony history, (with the exception of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts) and answering dishonestly on them can be grounds for rejecting the application, or termination if the lie is discovered after hire. It is legal to discriminate against felons in hiring decisions as well as the decision to rent housing to a person, so felons face barriers to finding both jobs and housing. A common term of parole is to avoid associating with other felons. In some neighborhoods with high rates of felony conviction, this creates a situation where many felons live with a constant threat of being arrested for violating parole.

Many bonding companies will not issue bonds to convicted felons, also effectively barring them from certain jobs. Many banks will refuse service to convicted felons.

Some states also consider a felony conviction to be grounds for an uncontested divorce.

The status and designation as a "convicted felon" is considered permanent, and is not extinguished upon sentence completion even if parole, probation or early release was given. The status can only be cleared by a successful appeal or executive clemency. However, felons may be able to apply for restoration of some rights after a certain period of time has passed.

In some states, restoration of those rights may depend on repayment of various fees associated with the felon's arrest, processing, and prison stay.

Expungement [link]

For state law convictions, expungement is determined by the law of the state. A few states do not allow expungement, regardless of the offense.

Federal law does not have any provisions for persons convicted of federal felonies in a federal United States district court to apply to have their record expunged. While the pending Second Chance Act which may change this, at present the only relief that an individual prosecuted in federal court may receive is a Presidential Pardon, which does not expunge the conviction, but rather grants relief from the civil disabilities that stem from it.

Federal Republic of Germany [link]

A felony (Verbrechen) is defined as a crime that is punishable with at least one year of imprisonment.

Misdemeanours (Vergehen) are all other crimes punishable by imprisonment of less than one year or by fine.

However, in some cases a very severe version misdemeanour may be punished with imprisonment of more than one year, yet the crime itself remains considered a misdemeanour. Same applies for a milder version of a felony that is punishable with imprisonment less than a year.

An attempt to commit a felony crime is always punishable whilst an attempt to commit a misdemeanour is solely punishable if particularly prescribed by law.

A plea bargain (Strafbefehl) is not applicable for felony crimes at all.

See also [link]

Compounding a felony

Criminal law

Employment discrimination against felons in the United States

Federal crime

Felony murder

Handhabend and Backberend

Infraction

Misdemeanor

One strike, you're out

Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)

Three strikes law

References [link]

Category:Crimes Category:Criminal law Category:Legal terms

bs:Krivično djelo de:Verbrechen es:Delito fr:crime ko:중범죄 it:Delitto nl:Misdrijf pl:Zbrodnia ru:Фелония

Boyz n da Hood may be in reference to:

Boyz n da Hood (rap group)

Boyz n da Hood (album)

Boyz-n-the-Hood song by Eazy-E, Written by Ice Cube. and produced by Dr. Dre, and DJ Yella

Boyz n the Hood film

Name	Lil' Keke
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Marcus Lakee Edwards
Alias
Birth date	March 29, 1976
Origin	Houston, Texas, U.S.
Genre	Southern rap, Screwed & Chopped, Dirty South
Occupation	rapper
Years active	1993–present
Label	Swishahouse, Warner Music Group, TF Records, Universal Motown, Screwed Up Records
Associated acts	Screwed Up Click, Fat Pat, DJ Screw, Herschelwood Hardheadz, Big Hawk, Z-Ro, Lil' Flip, UGK, Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Chamillionaire, Al Kapone, Big Pokey
Past members	}}

Marcus Lakee Edwards (born March 29, 1976), better known by his stage name Lil' Keke, is a rapper from Houston, Texas and an original member of the Screwed Up Click.

Biography[link]

Music career[link]

Lil Keke gained national underground love with his track "Southside" from his 1998 release "Don't Mess Wit Texas". In 2005, Lil' Keke signed to Swishahouse Records. In an interview with HitQuarters at the time, label president and A&R; T. Farris said, "He is a legend here in Houston. He plays a big role in the whole style of rap that we make down here." Lil' Keke started out working alongside DJ Screw doing mixtapes.

