For more info, contact: prkav@udel.edu or tammya@udel.edu

Property Crime in Hip-Hop vs. Electronic Dance Music Nightclub Events: Examining the Drugs/Crime Connection*Phil Kavanaugh and Tammy AndersonUniversity of DelawareDepartment of Sociology & Criminal Justice For more info, contact: prkav@udel.edu or tammya@udel.edu *Project funded by NIJ Grant No. 2004-IJ-CX-0040, with additional support from the University of Delaware

Introduction / Problem Statement • Currently, the hip-hop (HH) and electronic dance music (EDM) nightclub scenes function as a major source of entertainment and leisure activity for a large number of young adults. • These scenes have been linked to alcohol and drug abuse, as well as various criminal behaviors, including property crimes such as theft and vandalism. • Unfortunately, nightclubs have received relatively scant attention as a site for addressing the connection between alcohol, drugs, and crime (ADC) in both theoretical and empirical work.

Research Questions • What kinds of property crime occur at HH and EDM nightclub events? • What is the relationship between alcohol and drug consumption and property crime at these events? • How does this relationship vary by scene? • How do the activities and behavioral norms of the HH and EDM scenes impact the ADC relationship in ways not previously considered?

Theoretical Framework • Goldstein’s (1985) Tripartite Model. • White’s (1990) Common Cause Model. • Examining the ADC relationship in the nightclub-based leisure economy allows us to: • Identify the factors that impact the ADC relationship in this setting. • Determine how well extant models apply to specific settings and diverse populations.

Methodological Approach • Multi-method ethnographic study of the HH and EDM nightclub scenes in Philadelphia, PA - conducted from April 2005 to January 2006. • Interviews with 51 participants in the EDM and HH nightclub scenes. • Direct observation of 33 nightclub events in the city of Philadelphia. • Data are self-reported, retrospective accounts of drug use and crime. • Used a grounded theory approach to generate findings.

Types of Data used to Discern Alcohol / Drug Use and Property Crime • Drug and alcohol use • Self-reported use (present) and past (5 years). • Direct observation of consumption patterns at events. • Property Crime • Self-reports of property crime offending. • Respondent reports of property crime witnessed at club events. • Self-reports of property crime victimization.

Table 1. Respondent Race and Sex Breakdown __________________________________________________________________________________________ Sex /Race White Black Asian Hispanic Total # __________________________________________________________________________________________ Male 9 10 4 3 26 Female 7 11 6 1 25 _________________________________________________________________________________________ Total # 16 21 10 4 51 __________________________________________________________________________________________

Table 2. Social Class Indicators by Race and Sex ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Educational Attainment Race / Sex Mean Age Mean Inc.* High School Some College B.A./M.A.*** ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ White Male 26.6 $27,000 3 5 1 White Female 25.2 $26,520 2 3 2 Black Male 26 $29,000 2 5 2 Black Female 22.2 $25,860** 2 5 5 Asian Male 28.5 $55,900 1 2 1 Asian Female 25.4 $34,500 2 1 3 Hisp. Male 26.3 $35,250 2 1 . Hisp. Female 25 $4,800 1 . . ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Totals 25.3 $36,820 15 22 14 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ * Income data is annual, and was provided for 45 of the 50 respondents. Six respondents were unemployed and not earning an income at the time of the interview. The mean figures do not include data for those six. ** The mean income for black females may be artificially inflated due to one respondent earning $69,000 a year. If she is excluded, the mean income for this category drops to $18,600. *** One respondent had a graduate degree - a black female with a Master’s in computer science. Four others were pursuing advanced degrees - 2 Asian females, 1 black female, and 1 white male.

Table 3. Hip-Hop Respondent Demographic and Social Class Indicators ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Educational Attainment Race / Sex # Mean Age Mean Inc. High School Some College B.A./M.A. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ White Male 3 26.3 $23,000 1 2 . White Female 2 28.5 $38,000 . 1 1 Black Male 7 26 $28,000 1 4 2 Black Female 9 23.7 $26,830* . 4 5 Asian Male 2 26.5 $60,000** 1 . 1 Asian Female 5 25.4 $34,500 1 1 3 Hisp. Male 1 29 $50,000 . 1 . Hisp. Female 1 25 $4,800 1 . . ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Totals 30 26.3 $33,140 5 13 12 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ * The mean income for black females may be artificially inflated due to one respondent earning $69,000 a year. If she is excluded, the mean income for this category drops to $18,400. ** Mean income for the Asian male category is based on data from one respondent only.

