Recently released bodycam footage captures Chicago rapper Montana of 300 being tased by Peoria police officers during a domestic dispute. The incident occurred on February 11, 2025, and has ignited widespread discussion among fans and the hip-hop community.
The footage, provided by the police authorities from the city of Peoria, shows police officers arriving where Montana of 300, aka Walter Anthony Bradford, is involved in a heated argument with the child’s mother. As the argument heated up, the clip shows the police trying to hold onto the rapper, resulting in the police using the taser against the rapper. Note the fact that even when the visual recording is clear, some details, such as police dialogue and the order of the events, were not provided, leaving room for speculations and conflicting opinions.
Following the incident, the police took Bradford into their custody for multiple charges, including criminal trespass, domestic battery, resisting arrest, and theft. He has ever since been granted bail after being taken into custody on the 11th day of February 2025. This incident raises the following fundamental questions: Is Montana of 300 being treated fairly, or is this the culmination of something bigger where the police are disproportionately targeting hip-hop artists?
The Peoria Police Department has posted the videos from the officer-involved shooting under their officer-involved shooting commitment for the sake of transparency. This has drawn mixed opinions. Others from the hip-hop culture and some fans find the actions of the police officers overzealous, while others find the police response normal given the circumstances.
Legal analysts also contributed their opinions, citing the importance of due process and against rushing judgments until all the facts were available. This incident reflects the ongoing trend in hip-hop culture: the complex relationship between rappers and the criminal justice system.
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Throughout the culture’s history, many artists have run afoul of the authorities, resulting in debates about systemic bias and the treatment rappers receive from the press. Montana of 300 has previously spoken about run-ins with the criminal justice system through his lyrics, so this incident speaks forcefully through his lyrics and the narratives he presents to the audience.
