Current$ee Magazine Issue 1

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PERFECTION IS NOT AN

ACCIDENT.

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The Lawyer of

Last Resort Michael “Minkah” Norwood (Minkah Anane Abubakar) @LawyerOfLastResort

“When all else

has failed, I am the last line of defense. I am America’s top jailhouse lawyer.

Have a question?

Just ask Minkah.”

I want to thank the publisher of Urban Life Magazine, Demar Tyson, for allowing me this opportunity.

I am America’s top jailhouse lawyer. My track record can be corroborated by the people that have sought me out for help. Ask “Big Meech” and “Fat Cat” Sills, from the BMF case. Ask the “Willie” Falcon, from South Florida. Ask Myles Coker, from the “Blue Thunder” case of the 1990’s, prosecuted in NY. For most people, the task of finding the proverbial loophole is a lot like trying to find their car keys. The reason they have trouble finding their car keys is because they keep looking in the same place. That’s precisely what happens when they are looking for their own loophole: they focus on one particular area of their case to the exclusion of all others.

The reason I have won so many cases is because I always start my legal investigation from the begining, starting with the initial arrest, and methodically work my way through each proceeding. My method is scientific. As a matter of science, every criminal conviction has to contain an error because all of the participants in that process were human; and as a matter of science, no human is flawless. As I used to say in the law class I taught at the federal penitentiary at Lewisburg, Pa, in 2006, “somebody blinked”.

My prison reform platform on Instagram, Lawyer of Last Resort, and on Facebook, Michael Minkah Norwood, serves as a source of information for prisoners and their loved ones regarding important points of law, both past and present. I answer any brief question posted on the pages about law.

Please check out my books, entitled I’m Not Crying, Looking For a Way Out, and Minkah’s Official Cite Book.

The goal of my platform is to start helping our Queens who are in prison, first.

Women in prison receive much less support than their male counterparts. I have several starting points in mind and will be bouncing them off Brother Tyson, entertainment promoter Shawn Hartwell, publisher Wahida Clark, and Cardi B, in the near future.

Respect the Queen.

Peace.

B O O K BY KEV I N C L A R K

GO O D MO R N I NG, A MER I KA

Good Morning, Amerika is a self-help book designed to teach you how to think logically and stop letting mistakes hold you back.

Author Kevin Clark sees America as a beautiful country, but one whose promise seems unachievable for far too many people.

Clark has spent most of his life swimming upstream against the currents of a society determined to hold him underwater. The stories inside are real and raw. The mistakes he made landed him in prison, but experience and determination taught him how to value and respect himself. Filled with specific actions you can take to better your life and become a leader, Clark’s book offers this glimpse into his struggle in the mean streets as a new direction for those swimming upstream as he was.

“I've experienced a lot of things in my life,” the author says, “and being able to share the experience with you, Amerika, is a blessing.” Clark envisions a society where all God’s children, regardless of skin color or bank balance, can forge the life they want. He calls our country “Amerika” to emphasize that we are all one, created equal. With this book, he offers insight to the lives of all his fellow Amerikans. Published by Winding Hall Publishers on the Word Out Books imprint.

NO W IN PA PERB AC K & KIND LE E-BOOK

To my Comrade, Stay ten toes down. You know the hit we rather die on our feet then live on our knees.

- Chef Spooky

STREET CULTURE • HIP HOP • REFORM inside: A CONVERSATION WITH GILLIE DA KING Music Reviews

Visual Artist: Vemix

FOR ADVERTISING info@urbanlifenewsmagazine.com CEO & Publisher Copy Editor Business Services Layout & Design Advertising Director

Demar Tyson Staff Nerissa Tyson Choppa Media Demar Tyson

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without permission in writing from Urban Life News Magazine LLC or Directors of this publication. Printed in Mexico. FUVA Media Publishing LLC.

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Publishers Word We value our history and culture from the origins of civilization to getting money and taking chances. It is, all of your story. Prison is just a part of the story. Whether it be taking a fall or making a wrong turn down a dead-end block, but so is reform; the repair of oneself. This must be deliberate though.

We share the stories of those who came before us lest we forget.

We interview legends of the hustle not to promote their lifestyles but so one can find keys to success in their own hustle. We sit with gangbangers not to promote violence or institutional misconduct; but to allow you to hear how to transform your own life and save another’s. We interview hip-hop artist for your entertainment as well as your education. The industry is shadyyou need a guide. We interview the dope boy not to push dope

but so you can see that you can achieve great accomplishments, if you learn from their work ethic. We allow those from right among you to share their stories, to speak their truth, which is important because inside those stories buried in your history are the keys to another person ‘s freedom. In your mistakes and in the mistakes of others are the answers. I know a lot of you have run out of resources but are still hungry to find your way out, to find a way in life.

So, we try to provide you with the information that fits your needs.

Remember; nothings worse than sitting in prison with no voice, no dignity, no way in life. Remain strong there is a way for you if you are working towards that way with all of your efforts and with positive energy. Not fake acting nice. That’s not positive energy.

That is changing your movements without changing your attitude and perspective. ~ free through me.

It takes 10 minutes to write a quick note on Corrlinks or JPay

e L

To

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E e Th

Where the hell has Urban Life News been? You took my money and disappeared.

-Diya, Wende Correctional Thank you for your patience and your commitment to Urban Life News. Due to Covid-related complications in the world we had to momentarily change vendors to create our magazine. We are glad to announce all service interruptions have been cleared and all systems updated. We are better than ever. All those persons who subscribed according to our records have received lifetime memberships for free. - Tyson

The purpose of my writing is I would very much appreciate if you could send me a copy of your latest magazine and do you have a pen pal service for inmates?

- Federal Correction Institution, Alabama We have sent you out a complimentary issue of Urban Life News and we do not have a pen pal service at this time. - Tyson

Urban Life News - 2270 Grand Avenue, Suite 6.

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@lifestyle1hunnid

visual artist

Instagram: @_vemix_ • vemix.ca

interview

VEMIX

I

visual remix artist

was scrolling through social media going from one creative link to the next. Being a publisher, I am always looking for inspiration and visual creativity, and swag; when I landed on a picture of the late Great Eazy E and Jigga Man, I was moved by the visual concept because this pic in fact does not exist. In the comments one person exclaimed “that’s fake yo! “ You responded that’s snitching and you know where you are?

I immediately hit the follow button and reached out to you thru in your inbox. Because for one these rats are out of control, and what you are doing is recreating concepts and what ifs with some of the dopest personalities and superstars of Pop and Hip-Hop culture has ever known. They are original works of art because they never existed before you worked your magic and appreciation for culture on them. I wanted to hear straight from you, the creator of the Vemix.

What is the Vemix?

It’s the Reeeemiiix! for your eyes. The visual remix. The Vemix.

What is the motivation behind your creations?

There’s really no template or agenda, but there is almost always a splash of something to think about. A cuppa cups of what if’s, a sprinkle of celebration, a jigger of juxtaposition and a big ole dollop of because I can.

What was your first masterpiece?

Probably Aaliyah, Biggie and Pac. I don’t even think I named it. It was my first viral one and I’m pretty sure it’s one of my most bootlegged pieces.

A great way to gauge your work is by how many people steal it lol If your shits hot, eBay and Etsy will let you know.

What’s your favorite creation?

That’s a tough one, there’s so many. Most likely one that got love from people I admire or have held on a pedestal, like “Thermite” that got a proper shout out from Dre. Or “Heart Shaped Hot Box” that Snoop shared and managed to get us on just about every major news source on planet earth, when everyone discovered it wasn’t real. Thermite is an absolute trash quality edit, but Dr Dre liked it enough to take the time out of his day to share it with his audience. And send a lot of shine my way. 2 years later and I still get DMs saying “yoooo I just found you because I saw you on Dre’s IG”

What do you seek to achieve with each one of your works of art?

Entertainment, man. I’m just entertaining myself doing this and apparently other people are entertained by it too. Hopefully folks can take a look through the coulda, woulda, shoulda kaleidoscope into another dimension with me, where everything’s copacetic and everyone’s Bros.

How can people follow you?

I’m mainly on Instagram as @_vemix_ but I can be found on every other platform or at www.vemix.ca

CHEF RASSI AKA

Peace of blessings King.

Urban Life News Magazine first became aware your brand, while watching a YouTube Series called The Professional Chiller. How did you get linked up with that series?

First and foremost. I’ve got a great friend of mine’s named, Arlis Michaels!

Shout out to that good brother we are childhood friends. We knew each other since junior high school, so he came up with the concept of making a web series. But I wasn’t really into the acting situation, and he thought I should give it a try. And I did, and it winded up working out well for us. So that’s how I winded up linking up and doing what I had to do with the web series and things of that nature. But it just ended up being something I like doing now. Sometimes you know, you can have a like a hidden talent. Somebody can bring it out of you. You never know that you had that kind of skill. So, I winded up liking it, you know, we began getting good reviews and so on and so forth.

So, for the people who are going to be reading this, who may not know who you are, what’s your name and where are you from originally?

