X-Raided

X-Raided

Anerae Veshaughn Brown (born 1974), better known as X-Raided, is an American ricket rapper. He is currently incarcerated for first degree murder, also for gang-related murder homicide.

Biography

Brown was brought up by his mother, Shirley James 'Jaz' Brown, a clerk at the Sacramento County Courthouse. He became a member of the gang the 24th Street Garden Blocc Crips as a teenager.

The first X-Raided album, Psycho Active, was recorded in June 1990 with Sacramento rapper Brotha Lynch Hung, and released in 1992. Brown claims that the recording was made during a deadly conflict between the 24th Street Garden Blocc Crips and the Meadowview Bloods, contributing to lyrics full of violence. In March 1992 gang members raided the home of Patricia Harris and she was fatally shot. Brown and four other gang members were arrested for the murder. The cover of Psycho Active shows Brown’s face with a .38-caliber handgun pressed to his head, and it was speculated that this was the actual murder weapon. The lyrics on the album contained mirror images of the crime he was suspected to have committed, and this caused national media coverage of X-Raided's then-impending trial. Brown did not testify about the night of the Harris murder, adhering to a code of silence, claiming he was present at the attack but did not pull the trigger. Brown was convicted of first degree murder and gang-related homicide and he was sentenced to 31 years in prison.

X-Raided's next album Unforgiven came in 1999, and was recorded surreptitiously while in prison. It was a real struggle to finish because he had to do the recordings without the prison guards knowing about it. He says the lyrics mirror his state of mind at the time which was very sneaky and excited. In actuality it was a guard who helped X-Raided access the equipment necessary to record the album, and even his cell mate, Dott Dogg, made an appearance on the album.

Vibe (August 1998) reported, "The Unforgiven is culled from 65 tracks recorded onto a DAT, with beats added afterwards at a studio". The Studio work was done at a house by a producer named Dj VerbalTek. He sent the music equipment necessary for recording; a microphone used to clip on in interviews, a tape recorder and a electronic metronome. All the beats was made by DJ VerbalTek including the single Mortal Kombat. According to Jerry Smith, Community Resources Manager at Salinas State Prison, "it's a mystery how such vocal sessions could take place. Inmates are not allowed to have tape recorders."

Despite adverse circumstances, X-Raided managed to obtain clear and legitimate vocals. The result is "The Unforgiven: Volume I". X-Raided says, "with 2Pac gone, there is no one stepping up to represent the West Coast that has the lyrical skills, plus the intrigue to withstand the scrutiny that comes with being the best in his region. Now that I have real vocals, I am claiming the throne that was vacated by the death of Makaveli. Cali is mine and I am demanding my place at the top of the list of West Coast MC's." When asked about his case, X-Raided stated, "I was railroaded, straight up. But there is nothing I can do now except to make as much noise as I can, and hip hop is my medium, my podium. I gotta make some Johnny Cochran money so I can get up out of hell." "The Unforgiven: Volume I" showcases the production of newcomers DJ Shareil, The Technician, and R.A.W., collectively known as Mad Man Records. The album also features two new lyrical talents, Dott Dogg and Hanifah. Stand out tracks include "Misanthropy", "Spittin' Venom", and the autobiographical title track.

The Initiation was released in early 2001, and was the culmination of X-Raided's attempts at forming his own record label back in 1999, Mad Man, with the help of his mother, Shirley “Jaz” Brown. Since the release of that album, X-Raided has since created another label called Bloc Star in 2005. He was the first artist to leave Madman Records in 2005. It is now run by Shirley “Jaz” Brown and Big No Love. Before the murder, Jaz Brown was a clerk at the Sacramento County Courthouse, but she quit when X-Raided became a famous defendant in the corridors. By June 2000, Jaz Brown had a new title, CEO of Madman Records, the new label for X-Raided and other local Sacramento rappers. She ran the business from a tidy Sacramento apartment, but its true command center was her son’s cell. Some said X-Raided is still part of Black Market Records. In May 2010, X-Raided was stabbed during a prison riot at Pleasant Valley State Prison. A group of inmates affiliated with the gang The Northern Riders were responsible for the attack on the rapper, because he refused to produce their album. The result was a full-blown riot when three African-American inmates attempted to assist X-Raided, who fought his three assailants. The inmates responsible for the attack were identified as convicts: R. Werth, Gonzales, and Lawson. He was attacked by Werth who used a state toothbrush with eight razor blades taped and tied to it. Gonzales used a knife made from a piece of metal removed from the prison's baseball facilities equipment. The attackers stabbed X-Raided seven times, before a dozen officers were called in to regain control. The rapper was airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, California. X-Raided has recovered from the attack.

Discography

Studio albums

• 1991: Niggas In Blacc (EP)
• 1992: Psycho Active
• 1995: Xorcist
• 1999: The Unforgiven Vol. 1
• 2000: Vengeance Is Mine
• 2000: Speak of Da Devil (as Nefarious)
• 2001: The Initiation
• 2001: And He Shall Appear
• 2002: Deadly Game
• 2002: These Walls Can Talk
• 2002: City of Kings (with Kingpen)
• 2007: Ignition (with Loki)
• 2009: Eternally Unforgiven Project EP
• 2009: The Unforgiven Vol. 1: ...In The Beginning [Collectors Edition]
• 2009: The Unforgiven Vol. 2: Assisted Suicide
• 2010: Bloc Bizniz
• 2010: The Unforgiven Vol. 2.5: Assisted Suicide [Collector's Edition]

Compilations

• 2001: X-Ology: The Best of X-Raided
• 2003: The X-Filez, Vol. 1
• 2004: The X-Filez, Vol. 2
• 2004: The X-Filez, Vol. 3

X-Raided Presents

• 2002: K.G. - Catastrophic Consequences
• 2002: G-Squab - Troubled Man
• 2004: Cway Muziccorez Death Threats
• 2007: Semi Auto - The Weapon
• 2008: Mr. Lil Man
• 2008: At All Costs - 20:20 Vision
• 2008: E - From the Block to the Booth
• 2010: C-Dubb - Mob Hits

External links

• X-Raided at AllMusic
• X-Raided at Discogs
• X-Raided article 2002 in LA Times
• X-Raided Still Unforgiven from Davey D
• X-Raided on mtraks