PAROLE VIOLATORS VOL.1 15 YEARS OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT by TRAP DOOR MAGAZINE

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IM NOT IN THE STREETS ,I MARKET THE STREETS THERE’S A DIFFRENCE

SUCCESS REQUIRES NO APOLOGIES TABLE OF CONTENTS I RUN B-MORE HIP-HOP 4-7 Erin Monique

10-13

Anthony Jones

17-24

THE D.O.C

30-32

TEST ME

38-39

Pumping It up in Baltimore 4445

I think the most troubling thing that has happened since the publication of my last magazine issue was the response I got from the streets back in Baltimore when I told them that I was doing a story on Anthony “A.J” Jones. Though they didn’t express it, in their faces they showed their disdain through their response. I think the funniest things that was said to me since the publication of my last magazine issue was that I should stop “the Clinch fist approach” (Whatever that’s supposed to mean) Any how in response to Anthony’s story all I can say is thank you Mookie and thank you Boonie. In response to the brother who suggested that I stop the clinch fist approach ,My response is ,I not only love my people , but love being black. Read in-between the lines chump, I mean champ. (Smile) Now that I got that out the way I would like to salute the man that I hold the upmost respect for,Eric “E.B” Brown. Moja Hubae Mwenzi. I would also like to thank the king of Baltimore Hip-Hop Skarr Akbarr. I would like to thank the beautiful sister Kianna Williams for giving me such a hard time about the story on A.J; sister I feel for the brother who is your significant other, he will never when a debate with you. (Smile) To my half-brother’s that walks with Ben: Scooter, Uncle Ray, Rainbow, Donnie, Double R; all black everything brothers…all black everything. This walk is not easy and I probably won’t see it coming, but I except whatever the consequences was a long time ago. It is what it is, but it aint what it was. Moja brothers

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SKARR AKBAR I RUN B-MORE HIP-HOP

"Fly to die like a suicide pilot, been every chick mouth that turn my nick name to gossip” is the punch line that I heard from the artist Skarr Akbar on Young Money’s Drake “I’m About Whatever” track that made me say okay about Baltimore city hip-hop. Regrettably, Baltimore city doesn’t have an actual market for hip-hop. Since 1997, the brothers and sisters down here have been trying to create one. Stephen Tatum, formally known as Skarr Akbar, has been one of the forerunners of this process. Skarr has battled Method Man, Eminem, DMX, Ja Rule, Cormega, and members of Def Squad and Onyx. This last rap-battle landed him a spot on Def Jam's "Survival of the Illest Tour". These opportunities also lead to Skarr writing for artists such as Bad Boy's Cheri Dennis. Today, Skarr is the founder of Akbar Enterprize, a company that does music production, video production, and graphic arts.

I had the opportunity to sit down and speak with the brother. My man pulled up to my house in a blue van with the crud ball tints. Dressed in a polo shirt and blue jeans, I noticed the brother cut off the trademarked corn rows that all of his fans have become accustomed to throughout the years of his career.

Interview with Skarr Akbar Trapp: Are you currently recording any music? Skarr: I record so often, but I have a catalog of music that I never touch. But when it comes to mix tapes sometimes I’ll sit down a whole week; find my tracks and write the whole mix tape and then I’ll go in the studio another day and record the mix tape, and then go in another day to mix it down, and then another day put it out. But for my album I’ve been scraping and putting down tracks of an album with just 12 songs that are just a solid version of me. So, I’m just pulling certain shit and getting my finances together through my artwork and I just let my artwork feed my music.

Trapp: How long have you been doing artwork? Skarr: I want to say since about 2007. Trapp: 2007…and you’re already that nice with it?

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WE HAVE GOOD ARTIST; WE HAVE GREAT ARTIST, THAN WE HAVE JUST ARTIST. PEOPLE TEND NOT TO BE THEMSELVES AND NOT PUT OUT “BALTIMORE MUSIC.” THEY TRY TO DO WHAT’S GOING ON UP NEW YORK OR WHAT’S GOING ON DOWN SOUTH. THEY DON’T TRY TO DO BALTIMORE MUSIC.

AKBAR I RUN B-MORE HIP-HOP Skarr: I taught myself. There are a lot of things I don’t know [about drawing], but I taught myself to become so good at it that I’m good enough to make money off it.

Trapp: Akbar Enterprises…What is that? Skarr : It’s just my foundation. .. Akbar is my Muslim name. It’s means great one. It’s my foundation. I do everything through that. It’s my music, my art work, AE designs…Akbar enterprises designs and even down to my clothing line…Illustrate I

Trapp: You have a clothing line? Skarr:: I started [designing clothing] back in 2009 when I was working with my cousin. He taught me how to air brush. I used to be a spray- paint artist too until I fucked up my hands up fighting and I could barely write sometimes. I would draw everything on a shirt with a pencil, take them to my cousin and he would air brush them. No shirt was ever the same. I never made it out of one hood. I would sell the fuck out of them right out the trunk. A nigga could get a hat and a tshirt for $50.00, and nobody in the hood would have the same thing.

Trapp: How long have you been doing music? Skarr: Since about 1992. Trapp: What’s your input on Baltimore city as a whole when it comes down to music?

Skarr: We have good artists, we have great artists, and then we have just artists. People tend not to be themselves and not put out “Baltimore” music. They try to do what’s going on in New York or what’s going on down south. They don’t try to do Baltimore music. I’m not saying that Baltimore has its own sound, but we do have our own style. I mean the way we pronounce certain things. With beat selection, people tend to go towards whichever is hot at the time. I personally think that people need to stop being followers. But with Baltimore as a whole, there are just too many ego’s here for people here to deal

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are one little ass city and artists can’t seem to get along to do shit the proper way. We already are called a crab city in a barrel, so the problem is people don’t know how to pull each other up. I feel no man is on a higher scale. Some men might work harder than the others to get to where they are, but if you haven’t made it out of here then you’re still on the same scale as the next man until you make it further than here. A person is who they are until they have another city on lock. We have good music. We have good artists., However, the know how to progress to different spots and the love for each other It’s not there. They just can’t see the bigger picture.