Okay, my name is. My name is Rosie Jones. Real name is Rasad. And I’m from, Brooklyn. Bedford–Stuyvesant Born and raised. That’s my habitat.

Well, well established out there. Well known and I receive great love in my neighborhood. I love my neighborhood. I just migrated and moved out. I made a transition. By working hard, I leveled up my life, I just recognized that I had a good opportunity to move out of my area, but I’m really a BedStuy Brooklyn kid, man and I came from the same place as urban kids come from, the violence the shooting, you know what I’m saying the drug activities. I grew up in that environment. I just made a transition with my life, that basically it.

You have a unique story; as a youth did you belong to a crew coming up?

Yeah, definitely had an affiliation and I had a good ranking within that affiliation. You know, I was definitely down with the red team. Shout out to the red team. it’s all love. that’s where I resided at my neighborhood was on the red side. Back then we stood for a different cause. It was definitely against oppression. So, you know, right now, the youth right now don’t have no idea of the dynamics of what they’re doing and just doing it because it’s a fad. You know what I’m saying they’re not doing it because it has full meaning; they doing it because they’re looking for some type of security and some type of popularity. You understand what I’m saying. So, you know, I just feel for the youth right now, because they don’t have no guidance. In my neighborhood

right now, and it’s a lot of shootings and killings going on. Senseless, but there’s nobody out there really strong enough to even sit here and stop that from happening because the young boys don’t even care about the OGS right now. They going at anybody moving, so I don’t know what’s going on right now, in these streets!

If you had a moment to be able to say something to one of those youth, as if they would be able to read your words; just off the top, what would you tell them?

Be yourself, be yourself, love yourself. Understand your worth. Because, you know, my thing is at the end of the day. I’m sitting here building on certain things that I was actually doing at one time. I sit here like ahh these little young boys acting crazy when I was actually doing the same thing they were doing growing up. But I know now from firsthand if I could stop ya’ll from doing it, I would recommend you do so. Be yourself. Don’t try to fit in, stand out with whatever you believe in, do what you have to do. Because the reality of it is. A lot of people get caught up in the street-to-street politics and when they get locked up, some people aren’t making it home. Some people get a second chance, third chance, but a lot of people don’t make it home off one mistake. And that’s just your whole life that’s being thrown away. So, the reality of it is, I know this sound like a broken record; but it’s the truth? And if it keeps being repeated, it will keep repeating itself throughout different generations, then the ideal thing is that this is really something that you should consider listening to. That street situation isn’t it. I’m glad that I had transitioned to what I got going on right now because I’m able to sit here and rub shoulders with people that I wasn’t able to rub shoulders with.

Because I was, you know, I was unapproachable at one time. So now being that I’m able to sit and speak to brothers and good people now, and I’m approachable. They realized how sharp and how smart of a guy that I am. So, this opens the door to great opportunities. You understand, so a lot of people that’s really business savvy and got good things going on for themselves, they don’t want to be around no tough guy, they don’t want to be around a guy who got a lot of violence going on with him and everybody looking for him to try to do something to him. At the end of the day, that messes their brand up. You brand yourself every day you come outside, you are a brand; just like Michael Jordan, you brand yourself.

So however, you handle yourself when you come outside, you’re being viewed that way. So, I just made sure I transitioned and changed, but I guess, you know, at the end of the day, like we need more than just me saying it. We need to sit here as a people and take actions. Because we are losing a lot of good, good black kings’ man, right now

Indeed so. When did you first discover you had a passion for “Cheffing”?

I grew up. I got a great family man. I had a great grandmother, man, Mrs. Daly, a great woman man. She made sure that... there was three things that she always taught me. Don’t depend on Nobody. And she told me, don’t depend on a woman because when you depend on a woman. You know you’re making yourself vulnerable. So, she taught me how to cook, clean and wash clothes. So, when I sat there and I grabbed these 3 beneficial things for life, because this is life. You know, what I mean, like, some of us grow up and we feel like we too tough to do these things. But this is actually a way that you’re training yourself to become responsible when you grow up. So, she taught me these things. How to survive, it’s a survival kit! She taught me this, but I started getting good at it. You know, I’m burning up the house, my house smoking and things of that nature. But I kept going, because there were times when nobody was home and I needed to eat. So, I was just trying and trying and trying. And then when I started getting older, it (cooking) started becoming like second nature. Then I might be at a female crib or something like that? And I’d be like, let me whip up something today. I got you. Just sit back, chill and I would make it and they would be like yooo, this food is wonderful. And then I’m laughing because I’m like, shorty just saying it because I’m over here. And she fronting, because I’m over here and she want to get her head knocked off. But the reality of it is, everybody started saying I could cook. I’m like, still half way in streets, half way out at the time. So, I’m like, I’m not doing that. Maybe the neighborhood will look at me crazy, if I start sitting here, and cooking. So, one day and this is, the fast forward; I’m with my beautiful wife now and we’re in the house, we’re chilling. And there is a culinary commercial which keeps coming on the television. It was a rainy day, it was like one of those gloomy, bad days, we just in the house chilling laying up. Everybody sluggish that day. And I mean, this commercial came on, I swear man, if I’m lying, I’m flying, the commercial came on at least about seven times back-to-back, like it was a glitch in a damn TV. I’m like, damn, is this a sign? Something told me to write this number down, but in my head I’m like, I’m not going to that, I’m not going over there, I’m not going to no culinary school.

But I wrote it down anyway and then she was like baby that’s a sign, just go check out the facility and see what’s going on. I called and everything else is history. I saw the facility and all it had to offer and I fell in love. I said to myself, oh maybe this is something I could do. I invested $35,000 into school right out of my pocket.I went to school man and I had high GPA and everything, man. I graduated school with honors and everything.

100% percent. That’s the best. That’s the best experience I had, it’s the best training I had. You know. I recommend it if this is something that people want to do and go to school. I feel it was a great experience. Because just the love and the nature of, you know the person I am and the love that I receive in my neighborhood. We just fell right into place. And so, it was like, this was the best decision I made in my life. I wouldn’t have been here considering going to culinary school if it wasn’t for the whole neighborhood supporting me. You know, I’ve got the celebrities and everybody else too. But the neighborhood, my love for my neighborhood, my neighborhood loves me so much. Its overshadowing the celebrities; you know, I tell people this all the time, it’s cool that you got celebrities and things of that nature to support you, that’s beautiful because it looks great on your resume. But when your neighborhood supports you unconditionally. There’s no way in the world you can lose. I mean, every day they were on me. What You got, what you got, what you got. I need it. I want it. And it speaks for itself because they’re looking at the pictures and you know, how people are; people are like- I hope the food tastes as good as these pictures are looking!

So now when they taste it, they’re like, God damn it, it tastes better than how it looks in the picture. So now it’s just complementing each other the pictures from my social media and my actual food. So now I treat it like I’m selling drugs. And I can sit here and pitch the best product of food. Therefore; I’m irresistible, how could you not support, how could you deny me? I always tell people this. Fight hard at whatever you do until you become undeniable. And what I mean by undeniable. You got people that’s going to sit here and try to shoot down your dream because, there mind is stuck in one spot. They’re one dimensional. So, they see that you’re doing something constructive. Automatically their going to become negative because they see that you’re growing and you’re transitioning, but when you become undeniable that hate becomes love because they have no choice. You are giving them no choice but to love what you’re doing and then they’re hearing it, your name lingering around going everywhere, they hearing about the food, boom boom boom... Yo I want somebody to cater my event, you better go to him “Chef Spooky” oh my God his food is amazing. So now you want to hate me, but you love to hate me. You got to love to hate me now because now I’m undeniable, now you called me and you reaching out. Oh, how can I hire you......... But I just heard about you saying something about my stuff. But now you want to buy from me!

Congratulations on that accomplishment

Now, they respecting your work ethic.

I appreciate it King, I appreciate it. And that’s where I’ve been ever since.

Right? So that’s why you work hard until you become undeniable. You understand what I’m saying. So, you know, extend your wings.

Yeah, that was going to take me to my next question which was, did you have any formal training? But you definitely got some formal training and you got some spiritual training. You know that training that comes from being handed down from one to another, you know what I’m saying?

What’s your specialty or your favorite dish you like to prepare?

Do gangsters cook?

Oh, I’m a big seafood guy. You know, I like the expensive seafood, the Mahi Mahi, the Branzino’s and dope fish like that. You know, the lobster. I do heavy lobsters and, you know, lobster ceviche’s and, you know, dope stuff like that. So, I’m big on seafood, great on the seafood. I grew up underneath the soul food and stuff like that. So that’s like eyes closed for me. I do those dishes easy.

You’re talking to one right now, absolutely!

What is the key to making sure when you cook lobster in the home, that its done?

It’s not about the preparing situation, it’s about looking at it and knowing.

Like normally when you sit here and you look at...it’s the size of the lobsters that determines the minutes of how long you cook a lobster. You can overcook a lobster where it starts becoming rubbery. It’s all about the minutes of ounces. So, I would say for example. So, you want to spend like a 12 to 15 minutes on a six-to-seven-ounce lobster tail!

