SOL: Do you consider the Lifers Group to be a movement, or just a group of artists? What song do you think best describes the group, or do you think the whole body of work is better taken as a whole?
Original: Yes I do as a matter of fact it’s still a functional thriving movement before the Lifers Group started using music/hip-hop as a vehicle to get their message out they were nominated for a Emmy award for their Scared Straight program we're far from just a group of artist we're activists in the fight to reduce the number of people incarcerated by not only enlightening them to the harsh realities prison life but offering other alternatives when put in conditions or situations where you can end up in prison as well as sharing our own personal experiences which is why the best song to represent the group would be Belly of the Beast but every song has a message a jewel you can embrace and use in your personal experiences and journey through life do I feel it would be better for the audience to embrace it as a whole…..
SOL: What is your specific affiliation with the group? Have you met with prisoners? Were you imprisoned yourself? I notice that some of the people used were sentenced 25 years to life.
Original: I am an honorary member of the Lifers Group one of the artists in the group and yes I was incarcerated myself that’s how I was able to be a part of the group I didn't have a life sentence but others did and used their story to hopefully scare at risk youth straight with their message “Learn at the expense of our sorrow.”
SOL: Did you get close to any of the inmates? Reach out to their families?
Original: When I was incarcerated I didn't get close to no one to be honest I had to watch my back sleep with one eye open so to say but I did connect with those of us in the Lifers Group who came home when I was released to do appearances, shows, and interviews I established a relationship with them and their families outside of the penitentiary.
SOL: How did the inmates families feel when they realized that their voices were being heard even while being imprisoned? I know for myself once my family was made aware of it they were…we were happy to say the least especially being in such a dark place and being able to enlighten the world about the realities of prison life and insight on how not to end up there it was an honor being able to connect with the Lifers Group to achieve this
5)What are some of the struggles that you/the inmates went through while trying to raise their children? Of course there are obvious problems with the prison setting and visitation, and maybe the child losing respect for the parent, or maybe even the opposite where the child idolizes the parent and wants to be like them, but do you have any specific stories that you can share? Speaking for me I was 17 when I got incarcerated and waived up to an adult I didn't have any children but I’m sure having a parent that's lock5up is never easy they miss out on raising your child which will have obvious problems in the future
6)How does your artwork correlate with the work of the Lifers Group and their music? My artwork is my music my lyrics the passion behind every song is undeniable and can be felt when you listen to VERSES I connect with the Lifers Group because I lived their story through my own personal experience
7)Some people consider music as a way out of this 3-D world where they can escape and float freely in their own little bubbly space. If you look at this way then one might say that experiencing music is a type of freedom. How is it for someone who is denied freedom to create a source of freedom for others out there in the open world? It’s exhilarating and satisfying to be able to experience that level of reaching others and it’s self healing in the sense that in seeking repentance for whatever got us incarcerated we shark our failures so others can be successful in making better choices it helps to change an inmate its therapeutic to be honest and I am glad to be able to have helped others on the outside while on the inside serving purpose
8)How much exposure did the Lifers Group get outside? How about in other prisons? Did inmates in other prisons know about this group of rappers? Did other prisons try to implement something similar? We got a lot of exposure we were nominated for a Grammy interviews 91 against Madonna Billy Idol Sinead O'Connor, we have been featured in Time Spin, Source, Rap Pages,
As well as newspapers across the country we made appearances on 20/20 with Tom Brokav the Oprah show Pump it up with Dee Barnes Video with Ralph McDaniel and radio stations all while incarcerated because of our powerful life changing message we were so influential that other institutions copied out Mission even a women's prison Clinton Correctional facility was on the news for walking in the Lifers foot steps when they implemented their own Scared Straight program in short the Lifers Group was and still is well known for their Scared Straight program and music we were featured in countless over seas magazines also being featured in Japan and United Kingdom news
9)How were you/the inmates treated after releasing their album? Were they idolized? Were other inmates jealous? Were they targeted…we were treated ok no one idolized us but we used to sign autographs for some of the guards and administration who had our posters and tapes we also use to take pictures with other inmates family during visits but we weren't treated any different in any other way in fact I think the prison intentionally did that so we wouldn't feel special because Of all the attention we started getting plus the others inmates didn't have to much issues the usual jealousy people face when you're doing something with yourself but we face that whether you're inside or outside
10) If you were imprisoned how does it feel now to be on the outside? Do you visit the other members of the group who are still inside? Do you think the Lifers Group made a long lasting effect in the prison system, or at least in the consciousness of the people working in it? It feels great to be home I’ve been out since 94 still doing music, interviews, appearances at schools to share my experience and story with at risk youth and yes there are Lifers Group members who are still incarcerated many of them had life sentences I didn't I was sentenced to 15 years I'm fortunate to have learned from it and never returned it was a humbling experience for me one that I am forever indebted to for molding me into who I am today a motivator a speaker of what is right in the hopes Of blessing my listeners with direction