Trapp: Tell me about the production part of Akbar Enterprizes. Skarr: Well I don’t consider myself a producer, I consider myself a beat maker. There’s a difference between the two. I don’t know though, I taught myself how to do that. I taught myself how to

SKARR

with each other. I believe that’s where we collectively fail. We

SKARR AKBAR I RUN B-MORE HIPHOP make beats instead of waiting for my uncle and them.

you just have to dig deep down with in

Trapp: Well what is an estimate on your beats, meaning how

yourself and make life come across as real.

much do they usually go for? Skarr: They start out at $200 and range to $1,000, depending on how much I put into a beat, or the elements I put into a beat. If I got somebody to play a piano or somebody to play guitar than 9 times out of 10 I paid them to do that for me. I really don’t try to make my beat banger a big issue. I just like doing it.

Trapp: Who directed it? Skarr: There were two producers: my man Wiz from Wiz Product , and Dan The Camera Man. They wanted to collaborate on an artist they never collaborated with, and out of a handful of Baltimore artists, they picked me. To this day that video made the news but my song never made the radio.

Trapp: You produced the “Loco with 8” track that you had ded- Trapp: Did you battle Eminem and Method man? icated to 2-Pac?

Skarr: I’ve battled any and every artist that has ever come to

Baltimore since the beginning of my career. In my prime coming up, that’s what I was: a battle rapper. In that era of hip the Cake”. When I heard the track I was like, “yeah I want to do something to this.” However, I’m not the kind of rapper who -hop, battle rap was way different than what it is now. So back then it was just lyrical exercise. When those artists came talks about money or glorifies that, so I just said I’m going here it was friendly competition.. I was a hungry dude man. I loco with the 8, which 2-Pac had a .38 in the movie, so I just knew all the bouncers from the clubs from fighting in the took that and went off of that. clubs, so when it was time to get in they gave me a chance. I Trapp: You got another joint where you’re dressed up as The would start the cipher. I’d start the battle. I wasn’t shaking Joker, what’s the name of that? any hands. I was coming at you. They would be surprised by Skarr: It’s called “Jack Pot”. that shit, at the Survival of the Illest Tour. My battle was with Onyx – the whole entire Onyx. We were in the Park Side Trapp : Where did the idea come from? shopping center. They were out there signing autographs and Skarr: Well like I said, I don’t, glorify money and I’m not shit. There was a K-Mart across the street. Those niggas went into big cars and all that other shit. I have always been into and bought water guns and I was living around the corner, comic books. I’m into Batman so I said I’m going to rob my- so my niggas and I went and got water guns, too. [Our self for my own money. Which if you look in the video it’s groups] just had a big ass water fight, and then the [rap] jack pot money with my face on it. So I said, “Alright, I’m battle started. That’s when Sticky Finga’s brother was alive. going to dress up like The Joker.” My thing is I really don’t X1, me, and him went at it, toe to toe. I mean Yo was nice. I have a problem when it comes down to this art shit. I’m going mean a nice caliber rapper. They had a show at Club Twilight to do whatever to get my point across. It’s just something dif- that night. Fedro invited me up there. A year went past and ferent from an artist period. With artists [new], it’s the same the following summer Fedro invited me up there and I spent shit: niggas and bitches; it’s the same format. Sometimes,

Skarr: No , that’s actually a Yo-Gotti joint “Going Loco with

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Illest Tour with them at Apollo. It was the first time I had ever been in any of this shit. They wanted to sign me and everything. But me and Fedro is still cool until this day.

Trapp: So why you didn’t sign? Skarr: The contract was fucked up. They were trying to sign me for $1500. They were still with Flava Unit; Queen Latifa. Back then they had Shut Em Down, and they were with Flava Unit, Jam Master Jay, and Def Jam. So shit started falling apart. So for me to sign with them it would have fucked me up. Fedro told me “Yo, don’t sign the contract.” If I would have signed the contract, it would have been on and there wouldn’t have been anything they could do. But shit I had the best experience of my life. They used to call me wild. Shit, after the Apollo show I was riding through Harlem fucking girls. They didn’t have any tents on the truck. Once, I was having sex right in back of the truck and people were honking their horns and everything. It was the best experience I’ve ever had. I went from Onyx to Killa Army. Then Ghost Face wanted to sign me. That’s when Ghost was fucking with 50 Thousand Heads. Method

placed in the same category as you out of Baltimore city?

Skarr: [Pause] No. Trapp: So in other words, if there’s a king of hip-hop in Baltimore, than that would be you?

Skarr: I guess so. .

Conclusion: Skarr Akbar has to be the most talented, diverse artist that we have come across since TRAP DOOR MAGAZINE was created in 2001. During the interview the brother spoke about the culture of Baltimore as a whole. He hit a key point when he said that Baltimore, contrary to popular belief, has it’s own culture. The things that we found to be truly amazing was the brother’s involvement in every aspect of the music business since 1997. Artist, song writer, beat maker, graphic artist, and director – it’s evident that the brother is not only multi- talented but is also very earnest about what he does. Baltimore, MD doesn’t actually have a market for hip-hop music, but considering the contributions Skarr has made to this city no one can dispute that at 32 years old he wears the crown.

Man and Red Man. I gave Red Man the business. We had a show in New York and I open up for KRS 1; that nigga nice. As far as Eminem, I didn’t know who he was. I guess he was visiting the Interscope Label up in New York at that time. The little white kid came in with his hat real low and real tight. And when he came in he gave me a run for my money. I lost that battle, but at the end of the day I got his respect. I didn’t know who he was until later.

Trapp: So this whole hip-hop thing is nothing new to you? Skarr: No, it’s nothing new to me. I mean I’ve been there. I’ve reached certain peaks, and I’ve been let down, so I don’t get excited; but it’s a love. I just love the fact that I can come up with these words and come up with these beats and put it down. I love the fact that I’m well respected.

Trapp: So are you still pursuing aspirations as an artist? Skarr: I really don’t have a choice. I don’t know how to give up on things. So yeah, I’m still pursuing it. Bills have to be paid. I can’t be a stick up kid no more. I promised my mother that. I’m cool. I’m content at what I’m doing, you know what I mean? I’m still relevant out here.