Then after that, basically you develop a feel for when your food is done?

Yes, it becomes second nature it become a situation where you know when it’s done. There’re no ifs, ands or buts about it. it’s just like your mind is programmed because you know, the mind is something else, man. Even like for people that got wake up in the morning and go to work. Sometimes you may not set the alarm clock, but being that you’re doing it so frequently, you’ll pop up. And you’ll be on time waking up. OH man, your body tells you certain things. It becomes like a computer. Your mine is like a computer.

So even with cooking it’s the same type of situation, when I start cooking, it’s like clockwork, like I’m a computer. I know I put it in here. I know what time,,,,, even I can smell when it’s done, especially pies and cakes.

Yes, because we need to address that thing in someone’s mind about being so-called tough that they’re afraid to serve other people to be a professional.

This is what I define a gangster as; because some of us got gangsters confused, and we use that word freely and wildly to the point that we don’t understand what it actually means. I know a lot of gangsters that are millionaires right now. You got stupid people, then you got gangsters. Now you have these wild boys acting stupid, just reckless and just doing dumb stuff. You got corporate gangsters. It’s important to understand the difference between gangsters and silly minded, stupid people outside. Because it’s a bunch of us out here, they feel that we gangsters, but we are actually silly. Gangsters aren’t broke bro. There’s no broke gangster out here. They got gangsters out here running around that are legal gangsters. That’s milking corporate situations. At the end of the day, it’s not a situation where it’s not cool to cook. I don’t understand it, it’s therapeutic for me. It keeps me out that way and it’s something that I love doing; it’s a passion for me. So, it’s not like I’m doing it because.... yea I have got to get paid for it. But at the same time. It’s not considered work when you love doing what you do.

When you love what you do it has more benefits, right?

Right. It has more benefits. It’s actually helping me at the same time, it keeping me out the way because again, like I said, my neighborhood is just it’s just nasty right now, man, with the violence. I mean, like every single day man, like a black cloud is in my neighborhood right now. So, me just coming out here as one of the OGS. Because you got to be labeled one of the OGS, because they calling people old head.

You’re either an OG or an old head. Old head you’re not respected. they running thru them. OG, they see you and they salute you. But you know you got to respect them back. And that’s what they looking for these young kids.

They are looking for respect back. you have some of us sitting here warring with these young kids when you supposed to be enlightening them and that waking them up. Instead, some are sitting here and helping them destroy themselves. because you sit here, and the blind is leading the blind. So, I was just like, Yeah, man, gangsters definitely can cook. They got gangsters that can sing. It is what God gave you. You can’t take away your gifts or hide your gift because you’re trying to impress 99 percent of these people that’s not gangster. You know what I’m saying, so my thing is, again, it doesn’t mean that a gangster has to be a full-blooded murder. A gangster is coming home and taking care of their kids their family man. That’s what a gangster is to me. Imma say it again. A gangster to me is somebody who’s going home,

taking care of his family, supporting their family and standing tall at whatever platform that they have and making sure that the respect level is high for any place they’re at. That’s what a gangster is. not running around killing everybody and hurting people that’s a dummy you understand. So, yeah, I’m a gangster cook for sure.

You brought us some great insight. And I appreciate you sharing that with me and taking the time out to chop it up with us and walk us through your transformation. Is there anyone in prison that you like to shout out?

Yeah, I like a shout out. A few of my guys. Shout out to Shotti, shout out to my brother, Mel Matrix man, man shout out to Nuk. Shout out to all the bro’s man. Shout out to all the Kings. It was a bunch of them man that they grabbed the good brothers, man and, you know, stay strong.

INSTAGRAM: @originalspooky_chef

@redbone_noe

@redbone_noe

E O N Y B P RI

D

Redbone is from southside Queens. She’s a model and a fashion designer, all the clothes are made by her....and she also spits- She’s working on a few tracks with The MHz from Lords Island.

Her clothing line was established in 2020 for women, its purpose is to not just break necks but to keep the people mesmerized when spotted in DRIPBYNOE.

DRIPBYNOE.mYshOPIfY.cOm

@redbone_noe

Where are you from?

Central islip How long have you been behind the camera?

4 years How would you describe yourself, a photographer or videographer?

Both!

What made you decide to get behind the camera I love to create!

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into the game?

Anything you do , do it to ya full potential take the time to learn and gain the knowledge so u can perfect ya work ...

And my PAPERWORK always good!

HE JUNJIE C E L E B R I T Y PHOTOGRAPHER @MYSNEAKYLIFESTYLE_

GILLIE DA KING

So how does one become the King of Philly? How does that happen?

When did you first come outside?

I mean, really when I say I’m the King of Philly, it’s about more than this shit that I’ve done and accomplished in life. The King of Philly is more of a signature given to me by all the people from my city that I’ve helped. Feel what I’m saying? At one point in time, if a person wanted to get on the radio, they had to come to me because I was the n***a that had the connects. I was the only hood n***a. that was smart enough to say, oh, we got a new P.D. in town, we got a new M.D. in town. Oh, we got some new people up at 99.

Oh, we got some new people at 103.9. I’m going up there and meeting those people. Feel what I’m saying? I have always had a business way of thinking.

So, people would be like, Gillie know everybody up there! Y’all could know everybody up there if you-all took the time out to go up there to meet people and cultivate contacts. But No dudes be stuck in a four-block radius.

I mean, coming outside in the middle of the 80s, you know, late 80s, early 90s, playing basketball, talking shit, you know what I mean? Cats were hustling, you know what I’m saying? Same universal shit n***as in da hood do.

In other words, a king serves the people for real. So, a king is appointed by the people, so to speak, he doesn’t elevate himself.

And then, you know, in order to be considered the King, you’ve got to be around for a while. I’ve been around for a minute. See what I’m saying? I’ve been able to duck all the potholes, climbed out of all the graves dudes done dug for me and I’m still around and I’m still helping my folks ‘til this day.

And you look healthy, you don’t look stressed out.

Man, I ain’t never been on stress-se-me street! You hear me?

So, for the record, where are you from? Where do you represent?

North Philadelphia, Iree Avenue, but I represent the whole Philly.

Where do you fit in at in the streets?

Well, I was a robber, a stick-up kid, not bragging, just telling you my story. I never understood the lower-level hustlers. I think I was too smart to get set up with the lower-level shit. Like, oh, you’re going to sell $125 worth of stuff for me, and you’re gone take $20 for yourself. What?! Man, that’s selling pussy at a gay bar. Man, I made you a stack and I made $80 or some shit. Man, I made you $600 and I made pennies. Nah, I’m good!!

So for me, it was always like, I would rather just let these n***as hustle all day and then rob them dudes. Yeah, them n***as stood out there all day, it took me 32 seconds.

A lot of people hate the stick-up kids? Yes, because we couldn’t be trusted.

We were some grimy MFs. Lmao.

How old were you?

I mean, you know, back then we started off snatching earrings. I mean, we’re talking 12, 13. Back then the little swirls were out, this was like ‘88, I mean, we’re like 12 when the swirls were out, so if you catch some of them... You know, my neighborhood was specifically known for doing that. In the city, at that time, when you got off at the exit, you started taking your earrings off. You get off in the wrong area, they start taking

those earrings off. If you don’t, your jewels going to end up at Mike’s and he’s going to give us a $100 for them.

Cold-blooded, cold-blooded. Right, so were you robbing to get fresh or were you already fresh?

Well, it was always to get fresh, get some money in the pockets, smoke some weed. Back then we used to do dumb shit, like buy Mad Dog 20/20 and dumb shit like that. That’s part of where my perspectives came from, a real organic come up.

How did you get into the rap game?

Really, really, the rap game really came to me. I didn’t grow up rapping, I just grew up talking shit. In college one of the homies that was on a basketball team with me had some shit hooked up in his room with the microphone!

So, we used to just smoke weed and get high and throw that shit on. Then we started free-styling and bullshitting.

And then one time we were like, we’re going to write a rap and come back and record it. When we came back to record it, I went first and them n***as was like, yo, what the fuck, n***a, you ever think about rapping? Get the fuck out of here, I ain’t no MF’g rapper, what y’all talking about?

So, then I only had one rap, right? So, when I came home in the summertime, dudes were out there rapping and I was just listening. It was a gang, a shitload of people out there, but they were in my hood though. So, after a bunch of them rapped, I said fuck it, I got one. So, everybody out there was like ohhhhh, because I’m not known for rapping. When I started spitting, n***as ain’t even think that was me. I was the best one out there! I only had one rap too. I killed it so bad, they wanted me rap again. I only had that one rap, so they were like, how da fuck you that nice and you only got one rap. I was like because I don’t rap, n***a, that’s back when Wallo begged me every day to go to the studio.

Wallo said he was your manager back then. I saw it on Drink Champs, he said he was your first manager.

No, he knew I was a person who had more talent than him, and he knew I was on the road to the riches. He was a smart young boy, that’s what he was.

That’s your cousin, he’s your blood?

Yup. we grew up together, you know. Me and his older brother Steve, his younger brother Jahlil, Danny, it was bunch of us.

