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Former Philadelphia rapper Cool C will be executed in January for his involvement in a 1996 bank robbery that left one police officer dead.
According to the Philly.com, Cool C, whose real name is Christopher Roney, will be put to death on Jan. 8, almost exactly 19 years to the day of the horrendous Jan. 2 crime. The 44-year-old rapper was found guilty of first-degree murder in Oct. 1996 for shooting Police Officer Lauretha Vaird during a botched robbery attempt of a PNC bank. Two other men, one of them being fellow rapper Steady B, were convicted of second-degree murder in the case. Both are serving life sentences for their role in the crime.
Cool C was a major fixture in the Philadelphia rap scene during the mid-’80s and early ’90s as a member of the Hilltop Hustlers crew. His 1987 single, ‘Juice Crew Dis,’ which was aimed at Big Daddy Kane and producer Marley Marl, garner him a lot of attention.
In 1988, Cool C signed a deal with Atlantic Records and released his debut album ‘I Gotta Habit’ in 1989. The collection boasts the classic hit, ‘The Glamorous Life,’ which is an edgier version of the Sheila E. song of the same name. The rapper followed that up with his second effort, ‘Life in the Ghetto,’ which didn’t sell quite as well as his debut LP.
In 1991, Cool C formed the hardcore rap group C.E.B. (“Countin’ Endless Bank”), with fellow rapper Steady B and Ultimate Eaze, and released the album ‘Countin’ Endless Bank’ on Ruffhouse Records. Despite garnering a Top 5 rap hit with ‘Get the Point,’ the album was a total flop.
Cool C has never spoken publicly about his robbery case but has maintained his innocence since being sentenced despite evidence linking him to the murder.
Watch Cool C’s ‘The Glamorous Life’ Video
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