Trapp: Work wise; is there any other artist that can be

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the whole summer up there. I did the whole Survival of the

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ERIN MONIQUE I was enjoying some quality relaxation time when I got the phone call: ”Yo, I need you to check out this new artist named Erin Monique.” This dude did not even bother to say “Hello”! It was my close friend, King, the C.E.O of Lacostra Nostra records. I was currently living in New York when I got the call. It never occurred to me that I already heard about the artist and came across some of her work. I mean, honestly, a recording artist is a recording artist, right? Now for all my readers that answered “Yeah”, prepare to eat your words. I hear music all the time. Erin Monique stands about 5’4 inches tall and thick in all the right places. However, while she may look sweet as honey, she has zero tolerance for foolishness and gives off a cool, wary vibe. Erin Monique has had plenty of experience with such despicable behavior, but when looking at the aspiring singer/songwriter/actress one would not think so. Erin is the third child and the first born daughter to her mother and father. As a child, Erin’s belief that she would grow up to be a star led to her practicing her award acceptance speech in her bathroom mirror. Her strong interest and talent thrilled her parents at a very early age when she had them sit in the living room as she performed. Erin began singing publically in the church at 7-years old and would go on to win competition after competition in Rickey Shakleford productions and Anthony Jeter talent showcases. At the age of 15, Erin became involved in a relationship that would later prove to be dangerous and life altering to her and many others. Erin met and fell in love with a young man two years her senior who became the father of her child. Thirteen days before her 16th birthday, the relationship later became very violent and at the age of 17, Erin Monique was standing trial for the murder of her 19-month old son's father. Erin’s actions were in self-defense, but because Maryland does not have a self-defense law, Erin's case was pleaded as a case of battered woman's syndrome. As a result, she was acquitted of First Degree murder, but found guilty of voluntary manslaughter.

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THE INTERVIEW WITH ERIN MONIQUE

Trapp: Who wrote your bio? Erin Monique: I did. Trapp: How old are you? Erin Monique: I’m not saying old I am. Trapp: Are you serious? Erin Monique: A lady never tells her age. I’m serious as a heart attack.

Trapp: What part of East Baltimore are you from? Erin Monique: I’m from all over East Baltimore. I grew up

IN MY LIFE, DIFFERENT SITUATIONS CALLED FOR ACTING, SO I’VE HAD TO ACT ALL MY LIFE. ACTING WAS A NATURAL THING.

on Colllington Ave until I was about nine. Then we moved to North East Baltimore, Old York and Cater Avenue.

Trapp: How long have

state to state. We also stayed in Philadelphia, one time as well.

you been singing?

Trapp: What made you want to start singing?

Erin Monique: Since I

Erin Monique: Well music was something that I’ve always

was about seven.

Trapp: Do you write your own songs?

Erin Monique: Yes. On my mix-tape I wrote seventeen songs and I

vocally arranged them as well.

Trapp: How long have you been an aspiring actress? Erin Monique: Well I’ve been acting all my life.

wanted to do, and in the midst of all the drama, music was the only thing that kept me sane I used to sing songs and make up [my own] songs even as a little girl to escape what my reality was. So, it’s not something that I want to do; it’s who I am. I feel like I have to accomplish this or my living will be in vain. That’s just how I feel about it.

Trapp: It says that you are the third born child but you are also the oldest daughter. How was that growing up?

Erin Monique: I guess it was tough. To my mother, I’m the

forth born child, but there are nine of us when including Trapp: What do you mean? my dad’s children. My father was a rolling stone. My Erin Monique; Well in my life, different situations call for mother was his third wife and I have siblings that are alacting, so I’ve had to act all my life. So acting was a natu- most my mother’s age. So yea it was difficult…difficult because of the situation I grew up in with the type of parents ral thing. that I grew up with. Trapp: From what I understand, you have roots in BrookTrapp: From what I understand your father taught you the lyn, New York. scales… Erin Monique: Well I stayed in Brooklyn New York for a while when we were younger. My mother use to bounce on my father. So we had a lot of experiences in moving from .

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Erin Monique: Yeah, My father was a singer and he also used to box. He would sit me on his knee and teach me the scales. He always believed in me.

Trapp: So did you ever perform for your parents? Erin Monique: Absolutely! I would dress up and make

Trapp: Well you know they say that God’s favorite goes

clothes and I would come down and start performing. They

through the most turmoil. I’ve personally been sexually abused before.

would laugh and clap and I would try to show them a good time.

Erin Monique: Well then you know the shame and the guilt. Trapp: No, I became really angry. I acted out my feelings in anger.

Trapp: From what I under-

The Holy Spirit. While I was incarcerated for the period of time I was, the Holy Spirit came to me and told me that my testimony would change and transform the lives of many and what better way is there but through my songs or my book.

stand you met and fell in love with a young man that you later end up going to jail for.

Trapp: So what would you say exactly inspired you to write? Erin Monique: The Holy Spirit. While I was incarcerated for

the period of time I was, the Holy Spirit came to me and told me that my testimony would change and transform the lives of many and what better way is there but through my songs or my book. This story has to be told and it will be told. I Erin Monique: Absolutely. Mean it is too big of a story not to be told. There are a million of people who have been through a lot of things I’ve been through, and they feel alone. I’ve been there. I understand. I Trapp: If you don’t mind can relate me asking, what hapTrapp: What is the name of your book? pened? Erin Monique: Naked I Stand Before You.

Erin Monique: Well before I was 17 I had a son, and my son’s father died by my hands in a violent domestic dispute. I was charged with his murder. And, by the grace of God, I didn’t serve any time. I was defended by a public defender in Towson, Mar-

yland. A jury of my peers of was a bunch of Caucasian people. So it was only by the grace God that I didn’t serve any time. I was acquitted of murder but I was convicted of voluntary man Slaughter and sentenced to six years in the Department of corrections with all suspended and I served three on probation. When that happened I fasted and I prayed. The Holy Spirit came to me and told me my testimony would transform the lives of many. Because of that, not only am I writing an autobiography but I’m putting my testimony through my music.

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Trapp: That is one hell of name, what made you entitle it that?