Discography[link]

1997: ''Don't Mess wit Texas''

1998: ''The Commission''

2001: ''Platinum In Da Ghetto''

2008: ''Loved by Few, Hated by Many''

2011: ''Only In America''

Mixtapes[link]

2006: ''Minor Setback for a Major Comeback'' (Hosted by DJ Drama)

2006: ''The Album B4 the Album''

2007: ''Greatest Verses'' (Hosted by DJ LL)

2007: ''Drank Epidemic 10 & 10.2'' (Hosted by DJ Storm)

2007: '' The Cost Of Living'' (with Yung Redd)

2008: ''Only The Strong Survive'' (Hosted by DJ Bigga Rankin)

2008: ''Seven-1-3 Hustlaz, Vol. 1: The Movement''

2008: ''South Side Still Holding'' (Hosted by DJ Mac Boo)

2009: ''Seven-1-3 Vol.2 Small Thangs 2 A Giant

2009: ''Universal Ghetto Pass (The Mixtape)''

2010: ''Addicted 2 Fame''

2010: ''Seven-1-3 Vol.4''

2010: ''The Trilogy''

2011: ''Peepin In My Window 2K11''

2011: ''C.O.D. (Cash On Delivery) Seven-1-3 Vol. 5''

2011: ''Fish Grease''

References[link]

External links[link]

Category:1976 births Category:African American musicians Category:African American rappers Category:Musicians from Texas Category:Living people Category:Underground rappers Category:Screwed Up Click members Category:Rappers from Houston, Texas

de:Lil Keke fr:Lil' KeKe it:Lil' Keke nl:Lil' Keke pl:Lil' Keke fi:Lil Keke

name	Jayo Felony
background	solo_singer
birth name	James Savage
alias	Peer Pressure, One Shot Kill, Bullet Loco, Uno
birth date	December 31, 1969
Birth place	Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
origin	San Diego, California, U.S.
genre	West Coast Hip Hop, Hip hop
occupation	Rapper
years active	1993–present
label	Def Jam
associated acts	Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Glasses Malone, E-40, Method Man
notable instruments	}}

James Savage, better known by his stage name, Jayo Felony is a rapper from southeast San Diego, California. He is known for being the first San Diego rapper to be signed to a major label. Jayo Felony was a member of the Neighborhood Rollin 40's, a Crip gang stretching from the Chollas View to the Mount Hope neighborhoods of Southeast San Diego.

Career[link]

Late years[link]

In 1994 Jayo Felony was signed to the label owned by Jam Master Jay called Jam Master Jay Records. That year Jayo released his debut album, ''Take a Ride''. In 1998, Jayo released his follow-up album, ''Whatcha Gonna Do?'' on Def Jam. It featured rappers like Method Man, DMX, Mack 10, WC, Redman, Kokane, Ice Cube, E-40 and 8 Ball & MJG.

In 1999, he released ''Underground''. He was due to release his fourth album, ''Hotter Than Fish Grease'', in 2000, but for legal reasons the album was never released. Jayo Felony also is now working on his next album called "Don't Get MeatBalled" under his new label Loco Records.

Jayo is looking to sign with Priority Records / Doggystyle Records.

Tha Dogg Pound[link]

In 2001, Jayo Felony claimed that Snoop Dogg stole the song "Crip Hop" and started an altercation on the set of Baby Boy. Snoop and Tha Eastsidaz took shots at Jayo on the song "Fuck All That Yappin" in addition Jayo responded with "You's A Character" explaining the Baby Boy situation. In 2003, Jayo Felony later became involved in a rivalry with Daz Dillinger, for collaborating with Kurupt, and creating a group with him called "The Rifleman". Now they are all on good terms and Kurupt is back together with Tha Dogg Pound and Snoop Dogg.

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

''Take a Ride''

*Released: May 30, 1994

*Chart Positions: #65 Top R&B;/Hip-Hop Albums

*Last RIAA description:

*U.S. sales :141,827

*Singles: "Sherm Sticc", "Loc Is On His Own"

''Whatcha Gonna Do?''

*Released: Aug 25, 1998

*Chart Position: #46 US

*Last RIAA description:

*U.S. sales : 146,308 copies

*Singles: "Nitty Gritty", "Watcha Gonna Do?"

