Hot 97 Fires Production Director "Paddy Duke" Who Was Part of Mob That Killed Yusef Hawkins
Hot 97 has fired Pasquale Raucci, also known as "Paddy Duke" after it was revealed that he was a part of the mob that killed Yusuf Hawkins in 1989. The ‘Storm Over Brooklyn’ documentary that aired on HBO tells the tragic details surrounding Hawkins’ death in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn. Raucci was reportedly shown in the documentary.
Hawkins and three friends were attacked by a crowd of 10 to 30 white youths in the mostly Italian neighborhood, with at least seven of them wielding baseball bats. One, armed with a handgun, shot Hawkins twice in the chest, killing him. Raucci was a part of the angry mob. Hawkins had gone to Bensonhurst that night with three friends to inquire about a used automobile that was for sale. The group's attackers had been lying in wait for a Black youth they believed had dated a neighborhood girl. Hawkins and his friends walked onto the ambushers' block unaware that local residents were preparing racist attacks against Black youth. He was just 16 years old.
The death of Yusef Hawkins was touched upon in some of the scenes and played a part in the overall theme of the racial tensions in New York City that was brought to the screen by Spike Lee in the movies "Do the Right Thing" and "Jungle Fever." Hawkins' name was immortalized in the 1990 classic Hip Hop song 'Treat 'Em Right' by Chubb Rock.
Raucci had been working at Hot 97 since 1994 as a producer for The Angie Martinez Show and then as the Commercial Production Director at the station since 2003. Hot 97 posted a statement on the firing on all social media platforms. (Read their statement below...after the lyrics and the brief YouTube clip from Chubb Rock.)
Leave the knife and the gun in the store
and ignore temptation, sent by the nation
Racial gain causes pain; need a new rep
In your hearts and minds never forget Yusef
Hawkins
And you're walking
You don't just run
15 second snippet
After watching HBO's Storm over Brooklyn, HOT97 was shocked and took swift action. Paddy Duke is no longer employed by HOT97. The march for social justice continues. (Getty Images: Spencer Platt / Staff) pic.twitter.com/pDyyebjalJ— HOT 97 (@HOT97) August 23, 2020
Twitter reacts:
A film with that’s more relevant now than ever, #YusufHawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn revisits Yusuf’s murder and the subsequent fight for justice that inspired and divided NYC.— HBO Documentaries (@HBODocs) August 12, 2020
Premieres tonight at 9PM on @HBO and stream it on @hbomax. pic.twitter.com/EpgFgJwqyD
The new HBO documentary #StormOverBrooklyn looks at the 1989 racially motivated murder of Yusef Hawkins. The film director @mutaali speaks on his new documentary and how it connects to racial relations today. #PoliticsNation pic.twitter.com/60EmZUP9zC— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) August 10, 2020
I remember the #YusufHawkins story so vividly from when I was growing up in Brooklyn. This documentary on @hbo #stormoverbrooklyn helped me learn all the details I didn’t know. It’s amazing how much has NOT changed… https://t.co/IxFHAM5F2A— Angela Yee (@angelayee) August 19, 2020
All of my years at @HOT97 I had no idea until this recent documentary came out that Paddy Duke had anything to do with the murder of #YusufHawkins This is so sickening and sad!— Mr C'mon Son!!!! (@MrEdLover) August 23, 2020
This Paddy Duke mess has my spirit so damn vexed! Like! He is a man who was a part of a violent racist mob who killed a black child ! And he’s worked at one of the most legendary New York radio stations whose entire existance is off of black music for damn near 3 decades!!!!!— Kimberly Nichole (@KimNicky) August 23, 2020
They really let this Paddy Duke guy into Hip Hop after participating in the racist murder of a black teenager. Smh. pic.twitter.com/NvUenj58q3— Cuba Badding Jr. (@CubaBaddingJr) August 23, 2020
You think was common knowledge? Wow..... https://t.co/f9Thl1V4Mo— Kojo Ebro (@oldmanebro) August 23, 2020
Hot 97 had to know.— Dr. Kimya Nuru Dennis, 365 Diversity, LLC (@365DiversityLLC) August 23, 2020
Even this 2019 article has a photo of Pasquale Raucci (Paddy Duke) in court after the murder of Yusef (often spelled Yusuf) Hawkins.
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Bigotry in Bensonhurst and the murder of Yusuf Hawkins - New York Daily News https://t.co/MRH8nKQRIP
This post has been updated on August 24, 2020
Paddy Duke had been here forever (13 years) when I got here in '07. It was crazy and incredibly upsetting seeing him in that documentary.— Peter Rosenberg (@Rosenbergradio) August 24, 2020
People inside and outside the building are rightfully upset and disappointed. We all are. We will continue to address this well beyond today https://t.co/pOZ0LP3ONw
How can you blame @oldmanebro for someone who was hired in 1994! I know you’re angry that he was hired at a hip hop station but you need to get a grip! I was there in 1993 and had no idea of this guy’s background https://t.co/vF7pFhj026— Mr C'mon Son!!!! (@MrEdLover) August 24, 2020
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