Well because I’m exposing the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s telling all of my secrets. It goes back to my parents and their psychological makeup and what made them think the way they thought. It speaks about generations of curses so it’s call Naked I Stand Before You because when you think about being naked you thinking about being ashamed and covering up. But for me it’s naked because it’s naked and shameless. I mean many people try to use my past to hinder me and hold me back and to keep me from moving forward. But once you take that from the devil… once you take that power of shame from him and you say, “Hey here I am” than you take that power from him. Trapp: You know, as I listen to you I get the impression that you are a very hard individual. Am I right or wrong?

Erin Monique: Why you say that (Here she smiles) I can be Very hard [but] only when I have to be. When you go through things alone, the experience makes you hard. My mother always used to tell me that I wore my heart on my sleeve, and that I need to have thick skin and I believe through my life experiences that in return that has happened. I’m hard, but only when I have to be Trapp: . (Smile)

Conclusion Throughout my time listening to music, I’ve gravitated towards the artist that I could relate to personally. One will tell another person that one particular artist is better than another…In my personal opinion the best artist is those who have been through the most. Erin’s story is very interesting to me because through her story I realized a lot about myself and so many other people who has experienced sexual abuse and the feelings of insecurity, resentment and shame. She said, “As a man thnkith so is he” The author James Allen of As A Man Thinkith says, “People believe that thought can be kept secret; it can’t. Thought crystalizes into habit, habit crystalizes into to circumstance.” I tell my friends all the time that everything in life begins with a thought that if nurtured enough comes into fruition and becomes tangible object. The magazine you are holding in your hand is proof of that.

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Erin Monique: .

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Get In Line Or Be Mine

THE

ANTHONY JONES STORY THE LATE 90’S The year was 1998. “The Boy is Mine” by R&B recording artist Brandy was #1 on the Bill Board charts, The 1998 Super Bowl featured The American Football Conference champions Denver Broncos against the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers. The Baltimore Orioles season involved the Orioles finishing 4 th in the American League East with a record of 79 wins and 83 losses. Baltimore city, the lower east side – just like any other inner-city urban neighborhood: vacant row houses, blue and white cop cars, and liquor stores on every corner. The headlines of the Baltimore City paper read, “Drug dealer testifies of race to kill.” From what the papers said Anthony ruled over one of the most murderous narcotics organizations in Baltimore history. While growing up I remember hearing stories about the brother Anthony “A.J.” Jones. People would say things like, “Yea Anthony was a money getting motherfucker,” or, “He killed X because he suspected X of telling.” Over the past 15 years the talking ultimately stopped. Every few years, some other brothers who decided to take on the trade of selling narcotics emerge and it happens again: money, murders, rat ass codefendants, and Federal indictments.

THE TRANSCRIPTS According to Federal transcripts, a partner of A.J. became involved in an altercation with a close associate of rival drug dealer Elway Williams in early 1995. The animosity following that altercation led to A.J. and his associate standing accused of murdering A. Green on March 31, 1995, which started an ongoing beef between A.J. and Elway’s organizations. Elway allegedly hired Mark Coles, Hill, and Chapman – also known as the Young Guns – to assassinate D. Carter in October of 1995. In the ensuing months, A.J. and members of his organization repeatedly attempted to locate and kill Elway. From what the FEDS said there were also other acts of violence between the two organizations. On January 25, 1996, another member of the A.J.’s organization engaged in a shoot-out with the Young Guns. Coles was wounded during the shootout, and a friend of his who had no involvement in the drug business, Glen Wilson, was killed. Because of the ongoing violence, both organizations were forced to limit their drug dealing activities. In early February 1996, John Benton, who is supposed to be Chapman’s uncle, decided to attempt to broker a truce in an effort to save his nephew's life. Benton contacted Daniel “Baby Dan” Ross, an acquaintance of Benton's and a close associate of A.J. At a meeting arranged by Baby Dan, the Young Guns supposedly agreed to murder Elway in exchange for A.J.’s promise to forgo his efforts to kill them. On February 26, the Young Guns persuaded Elway and his driver, Derrick Rivers, to give them a ride to Coles' house. Elway and Rivers were in the front of the vehicle, and Coles, Chapman, and Hill were in the rear. During the drive to Coles' house, Chapman reportedly asked Rivers to pull down a side street so that the group could purchase alcohol at a bar. When the automobile came to a stop, Chapman, Hill, and Coles began firing their weapons. Rivers was killed almost immediately. Elway was severely wounded but managed to escape. After the shooting, Benton took the Young Guns to a safe house. At that time, the Young Guns and Benton believed that Elway had been killed, and A.J. was supposed to have been informed. Benton left the safe house briefly and returned with

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ficer for the Eastern district in Baltimore. Eric McCray

it was learned that Elway had not died in the shooting, the Young Guns and A. J engaged in further attempts to take Elway’s life. These efforts were ultimately abandoned, apparently due to Anthony’s incarceration on drug conspiracy charges in 1996

was currently serving a 21-month sentence in a Federal prison when he testified. For his testimony he received a 5-year sentence, which was ran concurrent with the 21 months he was already serving. He later testified said he met Jones in the early 1990s when he was looking for drug dealers on East Oliver Street. "I would see him in the neighborhood, and I would stop and pat him down," the former officer said. "He was a known drug dealer, and I was hoping to find drugs.” A few years later, McCrary said Jones offered him $1,000 to check on whether an area restaurant had security cameras. He later testified that Jones approached him about abducting Elway form the John Hopkins Hospital. McCray later testified that he had obtained a pair UN marked handcuffs he planned on using in the fake arrest. Before he

