Interview with Capital-"X"

Raised in the streets and in prison, Capital-"X" turned his life around through his music he calls Reality Hip Hop, or Raptivism. A strong supporter for death row inmates, and activist for prison rights, Capital-"X" brings awareness to people through his music, and lyrics. Like he has stated, "My music speaks for itself", this powerful interview with Capital-"X" does also.

"This is what I live for, and this, is what I will die for. The struggle is for all of us. Don't look at me like I am crazy, they are killing people by the hundreds. Over 2 million are locked in cages. Thousands have been murdered and hundreds are waiting to be murdered. I spent over 20 years trying to get out of the system, near 13 were spent in cages. They condition the weak for this, for imprisonment. They profit from this. Am I crazy? Judge me."I'd rather die for the Cause, then to live and DO NOTHING!" "X" AKA 305375 Hebrews 13:3

Here is my interview with Capital-"X"

Can you give us a Bio of yourself?

I'm a Nuyorican Born in Brooklyn, I was raised everywhere. I live in New Jersey right now. I pretty much was raised by the streets. I started getting high when I was 12, by 14 I was selling drugs. Ran drugs for many years. I spent over half my life trapped within the system, finally breaking free in 2002. I was either in prison, jail, or under some kind of judicial supervision for over 20 years. It didn't make me a better person, it made me get worse.

Within this mayhem I found one thing that I say saved my life, Hip Hop. I grew up around hip hop, I personally know some of the founding fathers till this day. I was in the front row when the hip hop culture was born, back when it was only found in New York. Both my criminal activity, and my musical life span over two decades.

I say hip hop saved my life, because its the only thing in life I found that gave me hope. Seeing my history goes back so far, my bio's often turn out to be short books, so let me just run it down like this.

I dropped out of school when I was 16 in the eighth grade. I returned to school in my mid thirties during my last prison bid. I achieved my GED in less than 3 months. I also took Bible correspondence courses receiving honors at Source of Light Schools, and American Bible Academy. Upon my release I went to college on a full Pell Grant I received because of my achievements. I majored in Music Technology and held a 4.0 GPA with honors for 2 years.

I left school for a once in a life time opportunity. I was asked to go on The Vans Warped Tour in 2004. I got to travel across the United States and through Canada. I met a lot famous artists and made major contacts within the music industry thanks to Jamie Wilkins (DJ Addverse) the founder of Code of the Cutz/Warped Tour, the only hip hop stage on the all punk tour.Since Warped Tour my music has brought me places I dreamt of when I was in prison. I have done 3 European Tours, and am scheduled for a forth in June 2007.

My music has changed over the years, but I have always tried to use my music to relay a message. I have always used my music as a form of action. Well in 2004, I took it one step further. From the end of 2004 till present I have read over 100 books most being on the topic of our criminal Justice system. I have studied the history of imprisonment, penology, corrections and slavery to name a few. I took every aspect of my life and flipped around to make it work for me. I transformed my self into a raptivist. I am now the US Representative for Senza Voce (Voice of The Voiceless) a non-profit organization that fights for human rights based in Italy.

I am currently working on my debut solo release titled "305375". I also have a few books written that we are working on getting published. In January 2007 I launched a campaign Hip Hop Against All Violence with a short film I produced. The short film won first place in an international competition. The film included a song telling the story of Texas death row prisoner Anthony Haynes. The best stuff is yet to come.

Can you tell us what style of music you do, and what other artists have influenced you?

If I define my music in terms of the labels they have today, I would say my music is hard-core underground reality rap. I just call it Truth, my music is nothing but Truth in Hip Hop. All my lyrics are based on my past experiences and are backed with researched facts. I also speak for other prisoners writing about their stories, and what they are going through now.

As a rapper I have been influenced by many artists from Tito of the Fearless Four, Grand Master Caz, Melle Mel, Almighty Kay Gee, Kool G Rap, to KRS One, Chuck D of Public Enemy, Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine, Non Phixion, ILL Bill, Sabac red, Akir, and Immortal Technique.
One influence stands out though, Johnny Cash. I knew the mans name, but didn't know anything about him till he died. When I read a story about the Man in Black it sounded like I was reading about myself. The man stood for everything I had grown to stand for. I wrote a song called "Spic In Black" which was inspired by Johnny Cash's "Man in Black". I actually wove our lyrics together.
Other influences, George L. Jackson, Malcolm-X, Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, Nelson Mandela, Tookie Williams, Anthony Haynes ( I have written a song about Anthony Haynes titled 999330), Luis "Cholo" Santana, Randy Arroyo, and Luis Felipe.

Where have you played in the past, and what upcoming shows do you have scheduled?