How did you get into what we call the industry?

You got to understand the third song I ever did was number one on the Power 99 countdown. So, I was like number two, Jay Z then is like number one “love for Gillie”.

At that time, I had only done three songs in my whole life. I didn’t know how to make a song, like, you know what I’m saying? Well, I went to the studio, I’m like, what I’ma make a song about. A person named Marcus Graham literally said, make a song about what you got love for and what you don’t have love for. I was like, that’s easy.

So that was the first time somebody gave you structure on how to do a song?

Well, my first hook was, “We them boss n***as, so we do boss thangs, like rocking Icey chains.” That was Wallo on the hook, I wasn’t on the hook, I just fucked the beat up. Then Wallo went to jail, you know, he was slow. He got two left feet, so he never got away from the police, lol, so he’s been locked up 1132 times.

You ever did a bid?

The hip-hop game, the street game?

10 days.

Well, the streets are fucked up. You know how you know the streets are fucked up, because you’ve got a n***a that can rat, come home, make a record and n***as still root for him. Streets are fucked up, man. Do you ever think Tupac or Biggie could have ever told on somebody and came home and still put out a record? No. It would not have happened. Never.

How did you side step prison? How did you keep, you know, your street credibility, you know I’m what I’m saying? You know, you’re moving around in da hood, what was your key to circumventing that and not end up in the big house for a bunch of years?

God blessed me and a great lawyer, sometimes you’re only as good as your representation, you know. Your look is your hook. Go in there with a P.D. (public defender), you’re fucked up. Personal dummy ‘bout to get you a whole bunch of years. So, for me, you know, I had someone named Guy Spiola, a well-respected attorney from this area, he did his thing. I was innocent anyway! LOL. You ended up at Cash Money at some point, but I know you did some stuff before that.

Yeah, my first deal was with Suave House; my second deal was with Rough Nation; my third deal was with Cash Money. I did a deal with Koch and I did a deal with Barstool.

In terms of your career, you said that you’re a journalist. I believe you’re one of the top voices in hip-hop culture, why do you believe that is? I mean, I have my viewpoints on why you are, but I would like to it hear it from your perspective.

I mean, I believe you see, I don’t know if I’m one of the top voices, I just go with the fact that I’m just highly respected between all age brackets. Feel what I’m saying? I get kids that run up on me that’s 13, 14. Then I get MF’s that run up on me that’s 77 that says, “Me and my wife, we fucking love your show, man, you’re funny as shit”. Y’all be saying some real shit. So, you know what I’m saying, that’s what’s most impressive to me. And then saying you’re the top, well, you know, as far as being a journalist, to me Howard Stern and Wendy Williams and Joe Rogan, people like that are the top. Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, you know, people like that they are the top.

But in our culture, the hip-hop culture?

You know what? I’m in the hip-hop culture, but I’ve got white kids from Iowa rocking with me and I know because I see the numbers. I’ve got white kids from Syracuse, New York that listen to me. Even though I represent the culture and what’s going on, it really expanded beyond the culture. When I go on live, it’s MF’s from India on my page watching. That’s different because some of these people who follow me may never listen to rap, but listen to what I say because I say some real stuff.

What’s a real n***a, because we’re caught up on his term. While I got you here, I’m going to need to hear a Million Dollarz Worth of Game.

To me a real n***a is recognizing everybody ain’t loyal. You see everybody screaming, oh, my man is a real n***a, my man is a real n***a - - why? Because he does some crime, because he sold some drugs? That doesn’t make you a real n***a. There are a bunch of guys that claim they’re real until they get offered 20 to 40 years in prison, then he isn’t a real n***a no more. How that change? How he was a real n***a all the way up until they offered him 20 to 40? Now he ain’t a real n***a no more, now he’s a real snitch. You feel what I’m saying? A real n***a to me is a motherfucker that knows who he is, and he is secure in who he is as a man. I don’t care if you work at Walmart, as long as you’re secure in who you are as a man and you aren’t out here trying to cap for nobody, you know who you are as a person, that’s a real one to me.

True. What’s the state of the game?

What game, the hip-hop game?

The community would have never accepted it.

So, the streets fucked up.

What do we say to these young men that still wake up every day thinking they’re going to get it?

Well, the bottom line is, you know, when you in this shit, you are never going to end up the drug dealer with the house on the hill that just ain’t how it works. You going to end up the drug dealer in Camp Hill (prison) fucking state correctional facility. That’s just how this shit works or you are going to end up a n***a in heaven.

Is it the hustler or is it the way this shit is just set up?

Well, it is set up like that because there aren’t no more old heads out here.

You know, I be in the studio and MF’s that’s 20 years old be saying to an 18-year-old he is his young boy. Like, what, you youngins were in high school together. You were in the twelfth and he was in the tenth grade, that’s your peer, that’s not your young boy. What da fuck are you talking about?

And the goofy-ass youngin that’s 18 allowed this n***a to call him his young boy. So, you know, this shit is fucked up out here. You ain’t got a generation of men teaching a generation of men, you have the blind leading the blind.

I saw the interview of the phone call that the rainbow man made to you in an effort to get you to interview him. What was going on in your mind when he wanted you to interview him?

How did this n***a get my number? Because at the end of the day, I don’t do nothing illegal. I was really like, how da fuck you get my number? At the end of the day, that ain’t something I wanted to entertain. You know, that’s just what the game has come to.

Million Dollarz Worth of Game, what’s that all about?

That’s just giving game to the youth -- guidance, attention, motivation and education. Trying to save some lives and keep these youngins out of heaven and the graveyard.

Is that an organization or that’s the podcast?

Well, we got the podcast, we got the record label, and that’s pretty much how we rocking out right now.

Any new music or are you finished with that?

Well, Mac and Cheese coming, you feel what I’m saying? That’s my sons, Mac and Cheese. My youngest son is Mac, my middle son is Cheese.

Are they coming individually or collectively?

That’s the group!

Are they nice or what?

you at, it’s about the content you give up. A bunch of these motherfuckers take trips to Miami, taking pics standing on top of their Fathoms, pulling their I would like to think that they’re nice. If I feel your stuff, that’s saying little ass PUA money out, that shit doesn’t mean nothing. When you n***as something, because he will tell you I don’t give a damn if you’re my son leave you come right back home and your chick is miserable because you can’t or not. I won’t listen to you; I’ll tell you to you face that shit is trash. You get her feet done. aren’t messing my legacy up. You get me fucking tangled up and twisted out here. You better go get a job at Macy’s and point some people to the You got any peoples locked up right now?

Polo section.

Yeah, I always got peoples that’s locked up. Shout-out to Sharif my old head, he’s been down for 33 years. I haven’t been to see him in a minute, but if you When did you first realize he had something with him? see this, shout-out to Sharif.

Well, they are my youngins so they always came up around music.

They’ve always been at Powerhouse on stage and in a certain environ- You make visits and packages? ment, know what I’m saying? But they wanted me to put them out early, Yeah, I’ve been up there quite a few times. but they weren’t ready yet.

What do you mean by that?

What can we say, what can we say to that guy that is doing a bid right now and is getting ready to come home in the next 30 days? What can we say At 17, 18 they weren’t ready. I told them to upgrade their music and then to him/her?

I will invest in you, until then, I ain’t got nothing for you.

Focus on yourself. Don’t come out here with no stigmas and don’t come out Why is it so difficult for young dudes to come off the stoop and get here feeling like somebody owes you something, because these young boys will do the beat-box on you and get you out the way. They’re going to let that into the game? Is rapping almost like a drug game? pistol beat-box on you, so don’t come here with those old-school ways, this is It is because when you come from the ghetto, the only way you really be- my block and I’m back and all that! lieve you can make it out is either by basketball, the drug game or music.

Whatever you told God that you were going to do, do that, stick to With the record industry would you say you’ve got to have money to your promise. make money, you know what I’m saying? Do you have to finance your way through?

Who’s next up in Philly?

I mean, well, now these days you can pop off from your social media. Mac and Cheese!

You’ve got people who blow up from a living room, I mean, I started Million Dollarz Worth of Game from my bedroom. So, it ain’t about where

a conversation with author

Chantelle Stevenson Welcome, what’s your name and where you from?

My name is Chantelle Stevenson, and I’m from Central Islip N.Y. Thanks for having me.

a voice, but he wanted the voice of the youth to respond to the subject matter, because they are the leaders of tomorrow; and because in order to reform the prison system as a whole, we have to show what needs fixing.

So Chantelle, I hear you’re a very busy woman. Recurring art events, a podcast, a new book. How did all this come about, and what is the driving force behind Universal Ink Slingers?

Damn a dub for a body he didn’t commit, sounds like a movie.

Peace king keep raising. So, is he getting short? And what’s his stand point on Paint N Bond?

Well, my husband and I came up with the concept for Paint N Bond while we were dabbling in the stock market, and selling sneakers to New York prisoners. The podcast is my husbands, and the book, well that’s our little secret…. The driving force behind Universal Ink Slingers or U-N-I- VerseAll Ink Slingers, I would have to say is strong family structure.