INMATE TELEPHONE ABUSE

could proceed with it all, the federal Authorities interOn January 17, 1997, Jones was transferred temporarily vened and arrested McCray and Anthony Jones. On from Allenwood on a writ relating to his prosecution on March 6, 1997, Baby Dan entered an agreement with the drug conspiracy charges, and he was returned to Allen- federal Prosecution in which he agreed to cooperate as a wood on February 18, 1997. On February 21, 1997, in a witness against A.J. From what Daniel “Baby Dan” Ross call recorded on the BOP testified in court he met Anthony one the night after A.J. shot an addict named snake after the addict had fallen telephone in Allenwood, Jones ordered the murder of his out of favor with A.J.. He testified that A.J. later came to stepbrother, John Jones. According to the recorded call, he the home and asked him whether the police had quesfirst used street language called “tergy wergy” to order tioned him about the shooting. Baby Dan testified he the murder. In a subsequent recorded conversation, he told the brother no and said besides if they had he hadn’t gave a similar order without code: seen anything any way. After that show of Ross’s char“But make sure you know they do that shit tonight. acter they allergy became cool. A.J. eventually trusted Fucking idiots, yea man definitely yo, definitely - get Ross with part of his cocaine sales, and Ross set up shop that nigger John tonight. I um, ain't no, no word you near Durham and Lanvale Street. It’s evident that Baby know who else we might have to kill. You know what I'm Dan had already decided to testify because he was sent saying? I ain't lying, we going to have to kill that nig- to Charles County Detention Center in Maryland inger. He already gave a statement so I ain't really worried stead of being sent to the Baltimore City Super Max faabout him. The only nigger that told the niggers that cility that, if memory serves me correctly, is the holding money was mine was that nigger John, yo. He's a fuck- place for federal inmates facing Federal prosecution. One ing piece of shit, that's why I say that nigger gotta go” to two months later the U.S marshals sent A.J. to the same correctional center. Baby Dan later testified that when he first seen A.J. in his housing unit he was I think former Defense Attorney, Stanly Needlemen shocked and afraid for his safety. Though Baby Dan said it best, "The government says that sometimes you testified that the prosecution never gave him instrucmust stoop down" and make deals, "But sometimes when tions to get information from Jones at Charles county you stoop down, you can't stand up straight again." detention center does one really believe in a high profile case such as this one that A.J. was placed there and held Eric McCray was a 32 years old seven-year veteran of their by a mistake? Ross later testified that he and A.J. the Baltimore Police Department and a former patrol of-

A DEAD MAN DON’T TELL NO LIES

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$15,000 he had obtained from Baby Dan and A.J.; when

Had several conversations in which A.J. confided in him that the prosecution wouldn’t have any one to identify him because at the time of the time of one of the crimes he was wearing a mask. He later than testified that one particular occasion that he gave Darnell “Mookie” Jones A.J.’s little brother a semi-automatic handgun. His testimony is actually the only and the very thing that got Darnel “Mookie" Jones life. In exchange for Baby Dan's testimony, he was spared a lifesentence and given nineteen and a half years. Anthony A.J. Jones trial lasted over two months. With exactly 88 witnesses testifying for the federal prosecutors, Jamie M. Benet, and Robert Hardening, most of the people associated directly with Anthony later testified against him. Outside of the federal recordings the feds had -- which actually weren't collected until after Anthony was incarcerated -- the feds didn’t have anything to further their case. In fact, the only thing that they had on Anthony was a 1996 conviction in which Anthony agreed to plead guilty to one account of conspiracy to distribute cocaine during the period of March 27, 1991 to October of 1991. Anthony pleaded guilty to the charge in exchange for certain recommendations and promises by the state’s prosecutor. However, the plea agreement was never put in writing and the only record of the exchange came with its mention in Anthony’s plea agreement in state court. The state had agreed that no further charges would be pursued in respect to that particular incident and the state judge clarified that the Federal Government would not prosecute their charge.

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Interview with Darnell “Mookie” Jones

Mookie: He testified that Anthony admitted to him that he and one of his cousins supposTrapp: Who is Elway Williams, and whatevedly committed the murder that I was coner came of him? victed of, so his testimony did hurt me Mookie: Elway was a street dude with a some ,but mostly the testimony of Winzell name, but he became a rat and that’s the end Hinton and Thomas Bogier is what the of that! His deal with the government got government used to get me convicted. Also him back on the streets! they used the testimony of a dude named Trapp: The papers spoke about a crooked cop Derrick Hailstock who was a supposedly who was paid to go into the hospital and member of The Preacher crew (Black Hand) bring someone to Anthony. It says the crook- up New York. He testified that he heard that I ed cop later testified against Anthony. Is was telling people that I did it and he was this true and whatever came of him? supposed to have pulled me up to give me some advice as far as to stop talking about Mookie: That was a lie about someone being it. Other than that what you surmised is how paid to bring anyone out of any hospital for the investigation went, Baby Dan started Anthony, and the cop that they are talking telling after he realized that he would be facabout was in trouble himself for breaking the ing the death penalty and that was before the law and got off by setting Anthony up. I’m so-called witness retaliation charges hapnot sure if he testified in Anthony’s trial pened. However, the case mostly started when because I was in the feds already. they were investigating police officers that Trapp: Yo.received 5 years, in exchange for were supposedly involved with us in giving his testimony. He had already had 21 us information and helping us retrieve months Fed time but they were undecided if things that were confiscated by the police. the 5 years he received would be ran concurTrapp: They gave you a life sentence for the rent murder of a rival drug dealer. The NewspaMookie: Oh ok, I knew that he agreed to testi- pers said that there was more than one susfy but he was supposed to have testified in pect and they were wearing masks of dead our trial as well but he left the halfway house presidents. Was anyone else tried for this on them and never testified in our trial. I murder, and was there any witness to this wasn’t sure if they caught him before Antho- murder that testified against you? ny’s trial started or not. Mookie: The description of the murder that I Trapp: From what I understand, Anthony was found guilty of is accurate and Anthowas convicted on three different things: the ny and I were charged together with that beef with Elway, the supposed ordering of the murder; there were never any witnesses. I was killings over the phone and because of the found guilty because a cooperating witness testimony of Baby Dan. The thing that testified that I confessed to him. That’s the started it all was the beef with Elway though. only thing they had in that charge against Correct me if I'm wrong, but nobody was me and the government knew that I didn’t talking when Anthony was first incarcerdo it but because I wasn’t a rat they didn’t ated and sent to Allen wood. While Anthony care and left it to the jury to believe the witwas being detained the Feds started doing nesses testimony that I confessed to him or an investigation on Anthony and the Elway not! beef, and niggas started talking, Baby Dan didn’t start telling to after all this was going on?

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BURIED ALIVE

Trapp: How do you feel about the people who chose the street trade and cooperated with law enforcement authorities?

Mookie: There’s not much I can say about how I feel about what the cooperators did, they became who they was and it’s not their fault that we got tricked, it’s our fault for not seeing it a long time ago.

Trapp: The papers said that after Anthony received a guilty verdict, he popped a Life-Savers® peppermint candy into his mouth, what is your response to that?