''Underground''

*Released: Nov 16, 1999

*Chart Positions:US #46

*Last RIAA description:

*U.S. sales :143,946

*Singles:"What Ya Need"

''Crip Hop''

*Released: Oct 23, 2001

*Chart Positions: # 10 Top independent

*Last RIAA description:

*U.S. sales :143,946

*Singles: "She Loves Me"

''Don't Get MeatBalled''

*Released: TBA

*Chart Positions: TBA

*U.S. Sales : TBA

*Singles: "So Into You ft. Sleepy Brown", "Blocc Party", "How do you Want It ft. Snoop Dogg"

References [link]

Category:African American rappers Category:Living people Category:People from San Diego, California Category:African American musicians Category:Musicians from California Category:West Coast hip hop musicians Category:1969 births

es:Jayo Felony ru:Jayo Felony

name	The L.O.X.
background	group_or_band
origin	Yonkers, New York, United States
genre	Hip hop
years active	1994–present
label	Bad Boy Records (1995–1999)Ruff Ryders Entertainment (1999–present)D-Block Records (2003–present)
associated acts	DMX, Drag-On, Eve, The Notorious B.I.G., Mase, Black Rob, Swizz Beatz, Puff Daddy, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah
current members	JadakissStyles PSheek Louch }}

The Lox are an American hip hop group composed of Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Styles P. They were originally signed to Sean Combs' Bad Boy Records before joining Ruff Ryders Entertainment, and are now a part of their own label, D-Block Records

Early career[link]

Jason "Jadakiss" Phillips, David Styles "Styles P", and Sean "Sheek Louch" Jacobs, began their musical careers in their hometown of Yonkers, New York. As high school students they formed a group called "The Bomb Squad" and began performing at local shows and producing their own demos. In 1994 they appeared on Main Source's "Set It Off" from the album "Fuck What You Think". While the local rap scene was being dominated by artists like Raw Rome, Lord Devon and a young DMX, the group began to gain attention for their lyrical style and ability to present tales of urban life. The group eventually changed their name to "The Warlocks" and continued developing a fan base by appearing on underground mix tapes. One of their admirers was the "Queen of Hip hop soul," fellow Yonkers native Mary J. Blige. Mary passed their demo tape on to Bad Boy CEO Sean "Puffy" Combs who signed them to a deal. At the behest of Combs, The Warlocks would later change their name to "The L.O.X" which stands for Living Off eXperience.

Mainstream career[link]

The LOX gained national exposure in 1996 with an onside collaboration on Sean "Puffy" Combs Underground Smash "All about the Benjamins". Shortly after gaining even more exposure with their powerful multi-platinum tribute to The Notorious B.I.G. , "We'll Always love Big Poppa". The song which celebrated the life of the slain superstar, captured Biggie's essence and thrust The LOX into the media spotlight as a group to watch out for. The trio later appeared on a multitude of hits, Mase's "24 Hours to Live", Mariah Carey's "Honey", and Jennifer Lopez's "Jenny From The Block". The group's debut album Money, Power & Respect went platinum and helped establish the Lox as an important voice in Hip-Hop music.

In the summer of 1999, the celebrated Yonkers Rap trio found themselves in a fight for freedom. Disappointed with the direction of their career on Bad Boy, the group wanted to be released from their contract in order to join the newly formed Ruff Ryders/ Interscope label. The Ruff Ryders had always served as the Lox's managers and the group felt like the new label could better represent the hard-core sensibilities which they expressed in their rhymes. Bad Boy was known for its radio friendly dance hits and high priced videos, while the Lox were quickly establishing themselves as Hardcore rap artists. The identities clashed, the Lox just didn't feel comfortable in the shiny suits. "We just needed to be with a rougher label" says Sheek Louch. "A harder label that fit our image."

The LOX tried all of the legal maneuvering available to be released from their contract with Bad Boy. However, when the lawyers and conference calls didn't work, the group did what they do best. They took their story to the streets. At a New York rap concert, the defiant group sported "Let the LOX Go" T-shirts and sparked a grass roots movement to "Free the Lox." Their goal was to return Hip-Hop back to its essence as an important form of urban expression. The streets spoke up loud and clear and the Lox were finally released to a heroes welcome. "We really changed the game by doing that," says Styles concerning the contractual drama. "It might take years from now, but other people are gonna do it. We made it so they don't have to be scared to speak up."

Discography[link]

''Money, Power & Respect'' (1998)

''We Are the Streets'' (2000)

''New L.O.X. Order'' (TBD)

References[link]

External links[link]

The LOX's Official Myspace Music Page

D-Block Myspace Blog Page

Category:American hip hop groups Category:Bad Boy Records artists Category:D-Block Records Category:D-Block Records members Category:East Coast hip hop groups Category:Interscope Records artists Category:New York hip hop Category:Musicians from New York Category:People from New York City Category:Ruff Ryders artists