We’re still fighting, and yes, he is almost here. We just want him here more sooner than later. His stand point on Paint N Bond is, “we have to teach the kids how to love each other through family and community bonding. That’s the only way to make a better tomorrow, today, and possibly cure racism. Therapeutic bonding through arts and crafts, is our tool of choice. “And, I agree. I want our children to have a better tomorrow then our today…

What type of strong family structure are u talking about?

In short everyone plays their part; our sons host the podcast, when they are unavailable. Rich of So Rich Ent. Lends a hand as a guest host and the little princess (Who is 5), helps run the Paint N Bond events, and collectively we all push the book.

Couldn’t help but notice you didn’t mention the part your husband plays, why is that?

My husband writes the business structure/ itineraries for all we do. Of course, we add our input, and he works with that, but that’s his job. After all, we are his eyes and ears out here, when it comes to business.

When you say out here, do you mean that your husband is doing all this from prison?

Yes, my husband is building his empire from prison, with the help of his family.

That’s incredible. Shout out to all the brothers and sisters behind those walls. If you don’t mind me asking, how long has he been locked up and for what?

A little over 20 years, for a murder he didn’t commit.

So the podcast, judicial exploits must be very important to him, right?

Yes, my husband believes that everybody that is in there, or has ever been in the system has a story to tell when it comes to the malfeasance perpetuated by the judicial system. So, he designed a platform to give these people

That’s a remarkable story, striving to cure racism from in there, under those circumstances, plus going to battle with the judicial system, wow! Before you go tell us a little about the book, and why it seems a little contrary to the movement.

The book is the first of a trilogy, and is meant to entertain, but also show how ugly our side of the story gets. Most atrocities committed in the streets are perpetuated by thoughts of what the system will do to us if we get caught up in it. So, the stakes are high when you wanna eat steak in the gutter. These books show how far people will go in order to stay away from the injustice system, from a fictional standpoint. In which case the books are typically a duality of the same plight that we’re striving to fix.

That’s a dope concept; and thanks for stopping by. One last question, so how do we get the book and check out judicial exploits, as well as Paint N Bond?

The book is on our website universalinkslinger.com. You can also find it on Amazon, and Barns & Noble by typing in Chantelle Stevenson and the book pops right up. (don’t forget to leave us a good review).

Judicial Exploits, is on Instagram and YouTube. You can also see exclusive episodes on our website universalinkslingers.com. Paint N Bond is on Instagram, Facebook, and our website universalinkslingers.com. Before I go I wanna shout out our children, and my husband Mike, I love babe…. Peace!!!

Universal Ink Slingers is company dedicated to changing the landscape of today’s society. We offer the reason and the answer to today’s problems, through different genres of entertainment. Judicial Exploits is dedicated to exploring the malfeasance in the judicial system through the testimonies of real victims, prisoners, and ex-prisoners. The literary part of Universal Ink Slingers showcases the malfeasance conducted in the streets of many urban neighborhoods, from a fictional perspective. These are issues expirenced daily, so our answer to these problems is called Paint N Bond, a recurring series of events that bring parents, children, and communities closer together through arts and crafts, in the name of “making a better tomorrow today.” More importantly, our children are exposed to different races, ethnicities, and cultures, which allow them to understand the plight of all people no matter what color, race, or creed, in a safe and family oriented atmosphere.

For More Judicial Exploits episodes subscribe to our Youtube Channel

T

he sentencing guidelines take into account both the seriousness of the offense and the offender’s criminal history.

conduct. The most serious offense is used as a starting point. The other counts determine whether and how much to increase the offense level.

Offense Seriousness The sentencing guidelines provide 43 levels of offense seriousness — the more serious the crime, the higher the offense level.

Acceptance of Responsibility Adjustments The final step in determining an offender’s offense level involves the offender’s acceptance of responsibility. The judge may decrease the offense level by two levels if, in the judge’s opinion, the offender accepted responsibility for his offense.

Base Offense Level Each type of crime is assigned a base offense level, which is the starting point for determining the seriousness of a particular offense. More serious types of crime have higher base offense levels (for example, a trespass has a base offense level of 4, while kidnapping has a base offense level of 32).

Specific Offense Characteristics In addition to base offense levels, each offense type typically carries with it a number of specific offense characteristics. These are factors that vary from offense to offense, but that can increase or decrease the base offense level and, ultimately, the sentence an offender receives.

Some examples: • One of the specific base offense characteristics for fraud (which has a base offense level of 7 if the statutory maximum is 20 years or more) increases the offense level based on the amount of loss involved in the offense. If a fraud involved a $6,000 loss, there is to be a 2-level increase to the base offense level, bringing the level up to 9. If a fraud involved a $50,000 loss, there is to be a 6-level increase, bringing the total to 13.

In deciding whether to grant this reduction, judges can consider factors like: • whether the offender truthfully admitted his or her role in the crime, • whether the offender made restitution before there was a guilty verdict, • whether the offender pled guilty.

Offenders who qualify for the 2-level reduction and whose offense levels are greater than 15, may, upon motion of the government, be granted an additional 1-level reduction if, in a timely manner, they declare their intention to plead guilty.

Criminal History The guidelines assign each offender to one of six criminal history categories based upon the extent of an offender’s past misconduct. Criminal History Category I is the least serious category and includes many firsttime offenders. Criminal History Category VI is the most serious category and includes offenders with serious criminal record.

• One of the specific offense characteristics for robbery (which has a base offense level of 20) involves the use of a firearm. If a firearm was brandished during the robbery, there is to be a 5-level increase, bringing the level to 25; if a firearm was discharged during the robbery, there is to be a 7-level increase, bringing the level to 27.

Adjustments Adjustments are factors that can apply to any offense. Like specific offense characteristics, they increase or decrease the offense level. Categories of adjustments include: victim-related adjustments, the offender’s role in the offense, and obstruction of justice. Examples of adjustments are as follows: • If the offender was a minimal participant in the offense, the offense level is decreased by 4 levels.

• If the offender knew that the victim was unusually vulnerable due to age or physical or mental condition, the offense level is increased by 2 levels.

• If the offender obstructed justice, the offense level is increased by 2 levels.

Multiple Count Adjustments When there are multiple counts of conviction, the sentencing guidelines provide instructions on how to achieve a “combined offense level.” These rules provide incremental punishment for significant additional criminal

For additional information about the United States Sentencing Commission, contact: Office of Legislative and Public Affairs United States Sentencing Commission One Columbus Circle, NE, Suite 2-500 Washington, DC 20002-8002 (202) 502-4500 • FAX: (202) 502-4699 E-mail: pubaffairs@ussc.gov www.ussc.gov Disclaimer: The characterizations of the sentencing guidelines in this overview are presented in simplified form and are not to be used for guideline interpretation, application, or authority.

LEGAL IN N.Y.

O

n March 31, 2021, New York State legalized adult-use cannabis (also known as marijuana, or recreational marijuana) by passing the Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA).

The legislation creates a new Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) governed by a Cannabis Control Board to oversee and implement the law. The MRTA modifies criminal violations and penalties relating to the sale and possession of cannabis.

Personal Possession Adults 21 years of age and older may possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis and 24 grams of concentrated cannabis (like vaporization oil or an edible).

Cannabis and Police Searches The MRTA changes how the odor or presence of cannabis can be used to determine reasonable cause by law enforcement. No finding or determination of reasonable cause to believe a crime has been committed can be based solely on or in combination with the odor of cannabis or burnt cannabis, the possession of cannabis in amounts in accordance with state law, cash or currency present next to cannabis or multiple containers of cannabis, and planting or growing cannabis in accordance with state law. This law does not apply to an investigation of a person who operates a vehicle while under the influence of cannabis.

During such investigations, the odor of burnt cannabis shall not provide probable cause to search any area of a vehicle that is not readily accessible to the driver and reasonably likely to contain evidence relevant to the driver’s condition.

Home Cultivation of Cannabis New Yorkers 21 years of age and older can grow up to 6 cannabis plants in their home for personal use (3 mature plants and 3 immature plants) and a maximum of twelve plants per household (6 mature plants and 6 immature plants). Please be aware the home cultivation of cannabis is not allowed immediately. Pursuant to the MRTA, the home cultivation of cannabis is only permitted after the OCM issues regulations governing home cultivation of cannabis, which will occur within 18 months of the first adult-use retail sale. The MRTA also permits the home cultivation of medical cannabis for certified patients registered in the Medical Cannabis Program. Home cultivation for certified patients has an accelerated timeline, but is not authorized until the OCM issues regulations, which will occur on or before September 30, 2021.

Expungement of Criminal Records The MRTA will automatically expunge records for people with previous convictions for activities that are no longer criminalized. Individuals who qualify for expungement are not required to take any further action to have their records expunged.

