Words by: Sepehr Vakil

Which came first: your passion for music or your commitment as a political activist, or are they had a reinforcing relationship for one another?

I have always been of a Revolutionary mind first and then musically inclined, there are people who think these cannot co-exist, and truthfully it is difficult because Hip Hop has the tendency to put you in a box. I make music that is felt across the board, so sometimes certain people get mad when others that are from a complete other demographic listen to and appreciate it. For example now that my music has spread like a virus throughout the Black and Latino community and the assistance of Green Lantern has assisted in the extended play and penetration into the commercial circuit some people take that as me moving towards that industry mentality. Burt regardless of who out there is listening, the message in the music hasn’t been curbed or censored in any way shape or form. And the fact that all of the work I do in different communities and countries is funded with underground Hip Hop money. So if anything the message and the music has just gotten stronger, and it aids the Revolutionary actions I take.

You clearly see the value in investing time and energy for the intellectual and artistic development of young minds. I’m dying to know, what and who were some of your most significant and positive childhood influences?

I think that of course the eye opening misery of incarceration (legal slavery) was a big influence, but much more than that the studies I took upon myself, the works, of Michael Parenti,Tariq Ali, Mariategui, John Henrik Clarke, Al-Tabari, and even the great critics of any leftist aspects of civil liberties and the supporters of the one world state, I have to understand how these people think… History itself though is the best teacher I have ever had, to learnt the victory and failure of our people and empires throughout the ages. But as far as Hip Hop I am blessed to know people like Chuck D, KRS1, Afrika Bambaattaa, and others that taught me so much about the culture of Hip Hop history and the methodology used to prostitute this culture and our people’s struggles.

I read your latest online piece titled, “The 3rd World & My $4 hat.” Although you might think that you are losing credibility on the streets by flexing your intellectual muscle, you are also influencing minds that otherwise would not be reached through your music (those outside the hip-hop generation). On this note, do you have any plans on writing a book that could be used as a tool for affecting unaffected minds?

Quite the opposite it seems, I have never had a louder voice in the hood, I think that the people who believe that intelligence and strength are not compatible are marginalizing themselves instead of me when they propagate such ideas. I know that I have a very powerful support base in colleges around the world but now the message has infiltrated Hollywood, and the first place I started selling records back with Vol.1 in 2001…the streets. As far as writing a book, I wouldn’t rule it out, but right now I am very focused on promoting “The 3^rd World” Album/Mixtape. The world tour coming up and then of course “The Middle Passage” and “Revolutionary Vol.3” Besides this though, I also am actively involved with programs to run with gangs, street organizations and prisons for youths whenever I have the time to spare to be involved with these things. I try to always stay connected to that side of the struggle. It’s not just journal entries I live this.

Pages: 1 2