Mookie: Anthony may have done that. My brother was a different type person than the average street dude and that would have probably been his ironic way of saying he didn’t care what happened

Trapp: The papers said that Anthony spoke a coded language. According to my research, they said he spoke Pig Latin. Is that true?

Mookie: The language that they are talking about wasn’t pig Latin and it was something that we grew up speaking amongst ourselves. `

Trapp: After your time in prison, what has changed about you?

Mookie: I’ve learned a lot and realized that strength is in intelligence and not brawn. Your head can get you much more in life than your arm can; also, our people are in a quandary in this country! We love it and represent it to the best of our ability yet they hate us and refuse to accept us as equals to themselves when they are clearly the inferior between us!

Trapp: What is the biggest misconception of you and the brothers that were sent to prison?

Mookie: That we were some mindless killers out to take from and kill everybody that wasn’t with us.

Trapp: How long has the Federal Government stripped Anthony of his communication with communication privileges with the outside world?

Mookie: There has been no time limit placed on Anthony’s restrictions, so until the courts feel like they want to change it then he will be subject to his current predicament!

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“The prosecution in our case continuously broke the law. They threatened witnesses, paid witnesses, introduced false and coerced testimony, lied to the judge, held back evidence that proved us innocent of some of the crimes that we

LET ME HOLLA AT YOU FOR A MINUTE Man I’ve learned more in my last 15 years than I thought I knew in all the years before that, knowledge mostly comes with either pain or pleasure and regardless of which experience it be a person forgets neither. Most of the Comrades and friends we had in the past have disappeared. There are still a few who remember the character and strength we've always shown, and continue to show today in our current circumstances! There isn’t a man locked up in the federal Bureau of prisons who is living the penalty that Anthony is. He hasn’t once been allowed a phone call or a visit since he was sentenced to life in federal prison at the most secure lock down facility in the United States of America ("ADX"). I know my brother and have followed in his path all my life, so I know that he is enduring under his conditions. But the question is why should he be treated more harshly than anyone else? There are terrorist locked up in our country this second who don’t face as forceful an alienation from family and friends! Why aren’t people aware of his treatment? And if so, why don’t they care? It’s not a coincidence that he is African American also! The prosecution in our case continuously broke the law. They threatened witnesses, paid witnesses, introduced false and coerced testimony, lied to the judge, held back evidence that proved us innocent of some of the crimes that we were found guilty of, and then did an interview and story in the Readers Digest Magazine to promote their own political aspirations! There are others locked up and convicted because of the treacherous lies, corrupt actions, and political aspirations of Jamie M. Bennett and Robert R. Harding, so their misdeeds will eventually come out. But I am hoping that someone will investigate the treatment of one Anthony Ayeni Jones and find out why he is being subjected to the worst kind of mental punishment describable? No one has an answer for either his daughter or our mother, and they have been asking for years. Now me and my brother are similar, so I know that he wouldn’t complain. Instead, he would do his best to win victory in this battle, whether it be in court or otherwise. But because he isn’t allowed to fight the way he knows how, it’s my duty to fight for the both of us the way he taught me and the way our mother raised us both to do! Anyone that knew Anthony will tell you that he was the best friend anyone could ever have; he helped many people without ever asking for anything in return! The memory that we leave in our city isn’t of terror and destruction but of courage, honor, and fortitude without fear of the odds or opposition! We have teenage kids now and if we leave them nothing else we hope to leave them strength of character, honor, and to be strong in the face of opposition, criticism, and hate. For we will keep up the good fight and hope that a few will join us, because even if we lose they will know that we were in the fight until the end! Our family and friends knows that we love them, for our co-defendants and their kids’ life is love! God gave me 2 great brothers (Tugs and Anthony); a great son (Lil Mookie); and the best mother any man can ask for (Ruth Jones). No man on earth can be as pleased as I She proceeded to give me brothers by other mothers. My co-defendants to make my bounty more than any one man deserves, I have no complaints! I LOVE YOU ALSO ANTINAE AND RACHE.......finally it’s war without quarter, either asked for or given. Our time is now! DEATH B4 DISHONOR!!! MOOKIE

