BMF: Hip-hop's shadowy empire 

The reign of Big Meech and the Black Mafia Family
A three-part series by CL Senior Writer, Mara Shalhoup

Part I: The Black Mafia Family and the dark side
Published Dec. 13, 2006
Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory and the Black Mafia Family were hip-hop royalty without a hit. According to investigators, the organization had a darker side: It was one of the most elaborate drug-trafficking enterprises in the country. And on the streets, BMF was something else entirely – a force that fused the entertainment industry and the criminal underworld. On the streets, BMF was legend. Read part I »

Part II: BMF's code of silence
Published Dec. 13, 2006
Loyalty within BMF made the alleged drug enterprise nearly impenetrable. But after investigators turned up the heat, one high-placed member would break BMF's code of silence. Read part II »

Part III: The feds make their move
Published Dec. 13, 2006
In the summer of 2005, the party would get our hand for Meech and BMF. And after years of watching, the feds finally would make their move. Read part III »

Tremayne Graham: Drugs, murder & deceit
Published May 09, 2007
On the surface, he was a successful businessman who hung out with Charles Barkley and married Mayor Shirley Franklin's daughter. But Tremayne Graham's role as a major drug dealer with ties to the Black Mafia Family—and his alleged role in a chilling double homicide—would soon come into focus. Read »

BMF's judgment day
Published Nov. 15, 2007
After a 15-year probe, the Flenory brothers will stand trial for allegedly running one of the country's most elaborate cocaine rings. Will the feds take down the brothers' Black Mafia Family? Read »

BMF on Fresh Loaf
Updates on the BMF story can be found on CL's News Blog, Fresh Loaf.

 

 

Photo by David Stuart

Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory

 

More BMF coverage

BMF: Hip-hop's shadowy empire 

Part 1
The Black Mafia Family and the dark side
Published Dec. 06, 2006
- Deep background notes
- Video: Scenes from one of BMF's legendary parties, released by DVD magazine Smack.
- Audio: CL Editor Ken Edelstein discusses the origins of this story with the author, Mara Shalhoup Recorded Dec. 8, 2006

 

Part 2
BMF's code of silence
Published Dec. 13, 2006
- Deep background notes
- Audio: The stories' editor and author discuss the response to the series. Recorded Dec. 19, 2006

 

Part 3
The feds make their move
Published Dec. 20, 2006
- Deep background notes
- Scenes from: A gallery of Meech's 2004 birthday party at Compound
- Video: Meech discusses BMF Entertainment's sole artist, Bleu DaVinci, on DVD magazine Raw Report
- Video: DaVinci's music video for the track, "Still Here"
- PDF: The indictment against the Flenory brothers

Drugs, murder & deceit

Published May 09, 2007
The double life of a criminal formerly known as the mayor's son-in-law.

BMF's judgment day

Published Nov. 15, 2007
After a 15-year probe, the Flenory brothers will stand trial for allegedly running one of the country's most elaborate cocaine rings.
- Chart: A guide to who's who in the BMF investigation.
- PDF: Meech's letter to the judge

 

Chronology of events

 

About the series

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