Cops and Robbers

Synopsis

Some people want to believe that once a robber, always a robber, but Corey Pegues challenges this notion. He reflects on his childhood in Queens, New York, where he faced poverty and the stigma of being labeled. Growing up in an apartment above a numbers joint, he recalls the embarrassment of living with roaches and mice while relying on welfare. Corey shares memories of his close-knit group of friends, including Cool June and Doom, as they spent countless hours in O'Connell Park. The narrative shifts to the early 80s when the crack epidemic takes hold, particularly affecting neighborhoods like Washington Heights, Harlem, and Bedford-Stuyvesant. Corey emphasizes the impact of this crisis on his community and the belief that people want to change their lives despite their past. He questions when society chooses to forgive and whether individuals can truly escape their history, all while underscoring the role of music in their lives during these turbulent times.