CANADALAND How a Canadian Teenager Stole a Record Company
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Jul 14, 2025 Julian Abraham, a reporter and composer, unveils the bizarre tale of a Canadian teenager who orchestrated a colossal scam in the hip-hop world. He explores how this high schooler managed to juggle math homework with duping major industry players while claiming control of Ruthless Records post-Eazy-E. The conversation dives into the chaotic aftermath of the teenager's audacious exploits, miscommunications with industry elites, and how a youthful ambition spiraled into an FBI investigation, blending humor and reflection on unexpected personal growth.
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Voicemail Hijack Launches Scam
- Raphael used his phone hacking skill to hijack Ruthless Records' voicemail and reroute calls to an Ottawa apartment.
- He changed voicemail greetings to claim Ruthless had moved to Canada and gave a false contact number.
Scamming Aspiring Rappers For Cash
- The Ottawa phone kept ringing with hopeful aspiring rappers believing they reached Ruthless Records.
- Raphael impersonated record executives, extracting $500 upfront from artists convinced of a real deal.
Death And Legal Chaos Enabled Hack
- The voicemail hack worked due to timing: Eazy-E's death prompted a court-ordered shutdown locking Ruthless Records' physical offices.
- Nobody could change the voicemail, so calls unwittingly reached Raphael in Canada for months.