The following convictions qualify for expungement: • A violation of Article 220 or section 240.36 of the penal law, prior to the effective date of Article 221 of the Penal law, where the sole controlled substance involved was marihuana and the conviction was only for a misdemeanor and/or violation • An offense defined in section 221.05 or 221.10 of the Penal law prior to the effective date of chapter 132 of the laws of 2019 • An offense defined in former section 221.05, 221.10, 221.15, 221.20, 221.35, or 221.40 of the Penal Law • An offense defined in section 240.37 of the Penal law • A violation of section 220.03 or 220.06 of the Penal law prior to the effective date of the MRTA, where the sole controlled substance involved was concentrated cannabis • An offense defined in section 222.10, 222.15, 222.25 or 222.45 of the Penal law.

www.cannabis.ny.gov 1-888-OCM-5151 info@ocm.ny.gov

ARMEL WALDEN

T H E U G LY T RU T H Brother, how are you doing?

I’m good, brother!

So you're free?

Yes, finally. After all these years and tears, I'm here, you know. It was a long journey, it was a rough journey, but I soldiered my way through it, you know. In the midst of all the B.S., you know, I kept my focus-focus.

You know what I'm saying?

How difficult is it to do that? You know, keep your focus and what does that mean?

There are so many distractions around you, it’s' so many different levels of bullshit around you. Dealing with the officers that work there, dealing with the different nationalities of people that's around you. Dealing with the fakeness and the phoniness and all that type of stuff, so it's kind of hard to do that. You just have to create a lane and create a path and figure out how you want to do your bid. Me, I did mine basically working out and spending time in the law library. I also surrounded myself with good men. You know what I'm saying? And, you know, everybody that I surrounded myself with, we all got the same concept of how we want to do our bid. We all got the same way of how we get down. You know what I'm saying? We are not with all the bullshit, you know. And at the same time, I'm not anti-social, I'm not unapproachable, you know, I'm saying?

But I'm not a super-friendly dude neither. You feel me? And when you’re in a penal institution, you got to be that way because no matter who you are or what you say, you are going to be tested at some point. And in there, it's a whole different world, everybody is watching to see how you respond to certain shit.

Are you immune to those day-to-day happenings of prison life?

Am I immune to it? What you mean by being immune to it? I lived through it.

But it's like when you’re in there, you got to wear a certain face, you know what I'm saying? And when you're out here, you’ve got to get acclimated. Acclimated back into society, it’s a whole different world. So the transition for me is not going to be complicated. You know what I'm saying? Because in there I was acting, you know, out here is reality. You feel me? I was just playing my part of being the person I needed to be to get me through that shit. I used to tell people too man.

I’d always say, you know, just because the waters are calm doesn't mean there aren't any predators lurking. So I gave a lot of respect because I know once it’s on, it could get ugly, then there could be a lot of collateral damage. But I had to focus on what my primary goals were, which was to get out of jail. So in order for me to get out of jail, I couldn't involve myself in the jailhouse bullshit or surround myself with suckers that I might have to inherit the drama associated with him. So if I see B.S., I put layers of cushion between me and that. I distance myself from it because that's what men do.

For those who may not know who you are and what your story is, tell us who you are and where you from?

My attribute is Armel. My government name is Jerry Walden. I was born in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York. I lived on Eastern Parkway between Schenectady and Utica. I moved out to Freeport, Long Island when I was, I think, in the tenth grade, around ‘78, ‘79, something like that, you know.

you're going to find good men. They were a little slower, I am not going to lie. Growing up in Brooklyn around pimps, prostitutes, stick-up kids, drug dealers; they're everywhere. But I was actually right there in the mix of all that. It's just fortunate that we had the school right across the street from our house and they had all kinds of afterschool, recreational and educational programs. And we excelled by going there, you know. Opposed to nowadays, everybody becoming over weight, they aren’t health conscious, playing video games, sitting on a couch eating potato chips now. We were in the streets all day playing all kinds of games, from sunup to sundown; that's why we were healthier. So when I got to Long Island, the school system was different. You know, in Brooklyn, they just passed you through. Over here you really had to learn, study, and you really had to have participated in your schoolwork, you really had to know what you know. They weren’t just passing you through out here in Long Island, you know what I'm saying? But the people, they’re the same everywhere you go. It's just, you know, we’re at a faster pace because we were in a big city. The fourth largest city in the United States - - Brooklyn - - and it’s so many people and there is so much shit going on all day, all night. You are being pulled in many different directions 90 miles an hour. So you are just able to move a little different. Now we get to Long Island, it's a little slower, easier, it was smoother. So the transition wasn't that necessarily crazy, I came out here with four brothers.

Who was your first friend on Long Island? Do you remember your first homeboy?

How old were you when you moved to Freeport?

My first friend in Long Island, I would like to say my man Gino. That was, like, my first that was my dude. Yeah, that was my man. This whole 24 years, 4 months and 1 day I was in prison, Gino was with me. He never turned his back on me if I needed anything, and he came to see me no matter where they sent me in this country. That was my first friend in Long Island and my main man to this day!

Probably was about 15 or 16, something like that.

Shout-out to Gino, much respect, salute to him. So you just got home?

So moving to a new area at the age of 15, what kind of perspective did you come to Freeport with?

Just got home. Happy, happy delighted. I do not have to worry about being told what to do, when to do it or how to do it. I don’t have to wake up looking at suckers crying all day. Telling me their bullshit- ass problems and story when they only got, you know, a small sentence. They got enough time to go through a roll of toilet paper and they're down the block from their crib. Do not got nobody coming to see them, you know what I'm saying? So you know, I'm happy about that. I'm not having to deal with all the fuckery that goes on behind the walls

Well, I'm from Brooklyn, so you know, we walk a certain walk, you know what I mean? And when I came to Long Island, It was, like, the suburbs. They were a lot slower. The dress code was different, you know what I'm saying? But it doesn’t matter where I'm at, it's always good men. No matter where you go,

inside them penitentiaries.

to show you exactly how the fix was in. I’ve got the transcripts.

This is stuff that people in the streets have no idea about?

You’ve got the transcripts?

Things go on in here that people on the streets have no idea about what you've got to endure. It isn’t just with the officers. It isn’t just about being confined. It's about the people around you. For instance; here's a guy who got three years, like I said, enough time to go through a roll of toilet paper. And he lives about 40 minutes from the jail. He's down the block from his home and he's crying and whining about every goddamn thing. This is the shit you've got to deal with in there.

The transcripts, actual facts of my court proceedings.

How does one manage the next one’s whining?

You know, sometimes, man, when you see certain dudes coming, you have to anticipate what he's coming over there for? You know, he's going to start off talking about sports, then somehow talking about religion, but 9 out of 10 times his talking is going to lead to his prison sentence. So when I see that part or hear that part coming out, I slides off because I'm really not trying to hear it, and I don't want to tell him I am not trying to hear that B.S., you know what I mean? I just don't want to listen to it every day. But the one thing I do, man, I don't let nobody use my ears as a garbage disposal. Fuck that, point blank. You got personal problems.

I got them too. You came to jail with small time and you ain't had nothing out there. You didn't lose anything and you’re going back to it. I lost a lot. It's hurtful to leave your son when he's ten or your other son when he's four. And then you miss every aspect of his life. You know, you miss junior prom. You miss a senior prom.

You miss interacting with him when he’s got girlfriends. You miss sporting events while he was in school. You know, you miss his college graduation, his high school graduation. You miss his marriage. You know, you miss him having a kid. I came home to grandkids. So you miss a lot of that by being in there and it's hurtful, you know. I regret it but, you know, I can't go back in time and change things. What I got to do is embrace what's going on and move forward from this point with my family, you know.

Before we get to the paperwork, I would like for you to break down it in your own words, what is a pardon? What does that look like?

I will tell you like this, right, under the Constitution, the president has the power to grant pardons for offenses against the United States or to commute federal sentence, okay. Now, a pardon is the act of presidential forgiveness, you know, and it wipes away the remaining legal liabilities from a conviction. Whereas, a commutation, basically it reduces a sentence, but it does not eliminate a conviction or restore a civil right lost as a result of that conviction. The difference being a commutation, it lessens the sentence of someone who has been convicted of a crime, but it does not absolve that person of legal guilt. Now, on the other hand, a pardon goes further, nullifying all the effects of the conviction. It wipes away everything.

Which one did you get?

Well, see, I got the commutation. My sentence was reduced, but it does not, like I said, it does not restore any civil rights lost, you know, as a result of the conviction, it just lessened the sentence. You know, it doesn't absolve me, like I said, of any legal guilt, you know, so I got the commutation. Either way, it could have been a pardon or the commutation I would have been happy.

You’re thankful to be home?

I'm just thankful to be home my, brother, that's it.

