NYPD, Crowd Clash at Smif-n-Wessun, Pete Rock ‘Monumental’ Album Release Party at Tammany Hall, NYC

UPDATE: Smif-n-Wessun spoke on the incident with the All Out Show on Shade 45 [via RapRadar]

Chaos erupted outside of Tammany Hall in New York City last night, as New York Police Department officers clashed violently with partygoers attending the album release of Smif-n-Wessen and Pete Rock’s album Monumental. Reports of what set off the melee are not completely clear at the moment, but several citizen-filmed videos have popped up, documenting the altercation.

According to Smif-n-Wessun member General Steele, who spoke on a video shot by DJ Jay Diamond, the police “stormed the place,” and began “beating on people,” forcing people to disperse from what many witnesses claim was a peaceful event. Instead of bringing order to the crowd, Steele says, the NYPD created more chaos.

Claims of police brutality have been made from many who witnessed the event, as reported by the NY Post, who quoted a witness as stating that police were inexplicably surrounding the entrance to the club, and another as stating that there was no fighting inside the actual show.

The NYPD did not comment as to why there was an increased presence at the show, nor did they comment on whether any arrests were made, though videos circulating though the internet clearly show patrons being arrested. Voices and witnesses on the video suggest that Pete Rock’s wife and daughter were also in the middle of the fray.

We’ll report more information as it becomes known.