The Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office is addressing the makers of diss tracks put out recently in a local gang beef by dissing them back. (Video links in text below.)

The first video was made by the Wolf Quarters Boys (WQB) and is aimed at rival group SMB (Self Made Boss). Sheriff Edward Goods said WQB is made up of primarily juveniles, while SMB is primarily an adult group. The beef started, he said, around a year ago when a 15-year-old was fatally shot.

“Wolf Quarters Babies have just dropped their latest rap single titled ‘Stay In Your Lane!!’ The music video was beautifully filmed in the heart of Wolf Quarters, right on the playground,” states the Facebook caption on CCSO’s video.

The SMB video is called “The Truth.” CCSO called the track “highly anticipated” before posting a more direct message.

“It’s disheartening to note that these individuals, despite being grown men, choose to focus their lyrics on beefing and gun violence,” the CCSO’s Facebook states. “While we recognize the artistic expression in music, a closer look at their lyrics reveals that they are fueling a cycle of violence among themselves, encouraging others to engage in gunplay.”

The videos made by the sheriff’s department take the rap music and put their own commentary on top.

“6 young men, 8 guns,” one caption reads. “Do you know them? Because we do.”

In the video from the younger set, “Do you know these babies? We do!”

“I told them, ‘Every time y’all post something, I’m going to share it on our page, and let your parents see what you’re doing,'” Goods said. “I’m going to expose them for what they are. They’re using the rap songs to keep the beef going. They’re not tryng to get a record deal, just taking shots at each other.”

The videos show the rappers in common public areas, such as a basketball court or in front of a local laundromat.

“61 Laundry was established as a safe place for citizens to wash their clothes,” CCSO states in one video, and in the other, “Wolf Quarters basketball court was established for our youth as a place of building camaraderie and promoting unity.”

Goods explains that his department makes their videos, which are reminiscent of MTV’s “Pop-Up Videos” of the 1990s, in order to bring awareness to the community and the family members of the gang members.

“I’ve started a conversation,” Goods said. “When we lock them up, mostly their parents come over and bond them right out, and it’s a cycle. This is putting it back on the parents.”

It’s not uncommon for rival gangs to write lyrics into rap tracks to put down other groups. Goods said SMB’s members primarily work out of town, and they plan their releases accordingly to keep WQB stirred up.

“They consistently release diss tracks before leaving for work. Just a month ago, upon their return, a massive fight erupted at a party, resulting in the dangerous use of firearms,” the CCSO’s Facebook post said. “It’s difficult for us to comprehend why they would disrupt other people’s good times and allow this ongoing feud to persist.”

The video also shows the gang members consistently throwing gang signs. Some appear to be their own, while some are inverted, which generally is a sign of disrespect for rival gangs. Toward the end of the SMB video, shell casings appear to be flying across the screen as if bullets are being shot from an automatic rifle.

Meanwhile, the CCSO commentary also pokes fun based on the location of the video full of guns, adding comments like, “Where’s the laundry? 🧺🔫🔫🔫” and “Where’s the basketball? 🏀🔫🔫🔫🔫”

Goods said bringing unity to his county and curtailing the gun and gang violence is a priority to him. He said many support his ideas, though there are a few who have resisted.

“We’ve been proactive on this for a long time, so I don’t care what they say about me,” he said. “We meet with parents, with the schools, with kids, and it’ll die down for a while. But then someone will send me a song.”

“Law enforcement will stay in our lane when these babies stay in theirs,” the CCSO’s WQB video says at the end.