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MY CONCLUSION The United States Penitentiary, Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX) is a federal supermax prison for men located in Fremont County at Florence, Colorado. It is unofficially known as ADX Florence, Florence ADMAX, Supermax, or The Alcatraz of the Rockies. It is part of the Florence Federal Correctional Complex, which is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice, and houses the prisoners who are deemed the most dangerous and in need of the tightest control of all the prisoners in the United States federal prison system This penal construction and operation theory dictates that inmates remain in solitary confinement for 22–23 hours each day. They do not allow communal dining, exercising, or religious services. [4] Most cells' furniture is made almost entirely out of poured concrete, including the desk, stool, and bed. Each chamber contains a toilet that shuts off if plugged, a shower that runs on a timer to prevent flooding, and a sink lacking a potentially dangerous trap. Rooms may also be fitted with polished steel mirrors bolted to the wall, an electric light, a radio, and a television that shows recreational, educational and religious programming. These are considered privileges that may be taken away as punishment, so they are placed and remotely controlled such that the inmate does not actually come into contact with them. The 4 in (10 cm) by 4 ft (1.2 m) windows are designed to prevent the prisoner from knowing his specific location within the complex because he can see only the sky and roof through them. Additionally, inmates exercise in what has been described as an "empty swimming pool," so they do not know their location for possible escape. [13] Telecommunication with the outside world is forbidden, and food is hand-delivered by correctional officers. The prison as a whole contains a multitude of motion detectors and cameras, 1400 remote-controlled steel doors, and 12 ft. (3.66 m) high razor wire fences. Laser beams, pressure pads, and attack dogs guard the area between the prison walls and razor wire. [citation needed] Eric Rudolph, the Olympic Park bomber, lamented in a series of 2006 letters to a Colorado Springs newspaper that ADX is meant to "inflict misery and pain". Charles Harrelson, who was sent to ADX after a failed attempt to escape from a Georgia prison, said "Part of the plan here is sensory deprivation," and "It could be infinitely worse.” A former ADX warden described the place as "a cleaner version of Hell”. There have been hundreds of "involuntary feedings" and four suicides. [15] Most recently, in June 2009 Richard Reid, commonly known as the "shoe bomber", went on a hunger strike and was force-fed. Nonetheless, the prison has come under far less scorn than comparable facilities at the state level. Jamie Fellner of Human Rights Watch said after a tour of the facility, "The Bureau of Prisons has taken a harsh punitive model and implemented it as well as anybody I know. To date this has been the most complicated article that we have published. Why? Well because too much information or the wrong information is simply telling and not enough information doesn’t serve any purpose. I’ve attempted to reach out to a few a people associated with these brothers, the response lead me to conclude one of two things: 1) these people don’t give a fuck, or 2) they simply choose not to get involved. How do I feel about that? Well, it’s understandable to agree, but at the same time I simply don’t agree. The reason for this is because I’m confident that these brothers made a positive difference in a lot people's lives while they were on the streets. In my opinion that should mean something. Yeah, I know the feds have a high conviction rate and there’s nothing you can do. But what about writing the judge who presided over the case or even doing some research to actually see if there’s anything that the defense attorneys may have over looked? Initially I wasn’t going give a conclusion because I didn’t want to upset some of my readers, but after thinking about it I came to the conclusion that it really didn’t matter because the thing that makes this magazine issue the magazine issue it is today is my conclusion. So with that I’ll conclude this. Regardless of what was done in the past by Anthony “A.J.” Jones, he is a human being. Often at times people encounter certain circumstances that although may not be right or wrong but justifiable. Anthony was no different than any other inner city person growing up in an inner city neighborhood. He’s paying the ultimate cost for what he was found guilty of by serving life in prison. Fifteen years of solitary confinement is a bit too much though. I’ve personally spent 8 years in prison myself, and I can remember how it felt to get a letter, a visit, or even a phone call. Pictures of family and friends from family and friends, extended visit, and phone calls are the very things that keep a lot of the brothers with a glimpse of hope. The man is a son to woman up in age and a father to a growing teenage daughter. Currently Anthony is entitled to one letter per month only to his mother. The question is what happens once the lord decides to calls her home? if it’s something cool. But if one really comes from that background then one knows there’s nothing cool about the circumstances we’re born into. It’s our life; we just choose to embrace it.

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THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS: PRISON? OR ADULT DAY CARE CENTER? adult system where the big boys were.

“305-915, Tucker pack your shit, your being released.” I still remember that experience like it happened yesterday. Redneck white boys with big cans of mace on their belts. It was 200I, the year I turned 20 years old, and I was just sentenced to 8 years in prison with 5 years served without the possibility of parole. When I first entered the Maryland transitional training center I had butter flies in my stomach. I wouldn’t call what I felt fear, I had been in out of some type of correctional facility all my life, What made this different was that I was being introduced to the

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In the beginning, I was doing the same things I was doing on the streets, like stealing and fighting. The last time I was arrested, I took the time to just sit back observe my surroundings. I noticed that the majority of the people incarcerated looked just like me. I noticed that the only thing on the commissary list was junk food. The court yard was filled with weights along with a basketball court. In the rec hall there was a plasma screen T.V and a D.V.D player. The people who were incarcerated just like I was would be playing board games like chess and Pinochle... Game Boys and a Playstation with a big screen TV were what brothers were entertained by while serving out the remainder of their time.

layouts were the same. We were let out , of our cells for a few hours and then of our cells for a few hours and then , locked back in. The only difference was the educational curricula. I mean damn, out of the 28 penal institutions only one offered inmates the opportunity to go to school to receive a college certification, vocational trade, and High School Diploma. Before I came home I pulled the sergeant up and asked him how he felt about it all. He looked at me with his blue eyes and said he didn’t care about any of that and that those things was allowed because those things established some because those things established some typeof control over the men incarcerated. He then said,“Tucker your people will exterminate themselves,” and with that he simply walked away without giving me a chance to re-

fact 1 out of every 9 African-American men is behind bars. Between 1973-2009 the national prison population grew 705% resulting in 1 in every 100 adults being behind bars. As a result of tough crime policies and a discriminatory War on Drugs program, thousands of Black Americans have taken a fall from which they can’t get up. Racial disparities in education, jobs and social practices all contribute to the presence of Blacks among America’s booming prison population. Also the things allowed into the penal institutions by the administration to, as Bobby Shearin said, "manage them", has also crippled us from wanting to receive the necessary education and skills to be able to provide for ourselves once we are released. Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana said it best, “Without education, job skills, and

other basic services offenders are likely to repeat the same steps that brought them to jail. Prisoners are often the forgotten element of the criminal justice system until things go badly.

spond. The warden Bobby Shearin of North Branch Correctional institution in Maryland Catching these guys and prosecution is realsaid roughly the same thing when he said, “it’s our ly important work, but if we don’t do anyway of managing them.” thing with that individual after we’ve got Prison Population 101 him, then shame on us. If all that effort goes 1 in every 31 adults in the United States to waste and it’s the same guy walking out are incarcerated or either on probation or pa- the door with the same criminal thinking, role. In the United States, 12% of the popula- then we’ve have failed.” tion is African-American, but they account for up 44% of the US prison population. In

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I spent roughly 5 years in that Maryland Transitional Training Center. AfterwardI was sent to a few other prisons in Maryland State I noticed that whole

prison. While incarcerated, I witnessed so many brothers I knew come back numerous times on different charges while I was still on my same sentence. Once I was released and put back into the same community. Everyone I was incarcerated with had either been incarcerated on worse charges, recently killed, or looking real fucked up on the same street corners that had contributed to their initial circumstances. My intention in publishing this article is not to rain on anyone’s parade. My goal in publishing this article is to make everyone aware of the circumstances that Blacks face as a people. Upon returning to society, one has access to a lot of different programs, such as grants and financial aid. They say, “If you knew better, then you would do better”. Well, you know now that the reason why a lot of the privileges you have are because that’s part of the administration's way of controlling you. (To be continued)

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Conclusion I personally served 8 years in a