No question! You were given an opportunity to get home, but it wasn't just given to you. You had to fucking fight, right? Excuse my language. The reason why I wanted Tell us about some of the things you've done since you've been home thus far. you to touch on it, because someone sitting in a cell somewhere may be thinking that they're going to just get a pardon or commutation or some sort of reprieve just Well, you know, I'm trying to get my essential credentials together because I have because they got a good issue. Can you shine some light on that? no I.D., my passport has expired, driver's license expired, so I’ve got to get everything, you know what I'm saying? So you know, it's different out here, I came Yeah, let me walk you through, you know, how all this shit unfolded for me. It wasn't home to a different world. Everything is online. You've got to make appointments like a bunch of names were in a hat and they just picked one out and I happened to be online. To go to Motor Vehicle, you’ve got to come there at a certain time and wait one of the lucky names that got picked. Nah, that isn’t how it goes. See, a few years ago, in the parking lot until they call you. Luckily, Gino has some of my paperwork. you know, I'm seeing my attorney Mr. Lawrence E. Savell, he put together an excellent So I have a birth certificate, social security and an expired passport, but I needed petition to commute my sentence. And that petition was pending for a long time, but more for the point system they’ve got, so you get a New York State non-driver’s let me fast forward just a little bit. My man Jerome Brown (Prince) had a little platform license I.D., which I’ve got. So now I'm waiting for them to mail it to me, I don't to help people with legal issues. He used that platform to advocate for prison reform. have the physical copy. And I could take that and open a bank account and try to See, the story I'm telling you is crazy, you know how everything came together. One get me some credit and some health care, because I'm coming home to nothing. day while Trump was speaking to a largely black crowd in South Carolina about fairHowever, although just getting home I’ve already knocked off the first four things ness and due process. He finished his speech and stayed to hear one of the speakers on my to-do list, which was to see my family, eat a home-cooked meal and sleep in speak, that speaker was my man, Jerome Brown - - Prince. You know, Prince used to a real comfortable big bed. tell me, AR (Armel), always be prepared. By being prepared, you will have the tools needed to deal with any situation. When Prince took the stage that day, he articulated Not going to a strip club? himself very well and spoke, you know, with integrity and compassion about prison reform, that's how he gets down. Trump - - he later invited Prince to send him names Nah, no strip club, that’s not even on my agenda. I’ve got business to take care of, of people who had long prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenses. Trump also so I’ve got to put my priorities first. Strip clubs are entertainment, I missed that shared his podium with Alice Johnson, who he released after 21 years, a life sentence for 24 years. If I missed it for another year, they aren’t going to make me or break for drug conspiracy. And Tanisha Bannister was released after 16 years in prison by the me, you know. And last but not least on my bucket list of four things I wanted to provisions in the First Step Act that Trump signed. Prince immediately started working do, you know, I wanted to take a hot scented bubble bath! You can't even imagine hard to get that list of a few good brothers that got a raw deal. He even got a copy of not taking a bath in 24 years to finally sitting in a bathtub with scented bubbles, a my petition that was pending who my attorney Mr. Lawrence E. Savell prepared for scented candle, and I'm listening to the old Blue Magic. You know what I'm saying? me. He added it to what he was working on. So one day, this is a crazy story, Tyson, This was... It was just amazing to me. one day I get an email from Prince saying that he got a text that day from the White House in regard to still needing some names, right. So I said, “I thought you gave him Okay, I know you have a very interesting story on so many different levels, my name?” He said, “I did.” Prince told me that he had packaged all my information, so before we get into the fact that you have actually received a pardon from along with the letters and everything else. Later on he said, as of right now, his submisPresident Trump, let us just give the people that may be sitting in these cells, sions were in. They were in the hands of the White House and that he fast and prayed to just a quick summary of your story.

God that I would come home. So I’m thinking, damn, my man, he's involved with the People. In addition, my attorney put together a good petition for me, saying this looks Well, a quick summary of my story, put it like this, I got jammed up, you know. like there’s some possibilities that something can really, really happen. He told me if he On December 19, 1996 I was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, in hears something he would let me know. And if I heard something I would do the same. violation of Title 21 of the United States Code under Sections 846 and 841, right. He told me that he loved me and all that and to remain strong; that was 11/15/2019.

Then On November 16, 1998 I was sentenced by the court to 480 months, that's 40 years. Here's the crazy shit, right, about that whole thing, the statutory range Let me ask you a question, how do you remember the date? was like, ten years to life, the guideline range was 36 to 360 months to life. The 480-month sentence was 120 months larger and longer than what the sentence the Listen, when you’re in jail and fighting with the courts, man, you just log all that shit, probation officer recommended on November 19, 1998 presentence investigation it just naturally stays in your mental Rolodex. So I be knowing these things, just in this report. That's some crazy shit. You know, later on in this interview and I'm going case I have to put something on paper in writing, all of these all these things because of

their importance are in your head.

It's a practice?

It's definitely a practice because like I said, that was November 15, 2019, when he was telling me. Then on December 30, 2019 I got another email from Prince, that's about six-weeks later. Here's what Prince had to say, I could tell you verbatim because I got a copy of the email and I remember this because I read it 80,000 times.

He said, “Yo, Armel, I just received an email from the president's deputy assistant.

He told me that, you know, all the names have been submitted to the White House counsel, and I guess now we are just waiting on them to do what they do. God willing, things go in your favor. Happy New Year; that's what my man told me. So I was just sitting there patiently waiting to see how this thing unfolds. You feel me?

Yeah. So let me - - let's back up for a second. When you get the email from Prince, right, you're in what jail?

I'm in Danbury. I'm in Danbury, FCI in Danbury, Connecticut.

You have to go to the computer system and log into CorrLinks.

Exactly.

Check your email....

Check, email.

The first time you read it, how did you feel in that moment? What was your mind like?

When I read Francis’ emails or when I realized that, you know.

What you were reading?

You know, in my mind, I was saying, you know, that my chances, you know, have just been pushed to the forefront, have been heightened because of my well-put together petition that I already had pending, and with the people that Prince was connected to, I'm saying to myself, this is really possible. You know, this can really happen!

How do you keep yourself circumspect without being overjoyed and still, you know, maintaining some strategic composure while being in prison?

Here is the reality, right? I've been filing motions, good motions based on good case laws, Supreme Court rulings in other circuits that apply directly to my issue. Over and over, I’ve been getting shot down, this might have applied to you (other cases).

We got the same issue and I argued the same way, and I use the same case law they used and I get shot down, you know, and I'm kicking Supreme Court rulings to these people. I'm kicking law to these people of the highest degree, which is a Supreme Court ruling.

I’m putting that in my motions, arguing the same issues. So I'm used to getting, you know, my hope's being high, and then kind of being shot down, you know what I'm saying? So when I heard this, it's like I felt more elated. I felt that the possibility just got strengthened, but at the same time, I didn't get my hopes up too high. You know what I'm trying to say?

You wanted to allow yourself the psychological space to feel some joy because actually the fruits of your fight are beginning to materialize.

Exactly.

But because you have been shot down so many times to preserve your sanity, you couldn't allow yourself to experience too much?

Exactly. Exactly. You took take the words out of my mouth.

When you came home, you came home to the untimely passing of your brother Rah Shallah, Rest in peace to the God. Right.

I don't know if you really want to go into this or not, but if you if you want to say anything to that or if you want to give him a shout-out, if you want to just say a little something as if he can hear you, you know, however you want to do it, the doors are open for you for that.

Right. So what's crazy is, everybody knows Rah. Rah isn't just my brother, he's not just my little brother, he's my main man. My partner, my ride-or-die dude. That's why when I put this book together, I made a dedication and this book was out before the untimely death of my brother. You know, in my book I said, “To my main man, my ride-or-die partner, my brother and my always reliable go-to guy.” Rah Shallah - - the link between us is telepathic. No words are needed, that’s some deep shit. The link between us is telepathic. No words are needed because we thought alike. And his biggest thing was to make sure I was all right when I get here, you know. It's a bittersweet moment that I had to come home to this, it's like he crossed us over, you know. He left so I can get here, that's how I feel about that.

It's like he was the gate-opener. He, you know, he paved the way so that you can come through and do something profound for you and the family.

Exactly. Rah -- he's a great guy. I'm not saying that because he’s my brother. His heart was real, pure, genuine, you know, he was a go-getter. He was not a flashy guy, but he did what he had to do! And he was about taking care of his family and making sure everybody was financially secure and stable. You know, he's a hilarious guy if you know him. He’s going to have you laughing all day, all night. But he was about his business and he had a pure heart. He's one of the sincerest guys I’ve ever met. And I'm happy he’s my brother.

Respect. So earlier you said something about “the fix was in,” right? Can you elaborate on that a bit? A lot of brothers that are locked up believes -- everybody thinks the fix was in on their case, that the People are out to get us.

Well, see, you know, the judge had a hard-on for me and my brother Rah Shallah from day one when we stepped foot in his courthouse. Now, did that have anything to do with the suits we were wearing or the fact that both of us had paid attorneys from California representing us? I mean, who knows. That man wearing a black robe, he was determined to drag our asses through the mud. He didn’t like nothing about us.

