Rapper Arrested in Long Island Acid Attack: Lyrics Linked to Crime

A Brooklyn man has been charged in connection with a 2021 acid attack on Long Island that left a woman partially blinded, authorities announced Tuesday. Terrell Campbell, 29, who performs as the rapper “Yung Based Prince,” was arraigned in Nassau County Court on charges including assault and criminal possession of a weapon.

The charges stem from the March 2021 attack on Nafiah Ikram, then a 21-year-aged Hofstra University pre-med student, as she returned home to Elmont. According to prosecutors, Campbell threw a cup containing 70% sulfuric acid in Ikram’s face, causing second- and third-degree burns to her face, arms, and chest. Ikram has stated she initially believed she had been splashed with juice before realizing the corrosive nature of the substance.

The case remained unsolved for years until investigators discovered a music video uploaded to YouTube by Campbell under his rap alias. The song, titled “Obsidian,” contains lyrics boasting about an acid attack strikingly similar to the one on Ikram. “On the street in the night like a hitman assassin, strive to run up, have your face burning in acid,” Campbell raps in the video, which had fewer than 100 views as of the time of his arrest.

Prosecutors allege that Campbell’s confidence in evading capture grew over the two years between the attack and the song’s release. District Attorney Anne Donnelly stated that Campbell “thought he was in the clear as time dragged on—leaving him confident enough to brag about it in his failed rap song.”

Following the attack, a Google account linked to Campbell’s rap alias and phone number showed searches for “sulfuric acid remover” shortly after the incident, suggesting an attempt to clean up evidence from his vehicle. Subsequent searches included inquiries about whether FaceTime can be tracked, the concept of “an eye for an eye” under Hammurabi’s law, and information regarding recovery from sulfuric acid burns – all occurring before the attack received media coverage.

During Tuesday’s arraignment, Assistant District Attorney Brian Rodriguez described Ikram’s injuries as so severe that her skin appeared to be “falling off.” Rodriguez emphasized the lasting impact of the attack, stating, “Her life has not been and never will be the same since that night.” He characterized the assault as “one of the most vicious and barbaric acts this county has ever seen.”

Ikram, now 26, has undergone numerous surgeries and continues to battle anxiety and depression as a result of the attack. She has publicly expressed frustration with the pace of the investigation and her determination to prevent similar incidents from occurring. She has since returned to her studies at Hofstra University, pursuing her goal of becoming a doctor.

Campbell, dressed in pajama pants and a red coat, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Judge ordered him held without bail. His defense attorney, Greg Zak, argued against pre-trial detention, highlighting Campbell’s lack of criminal history, employment as a flower delivery driver, and college degree.

Campbell’s father was present at the arraignment and reportedly flipped off reporters as he left the courthouse. Campbell is scheduled to return to court on February 18 and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.