Rapper X-Raided, who is serving a 31 year prison
term for murder, is saving the proceeds from his albums in an attempt to hire
attorney Johnny Cochran.
X-Raided, born Anerae Brown, was convicted of
shooting community activist Patricia Harris, 42, in March of 1992, after he
and fellow gang members allegedly stormed her house seeking rivals. X-Raided
was one of the first rappers in the world to have his lyrics used against him
in court.
X-Raided has recorded 10 albums behind bars over
telephone lines. The combined sales of his albums have sold over 300,000 copies
and hopes that his earnings can help hire Johnny Cochran.
"Money speeds up everything," X-Raided
told the Los Angeles Times. "I want my albums to make enough to pay Johnnie
Cochran or an affiliate of his to help me. I just need to get my music out there.
I’ll be the biggest story in hip-hop."
X-Raided’s mother is the CEO of his Madman Records,
while X-Raided takes the title of consultant. This was done due to the California
Attorney General’s office atempting to sue X-Raided. Under the Son Of Sam law,
the Attorney General wanted to seize the profits made by his recordings and
set them aside for the victim’s family.
X-Raided’s releases have drawn controversy over
the years and the rapper has often been accused of commiting murder to promote
his career. X-Raided maintains that he was there when Harris was murdered, but
that he was not the triggerman.
"I felt like the world was after me, because
at first the judge was not going to allow the evidence to be used, but the district
attorney, he found ways to get stuff into the trial," he told the Sacramento
Bee after his trial.