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Test Me has released 4 projects prior but his most recent release “Everything Green” Hosted by Dj Scream seems to be his biggest and most organized release to date and the promo has been impressive to say the least. Beyond that fact that DatPiff.com embraced the project as if it was their own, Test Me took things in his own hands when he released 31 promo music videos every day of the month of January leading up to his February release. “Everything Green” starts off with a perfect intro where he sounds like since his last project he has been just enjoying and experiencing life while obviously still cooking up his recipe for stardom. The mixtape maintains a mainstream appeal from start to finish with great features which included Future, Sisqo, Mally, Nick Rich, KG as well as Baltimore Queen of the Mic Si-Notes. One of my personal favorites was “See It To Believe It” featuring Future and Sisqo. This song might be the biggest record on the cd and seems to be an instant theme song that I can hear placed easily into movies, commercials or sporting events. His 1st single “Party Hard” is a very good party song that can stand up to any of the current industry favorites with its very catchy hook as well as an almost effortless flow its clear Test Me knows what it means to have a good time. The outro “Go Home” is very personal record which captures the vision of Test Me making it out of Baltimore and taking his music career to the next level. The only down side if any is that some listeners always compare Test Me’s voice to Hip Hop Icon Lil Wayne. Is it similar? Yes, but for anyone who has met or had a lengthy conversation with Test Me it is clear that he raps and sounds the same way he talks, very raspy while still capturing his own distinct personality and swag. Talent wise Test Me has the potential to be the next big thing in today’s industry. The ladies love him, the youth embrace his style and the dudes respect him which is usually a great combination of an industry cash cow. For more information check Test Me out at www.testme410.com or follow him on twitter @testme410.

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After the recent re-signing of Baltimore rap artist “Los“ to Bad Boy Records, the Baltimore Hip Hop scene has received a new charge of energy and seems to be just steps away from receiving national exposure. One artist who has been carrying the flag for the Baltimore Hip Hop scene is the young phenomenon “Test Me.”

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PUMPINMG IT UP IN BALTIMORE hip-hop” McCready to bring things to close Joe Budden went on to perform “Under The Sun” and side tracked off of his 2008 HALF WAY HOUSE Mix tape. However the crowd was out of their seats when he performed his 2003 Grammy nominated hit “Pump It up”. The song was nominated in the 2003 Grammys and was also featured on the soundtrack for the movie 2 Fast 2 Furious and the video games Def Jam Vendetta, Def Jam Fight for NY, and Madden NFL 2004. The crowd responded to the Jersey City Rapper with the same type of energy and enthusiasm that his fans had responded to him with back in 2003 when his self-entitled “Joe Budden" album was released by Def jam. To bring the performance to close Joe Budden performed the song, “All Back in October of 2011 rapper Joe Budden of Me” and during the performance said,” performed at Baltimore’s Sound Stage loI’m an artist; I paint pictures, I don’t rhyme cated at 124 Market Place in Baltimore. The words.” showcase included C.E.O of Wisdom Court, Billy Lyve which included performances from R&B vocalist Mai Henderson, Rapper Word smith, and “I AM HIP-HOP” Founder Darryl McCready. Billy Lyve and Wisdom Court R&B artist, Mai Henderson, opened the show with a song entitled “Invincible”. Then Lyve &Henderson performed a duet rapper Word Smith, leaving Darryl “I am

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West Fetti West Farms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; known as West Fetti to its inhabitants â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is a neighborhood in the west central part of the Bronx, New York. West Farms is part of Bronx Community Board 6. Its boundaries, from the north and moving clockwise include Bronx Park, the Bronx River Parkway, the CrossBronx Expressway, and Crotona Avenue. West Farms has a population over 20,000. For decades, West Farms has been one of the poorest communities in America. Over half the population lives below the poverty line and receives public assistance (AFDC, Home Relief, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicaid). West Farms also has one of the highest concentrations of Puerto Ricans in New York City. The vast majority of households are renter occupied Many social problems associated with poverty from crime to drug addiction have plagued the area for some time. Despite declines in crime from its peak during the crack and heroin epidemics, violent crime continues to be a serious problem in the community. West Farms has significantly higher dropout rates and incidents of violence in its schools than in other parts of the city. Students must pass through metal detectors and swipe ID cards to enter the buildings, making them reminiscent of a prison environment, which many feel encourages bad behavior. Other problems in local schools include low test scores and high truancy rates. Drug addiction is also a serious problem in the community. Due to the lucrative drug trade in the area, many addicts reside in the community. Peer pressure among children who come from broken homes contributes to the high rate of usage. Many households in the area are headed by a single mother, which in turn contributes to the high poverty rate. Many of them had their children at a very young age and could not provide for their children. Many of the families living in West Farms have been in poverty for generations. The incarceration rate in the area is also very high. Many if not most males in the community has been arrested at some point in their lives. West Farms may be home to a significant number of inmates currently held in New York state prison

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I Am West Fetti Krillz

Though they have been born and raised in the same environment, they come from two separate Record labels. Rapper Krillz starred in the independent film entitled By Any Means Necessary, which was produced and directed by Money Mark of United Millions. He also has a role on The Big Rich Reality Show VIP Lounge, Pt. 2. He also recently released his mix tape entitled “I Am West Fetti”.

One Way Uno

Uno of ATM is currently working on 3 albums with collaborations with rappers J Millz and Cassidy. He also just dropped his mix tape entitled One Way which can be down loaded on www.datpiff.com. When asked what would be the advice giving to someone who wanted to be like Uno he concluded “to be humble as possible and when it’s time to be cocky than be cocky.” He then added that some people would call him an ass whole and some people would say he’s conceited…well I guess it’s meant for them to see that side.”

Conclusion For a few months, I was lucky to experience New York. I was oddly surprised that New York was nothing like what I saw on TV. Within the first few weeks there my car had been hit, tire flattened, and someone actually went so far as leaving dried up coffee on my car. Initially, I thought that the reason my car experienced so much abuse was because of the Maryland state license plates (you know we busted their ass in the super bowl back in 2000). But after being there and experiencing what it actually took to survive, I realized that it took more than I could have imagined. Furthermore, my car’s abuse culminated from everyone being in a rush, and in New York you had to be. The music is roughly still the same. Though the “music business” has changed, my conclusion that is because New York rap artists are no longer unified. At one time one could hear the whole New York, Now aside from a select few, we don’t hear New York at all. I have heard several rappers from New York say the city is the birth of hip-hop. My suggestion is for the artists to acting like it.

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