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Larry Johnson denied he was the rapper in the now-infamous song that played virtually everywhere Friday on the Internet.
The man behind the recording first said the voice was Johnson’s and then changed his tune.
Still, the fact remains that Johnson’s name has been connected to a song containing derogatory comments about the Chiefs, racial slurs, profanity and references to guns and weapons.
It made for a strange day at Arrowhead Stadium, with everyone reaching for the reality of what happened and what it meant. The song on the MySpace Web page of a rap group called SBL Mob created enough of a stir that it even reached the folks in the NFL’s New York office.
“We’re aware of it,” NFL spokesman Corry Rush said. “I can’t really say whether it violates (the NFL’s personal-conduct) policy, because it’s kind of unprecedented. We haven’t had this type of issue where a player is bad-mouthing an organization or anything of that nature.
“The commissioner has a lot of (leeway) with the personal-conduct policy. … If this was really the case, I’m sure he would evaluate it.”
But Johnson indicated that point was moot. He made a statement after practice Friday denying involvement.
“I’ve had ongoing problems with people impersonating me on MySpace pages,” Johnson said. “I’ve alerted NFL security about the rap song that’s on the Internet that was supposedly rapped by me, which (it) isn’t. It’s in NFL security’s hands, and I’m pretty sure they’ll take care of it to the best of their ability. I’m really worried about the Chicago Bears on Sunday and let things go from there.”
Johnson answered only one question. Asked whether he was the rapper, Johnson said, “Nope.”
Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson — the subject of a profane remark in at least one version of the song — had no comment.
Later Friday, the song was removed from the page. It was replaced with a statement that read:
“The L.J. Track that has been posted and reported through the news radio and tv is in fact a fake. We used this to gain publicity for SBL & Basement Entertainment, and the CD to be put out in Dec.
“We want to apologize, first and foremost to L.J. & Joe Hall, but also to the Chiefs Football Team, for any problems or harm that may have been caused by our actions.”
At least two versions of the song were on the Internet. In one the singer criticized Priest Holmes, who is referred to by uniform number 31. The singer said Holmes was embarrassing himself in his comeback after almost two years away from the Chiefs.
James Tinberg is the president of Basement Entertainment, the recording label for SBL Mob.
At one point Friday, he said he recorded Johnson singing the rap song. He said it was recorded at the Olathe home of former Chiefs and Kansas State running back Joe Hall in early August, when Johnson was holding out from training camp and before he received his new contract extension.
Tinberg first said that the numerous racial slurs and profanity were Johnson’s words but that the derogatory comment about Peterson was not. It was created, Tinberg said, through use of an editing program.
Later Friday, though, Tinberg told The Associated Press that the rapper wasn’t Johnson but someone imitating his voice. He said that he lied about the song to reporters and that he “used the media.”
“That was never actually Larry Johnson,” Tinberg said in a phone interview. “It was never his voice. It was another dude who sounded like LJ.”
Michael Bennett is one of Johnson’s closest friends with the Chiefs. He said he never thought the song sounded like something Johnson would do.
“He was hurt. Carl and this organization mean a lot to him,” Bennett said. “Everybody has their ups and downs. I don’t think he would say or do anything to put himself in harm’s way, especially about this organization.
“I can just see the look in his eye. He was just so remorseful about it. It was out there, and it’s being said. But he’s said it’s not him, so let’s just move on.”
Chiefs coach Herm Edwards said he didn’t plan to bring it up with Johnson.
“He’s already told you guys it wasn’t him,” Edwards said. “That’s good enough for me.
“There are a lot of things that happen that people are subject to and you never know where it comes from. You don’t know. For me to sit here and try to be Inspector Clouseau and figure out who did it and what are the clues, I’m not going to do that. I’ve got to beat Chicago. I can’t worry about this stuff.”
Disputed song gives Larry Johnson a bad rap
Disputed song gives Larry Johnson a bad rap
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