X-Clan's Brother J Drops Some Knowledge

Revolution Through Evolution

Comments (0) By Shea Serrano Wednesday, Feb 27 2008

BJ: I'll tell you this: I'm not trying to win over kids. I make soldier's music. If your kids happen to be mental to that, then they'll love X-Clan. If they love that lollipop thing, I'm not stooping there. I don't feel I have to put my art down there.

Marcus Garvey taught us to link with black businesses, you know what I'm saying? Reach out to others of the same mind. I'm not going back to become a slave to the wheels of corporation. If people want to support me, I can give back more. If not, I'll struggle, but it's no big thing. We live in the struggle.

T. Piper Media

Brother J preaches freedom, justice and equality.

Details

Brother J performs at R.B.G. Rhymefest 7 p.m. Friday, February 29, at the S.H.A.P.E. Community Center, 3903 Almeda, 713-521-0629. Sunni Patterson, Zin, S.M.U.G.G.L.A.Z., 144 Elite, Bobbie Fine, Swatara, PKT, Truth Universal and DJ Kool Emdee are also on the bill. An afterparty is at Dean's Credit Clothing, 316 Main.

More About

HP: Last thing, and you may be kind of surprised to hear this, but race is a sensitive topic for some people.

BJ: (laughs)

HP: You wrote one of the most discussed lines in hip-hop history back on To the East. What exactly was going through your mind when you wrote the famed line, "How can polar bears swing on vines with gorillas?"

BJ: I'm glad that that comment causes so much controversy, but it wasn't written like that. It was made for people to understand that you had to play your position, you feel me? At that time it was very deep for white kids in hip-hop to imitate us. My whole thing was, people have built careers on that, and I was trying to make a nice statement. Not like, "Step outta hip-hop! You're not invited!" It was more like, "Be you."