I have played hundreds of shows, but recently the 5 Spot in Philly with Akir, Sonars in Baltimore Maryland with Jeru The Damaja, The Nuyorican Poets Café New York, I just played in the country of Croatia for MTV Adria at the Fat Beat Radio 5 year anniversary festival. I played in London at the Art & Soul, Voices from Death Row festival for Tony Ford. I have done about 20 shows in Italy most in middle schools, and in high schools where I first speak to the students about capital punishment, drugs, gangs , prison and violence. I opened up for Slum Village in Jesolo, Italy for over 2000 people. I also got to speak and perform at the Santa Ana Maximum security prison in Modena, Italy last March on the 23.
May 15th I am scheduled to perform at the Otto Bar in Baltimore, Maryland with Arcane, and the legendary KRS One. Yes, one of my influences.
June 19 to July 7, I return to Europe for a number of dates including a return to the Santa Ana prison to rock for our fallen brothers out there.

Note: I am now accepting offers for shows, seminars, lectures and interviews world wide. Igwtentertainment@gmail.com

What are some of the ups and downs in the music business?

For me the ups would be the people I touch especially the kids. The down side of it is the politics, this is why I am 100% independent. The music business is much like the drug business, it's vicious. Without getting into details, I will just say if you want to get into the music business, you better really love it, cause it will try you.

Do you consider yourself a prison rights/death row activist?

I most certainly do first and foremost. I love music, it's my life, but I can't just walk away from my past and just do music it's not possible for me. Prison in it self is hell. The vile conditions can't even be put into words, not to mention the brutality. I have dedicated my life to expose the truth not just about the conditions in prisons but of the underlying motives behind capital punishment and mass incarceration. I not only perform, I speak, attend conferences, write and visit prisoners, I write articles for news papers on these topics I do whatever is possible to help in the struggle for true freedom and justice for all.

How do you feel your music is helping in the struggle to abolish the death penalty, and to reform our prison system?

I think it's opening many eyes. I hit them at a young age middle schools. I have received dozens of letters from students and teachers. Teachers telling me of dramatic changes in once problematic children. In high schools after meeting me students have organized to help fight against Capital punishment. I have received news paper coverage as well as television coverage in 3 countries, people are listening, how can they not, I am speaking the truth. I am living proof that prisoners can reform with the proper attention and guidance. When I speak on the amount of money taxpayers can save if prisoners were to be rehabilitated opposed to incarcerated ears open wide. Same goes with capital punishment vs. Life without parole. In truth every little bit helps when it comes to the struggle, right down to just simply signing your name on a petition.
I think my music is calling many people together and gearing them up for some real action.

What other interests do you have?

Ending poverty world wide.
The struggle is my only interest. I will fight till I am buried.

What are your goals and aspirations for the future?

I wanna see the death penalty abolished world wide goal number one. Goal number two, prison reform including the banning of for profit prisons, and prison labor. Aspirations, drug law reform and the release of drug related prisoners giving treatment where it's needed. This is what I want to do full time till I die.

Can you supply us with links to any of your personal pages, and to listen to your music?

www.myspace.com/capitalxaka305375

www.305375.com

Thanks for doing this interview, and at this time is there anything else you would like to say?

Yea. Yo

Physically I'm free, but my memories remain
bound in chains and, locked in a cage
my rage burns like the flames, of the hell I've endured
I still hear the keys to my feedom echoing, the slamming cell doors
the foot steps of my captores, I hear screams of agony like big cats roars
I still see the blood stained floors, the riots the gang wars in the big yard
I still see my brothas fallin, and rollin the boulders
sometimes I feel the weight of every prisoner on my sholders
so I speak out, like Jesus delivering His sermon on the Mount
I've seen the light, though I still find myself blacking out
my account can't be found in his-story, cause it's the fucken truth
I'm the evidence, the star witness, I'm living proof
man I still see bars, when I look at my self in the mirror
X-prisoner of the drug war from the Reagan era
a time of terror, when the crack epidemic plagued America
Aids came into play, and changed the world forever
life sentences were handed out, like foodstamps in the 70's
Governors signing death warrants on men, women, children and babies
yea shit is crazy, but it's still going on
I try to speak the truth, so the revolution will be born
but when I'm finished mutha fucking cowards, think it was only a song
when I'm talking about victory over our enemies as it's written in Psalms
that's right I'm fucking dangerous with a mic in my palm
fuck droppin bombs, I spit rapid fire lyrics at the bastards
have them doing 720's full tucks and back flips
yea I'm that sick, spreading like an severe Epidemic
cause I want Justice, and trust me, I'm not talking poetic.

Support the struggle. Hebrews 13:3