Table 4. EDM Respondent Demographic and Social Class Indicators ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Educational Attainment Race / Sex # Mean Age Mean Inc. High School Some College B.A./M.A. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ White Male 6 26.8 $29,600 2 3 1 White Female 5 24 $23,650 2 2 1 Black Male 3 26.7 $32,500 1 2 . Black Female 2 19.5 $20,000* 1 1 . Asian Male 1 29.5 $57,500 . 2 . Asian Female 1 25 $24,000 1 . . Hisp. Male 2 24 $20,500** 1 1 . _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Totals 21 25 $29,700 8 11 2 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ * Mean income for the black female category is based on data for one respondent only. ** Mean income for the Hispanic male category is based on data for one respondent only.

Table 5. Direct Observation of Events by Type ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Event Type Commercial1 HH Commercial EDM Underground2 HH Underground EDM Mash-ups3 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Weeklies4 6 1 5 1 . Monthlies5 2 1 4 3 2 Superstar One-off6 2 3 . 1 2 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Totals 10 5 9 5 4 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ [1] Commercial refers to large events at clubs that replicate and appeal to mainstream music interests, styles, and forms and are marketed to as many clubbers as possible. These parties are primarily focused on profit.. [2] Underground refers to smaller parties held at smaller clubs for those loyal to or interested in music that is not commercially available or played in conventional outlets. [3] Mash-ups are a new scene developing around a DJ mixing together different genres of music (reggae, HH, pop, house, rock). [4] Weeklies are named parties held on a particular day every week, usually from 9pm until 2am. They tend to draw smaller crowds and are heavily populated by insiders or enthusiasts. [5] Monthlies are named parties held once a month–usually on a weekend and from 9pm until 2-3am. They tend to draw slightly larger crowds, have more status, and are populated by scene enthusiasts and some “outsiders.” [6] Superstar one-offs are one-time events that often obtain special permits to run past normal bar hours. They feature a commercially popular DJ or DJs and are held at commercial clubs to accommodate large, diverse crowds.

Drug and Alcohol Use by Scene • Alcohol and marijuana were most common in both scenes. • Ecstasy use reported in both scenes, more in EDM, more at commercial events. • Respondents in both scenes reported “pre-gaming.” • Many respondents in both scenes reported daily marijuana use. • Alcohol use was reported as moderate or light - actual levels exceeded this, particularly at commercial events.

Types of Property Crime Committed and Experienced by HH and EDM Respondents • Most common is theft. • Stealing jackets and other personal affects (bags, purses, clothing). • Second most common - minor acts of vandalism. • Graffiti most common. • Breaking bottles in our outside of the club. • Third - major acts of vandalism. • Vehicle windows smashed, etc. • Vehicles broken into, personal affects stolen, etc.

EDM and HH Scene Comparison: Theft • EDM scene respondents reported more acts of theft in all categories compared to HH scene respondents.

EDM and HH Scene Comparison: Minor vandalism • Roughly same # of respondents in both HH and EDM scenes reported witnessing and committing acts of graffiti.

EDM and HH Scene Comparison: Major vandalism • All reports in both EDM and HH scenes are vehicular-related. • EDM scene respondents reported experiencing and witnessing a greater # of incidents.

ADC at EDM /HH Club Events: Scene Type v. Event Type • Scene type (HH v. EDM) less important than event type (commercial v. underground) in ADC relationship. • Most theft and minor vandalism reported at commercial events. • Impersonal atmosphere of commercial events contributes to this. • Commercial events encourage excessive alcohol consumption. • Contributes to victim precipitation. • Contributes to minor vandalism such as breaking bottles, etc.

ADC at EDM / HH Club Events: Alternative Norms • Theft considered “par for the course.” • Respondents stress personal responsibility. • Victims of theft become jaded, become offenders. • Graffiti as part of the scene culture. • Most do not regard “tagging” as a crime, but rather as art. • Major Vandalism also considered “par for the course.” • Emphasis on outside factors (bad neighborhood). • Again, respondents stress personal responsibility.

ADC at EDM / HH Club Events: The Club Itself • Characteristics of venue also impact the ADC relationship. • The role of club security impacts the relationship. • Physical layout of the club does as well. • Theft more common in clubs with multiple rooms / floors. • Routine activities (lack of guardianship). • Club location (neighborhood). • Car vandalism a result of clubs located in or near bad neighborhoods. • Alternative norms are also apparent in neighborhoods.

Conclusions • Future research examining the ADC connection in nightclub scenes should focus on the interplay between • Pharmacological factors • Role of drug and alcohol use in victim precipitation • Scene-specific factors • Role of security • Alternative norms • Promotion of alcohol /acceptance of drug use • Structural factors • Neighborhoods • Physical layout of the venue

For more info, contact: prkav@udel.edu or tammya@udel.edu