For the past ten years I have been involved in the establishment and nurturing of the D.C. Metropolitan Hip-Hop scene. Early on in my career I was moderately active in different social movements and organizations that addressed our nation’s issues of injustice and equality for all of its citizens. At that time, Hip-Hop was mostly known in all circles, friendly or otherwise, as a voice of the people, so it was quite natural to become involved in the struggle for Freedom, Justice, and Equality all the while developing my craft and cementing myself as an artist.

Then, in the mid-nineties, the commercialization of Hip-Hop began to present a formidable barrier to my career plans as an artist/entertainer seeking a national recording contract. As record labels scrambled to sign acts who mimicked successful artists of the day, it became increasingly difficult to gain the attention of A&Rs being an artist who’s major source of pride and satisfaction stems from the fact that the music that I created was of my own creation and expression. After countless meetings with representatives of these labels and being praised for mine and my groups talents, but also being told that they were looking for "something" more along the lines of ________ (fill in the blank), I began to make exposure of this violation of Hip-Hop Rule #1 (Thou Shall Not Bite) my primary focus in the creation and subject of my art. Now, that is not to say that I turned a blind eye to the events and problems of the world, however, my activity pertaining to social movements gradually decreased.

In fact, I believe that I now have a greater understanding of people struggles worldwide due to my success at fighting the commercialization of Hip-Hop by coming into contact with people of all races, religions, and ethnic origins who were also fighting commercialism in one form or another with the common thread being that WE ALL LOVE HIP-HOP MUSIC! The more time I spent fellowshipping with my brothers and sisters, the more I realized the commercialization I was fighting in Hip-Hop is the same commercialization that binds, obstructs, and oppresses the will and prosperity of BILLIONS of people all over the world! Even after making this discovery my actions to fight this commercial Goliath were only limited to it’s involvement with Hip-Hop. Over time, my desires slowly faded away from wanting to "get signed" and I began to pursue my career more as an independent artist, allowing me to maintain full control of what I produce creatively. It is by this course of action that I have seen my greatest success, to the effect that now I am in to top echelon of D.C.’s favored and respected artists. Then came the events of September 11, 2001.

9/11 is a day no one will ever forget as our nation was dealt the most forceful sign in protest of its global imperialist policies to in its history. (Keep in mind that there is evidence that suggests 9/11 is part of a conspiracy to accelerate certain groups of people’s desire and vision for global domination, but I’m going to leave that alone for now.) It was a day when thousands of innocent lives were taken, insuring that the lives of tens of thousands of others equally as innocent will be disrupted and/or lost in exchange. It birthed the present states of cultural and religious paranoia in our nation, and the infamous Homeland Security Act bringing the literary prophecy of "Big Brother" into fruition. Nationwide, citizens (Overwhelmingly of Non-European descent) were asked to "re-confirm" who they are, polarizing relationships amongst friends, co-workers, and even family members. I experienced this first hand when I was informed by my employer of 13 years that there was "information" omitted on a tax document that filled out in 1989, and that I needed to supply them with a copy of my birth certificate. I am a United States citizen and native Washingtonian, descendant of enslaved Africans. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I have a Middle Eastern last name, and that other co-workers within the organization with "foreign" last names, and of foreign birth, were required to "prove" their identities likewise. My point is if you’re going to require "proof" of identity for one person post 9/11, then it should it should be required of all persons. After the bombing of ATF offices in Oklahoma there were no such efforts made, WHY NOT??

In light of the recent comments of Sen. Trent Lott, and the re-nomination of previously rejected judicial candidates to federal judgeships, it is apparent that here in the United States of America the fight for justice devoid of racial, religious, and/or ethnic background needs to be better supported and intensified. Living in the U.S. as a minority, I am expected to just “fit in” and go long with the policies our government creates because (a) Shaquille O’Neal, a black man like myself, makes over 100 million dollars to put a leather ball in a cylindrical hoop with nets hanging from it, or (b) Robert Johnson, former creator and owner of B.E.T. (the employer who fired Tavis Smiley after he interviewed Min. Louis Farrakhan now owned by Viacom which now features mostly ignorant, untalented, and degrading videos staring Black Americans) is a billionaire through his acceptance and cooperation within "the system". However, being of sound mind and body I can no longer be satisfied with coffee shop activism while the life and rights of myself and BILLIONS of others like me WORLDWIDE are manipulated by narrow minded and self centered men in power! Quite frankly, I’m not sure where to start (outside of my music), but after attending the first anti-war march post September 11, which was attending by 200,000 people representing areas from all corners of the world and all walks of life receiving virtually no press in the commercial American media (it figures), I was moved on a spiritual level to, once again, enter the ring and fight for the HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL MANKIND!!!

Peace
Head-Roc