He didn't like our demeanor. He didn't like the way we look. He didn’t like the fact that we were, you know, fighting for our rights and going to trial. You know, it just fucked them up, man. So you know, at no turn did we ever have anything positive coming. It's crazy. It's like what they did to the Indians, the Native Americans, when they landed in this country. When the judge would refer to me, he'd say things like, the defendant regularly carried a handgun in connection with narcotic dealings. How can he say that, it's not like he was with me? You witnessed this yourself, you were side-by-side in the mix with me? No! The things he was saying and doing during trial... He would later say that the trial testimony established that I was involved in the receipt and distribution of approximately 400 kilos of cocaine between late 1994 and early 1996. And all of that's hearsay, you know. I ain't see no drugs in the amount of 400 keys at the evidence table. When I was going to trial he used to also say other little things like, these two brothers, they were ready for war with the police because in the house that they raided, they said the place was well armed with bullet-proof vests, multiple firearms with black Talon bullets, well known as cop-killer bullets. You know, this chump in the long black robe, he gave me 40 years. But he says that I’m the one that's, you know, an executioner, basically. I couldn't believe the accusations he was making. He said I'm entirely unrepentant, you know, a career criminal, a major narcotics operator. He tried to jazz it up and make himself look good, like anything other than the executioner that he really was. He said there's a strong necessity for specific deterrence, in this specific case. He really let his hate seep out when he said, basically to put it in plain English, it is virtually the case of getting me and my brother off the streets for the longest period of time imaginable. He said, “It is strongly in the public's interest, because whenever I get out, I'm a danger to the entire community.”

How could I ever be a danger to the entire community? That’s baseless and so crazy to say. He said that because the feds found black Talon cop-killer bullets, you know, and high-grain bulletproof vests. It was an indication that me and my brother, if we were in a tight spot, we'd be prepared for the possibility of a shootout with law enforcement. This is the type of shit he'd say in trial. You could tell he didn't like us, he was just coming up with some crazy shit. Every time my lawyer is trying to object to the shit, he shut them down. So I knew that all of my appeals would be denied when they had to go before him, regardless how well they were put together and how much case law was used to support my argument. I saw it in him. These words are directly from my sentencing transcript. He said, “Mr. Walden, in my estimation, is a callous and dangerous person, unconcerned about the effects of his actions on others.” This is what he said, it's in the trial sentencing transcript. You can read it anytime you want.

(PAPERWORKGOOD) He said, “This is an extremely serious offense and an offender with a record and based on what I’ve indicated, a propensity for violence.” This is what he's saying about me. Meanwhile, I've got a nonviolent drug conviction. He said in my remarks" when I sentenced him, his failure to assist the government after he was convicted, (he wanted me to help them out). After he convicted me. He said my intentions. He said his intentions were to communicate and his previous remarks was that, you know, cooperation by me, post-conviction would have indicated, you know, some degree of repentance, some degree of concern for others, and therefore mitigat-

ed my culpability, to some degree. He said had he done so I would have reduced his sentence. In other words, this dude, he was basically saying that in exchange for my cooperation, he will grant me some leniency, you know. Damn my Fifth Amendment right to a fair trial, you know. Damn my right to be judged by the jury. He was already putting things in their heads. You feel what I’m saying? The fix was in, I've seen it.

So in plain English, because you didn't snitch. They gave you more time.

They gave me more time. And he sentenced me to 120 months more than the recommended time that was recommended, as per the pre-sentence report.

Doing my journalistic duties and you can correct me if I'm wrong, I read in your case that the so-called connect told on you guys?

Exactly!

Cooperated on you guys and agreed to testify?

Actually, he testified at the trial.

His name is not important because that's not important right now.

Facts. We don't give them any light.

Yeah, you know what I'm saying? But he testified on you guys for whatever he says took place and the judge gave you more time for not cooperating. That's disrespectful, they violated your rights, how did you feel about that?

Well, you know, like I said, I knew the fix was in and I knew that any case law that would come out in the years to follow that I could argue with my direct appeal. I knew going before him it would get shot down.

Let me ask you a question: I did 16 years in jail. My last bid was in the feds and I saw a recurring theme about the so-called connect telling on people, and I'm not talking about you right now, we're just building, while I got you here I want to pick ya brain, what is that, the connect telling on people?

And it’s usually people of different nationalities.

Well, you know, a lot of the people are illegal immigrants. So you know, they get deported and they got no problem going back to their country. So they would rather tell on somebody who is not of their ethnicity. They aren’t going to tell on one of their own, but they throw us to the dogs, you know what I'm saying, and then get deported.

Do a little bit of time for the cooperation and then get deported back to their country.

What do you have to say to these young boys who are here messing around in these streets right now?

Basically, man, you know, you’ve got choices. You’ve got decisions and you've got consequences. You've got rewards. You got penalties. So there's a lot of at-risk youth out here that don't have the right guidance because a lot of old dudes, either they went to drugs or in jail. And then nowadays, not saying all, but a lot of the young dudes you can't tell them nothing because they got all the answers. They’re not going to listen to me, you know, I'm not successful. I was a failure, I went and did all that time. So you know, how much could I possibly know, feel me? They're not like how we were growing up. We would listen to old timers. When he gives us game, when he gives us jewels, we would take what we can take and apply it to where it needs to be applied.

But nowadays they don't wanna hear nothing, you know what I'm saying? There’s a lot of at-risk youth out there. And this new wave, these pills. All these new drugs they got out here. And it's like no leadership, no guidance, you know what I mean? They just do what they want to do. But like I said, you've got a choice. You've got choices and you got decisions. You make a bad choice. You going to have effed up consequences. If you make the right choice, you will be rewarded. So there’s a reward or a penalty based upon your actions, you feel what I'm saying?

With all due respect, that sounds over simplistic. Mathematically I follow you, but talk to us about that for real, that process, if you like. Is that real or is that just something to say because you made it through?

Well, listen, everything I'm telling you, man, I lived the life that I live. You know what I'm saying? I experience what I’ve experienced and I made it through. Everybody got different views of certain things, somebody might read this interview and view me as a certain way. You know, they got their own opinions. But I'm telling you from a man that walked the walk and remained a man, you know what I'm saying? Followed protocol, stood strong, stood tall, all my principles are intact, I never compromised my code of ethics or my principles. If I can't get through to someone, I can't get through

to them. But the ones that I could get through to, I hope that they would take this and utilize this to make righteous choices, better moves. Have productive, common-sense business moves. They can make sure, you know, they got generational wealth. Making sure their families are good. Make sure they aren’t in the streets, harming anybody. Make sure they're not disrespecting women, their mothers, their sisters, you know, but I'm just a man. I went through hell just to come out on the other side, you know, but it's going to be glory to my story. I can guarantee you that.

I'm focused and my focus is focused and the little things mean nothing to me right now. You know, that’s what it is with me, you know.

To the guy sitting in the cell right now that’s going to be reading your interview, that's fighting somewhat the same type of fight that you may have fought and he’s probably feeling like this shit is getting crazy, what do you say to him?

To him I say, man, stay focused, man. Do what you’re doing, man. Read, exercise, man, and don't give up, because reading is to the mind, what exercise is to the body.

It’s going to build you up. You feel me? And it's going to give you information. And if you stay focused man in your quest, you are going to get rewarded. But the whole thing is you got to be in it and you got to stay in it because they're not just going to make a law and just say you are eligible for it or that it applies to you. If you see something (legally) that come out, you've got to do your research, see how it applies to you, and you've got to argue it in court; you’ve got to file a motion. Don't give up.

Don't sit in the TV room all day, you know, arguing about Love & Hip Hop. You know, sitting there arguing about LeBron’s a bum, something stupid like that, you know. When we all know LeBron is the king, let's make that understood. He’s not the G.O.A.T. but he's the King.

Okay, so you’ve got a book out called The Ugly Truth.

Yeah. The Ugly Truth! From nothing to everything is a very long road to success.

But from everything to nothing is one short misstep.

What's the inspiration behind this book? Tell us a little bit about them.

Well, that book started off as a letter to my oldest son, and I started the letter off, with some of my own thoughts. I was just reflecting and basically recalling the past, examining the present, you know, improving the future. So I just started writing.

I said to myself basically how can one go from, like, living a certain lifestyle to the backyard of bullshit all in one moment, you know? And then I put it down, it was a while before I picked up that piece of paper up again. I kind of forgot about it.

About a week went by and I ended up moving things around, I forgot I was even writing a letter to my son. So when I came across the paper in my cell. I said, let me just put some more stuff on this paper. And the next thing you know, I got eight, nine pages. Now I'm just going somewhere else with this. So now I'm just like, let me keep elaborating on this. Let me keep building upon what I'm writing.

Let me start creating, peeking into my daily life of how I was living before to how I’m living now. Then it just started coming into a book form and then it just started ping-ponging, feel me? Like when you look at the cover of the book, the concept, everything was like coming to me. As you know, the lights go out and I’m sitting there alone with my thoughts. You know what I'm saying? I'm thinking about this book now. Now it’s no longer a letter to my son, it’s a book. But I know my son is going to read it, so he's going to get the benefits too, you know. It's a lot of game in his book, a lot of jewels, it’s a lot of history; It is a lot of science. And there's basically day-to-day shit that I do inside the penitentiary to get me through the day or to get me through the week without misrepresenting myself or not honoring my code of ethics or nothing like that, you know. So when I look at the cover of this book, right, I see me in a nice suit, you know, nice gators and Rolex, I'm chilling. Right behind me is a bunch of money, because that's what I was doing, and then, I'm in the same position with a khaki uniform on and behind me is a watchtower. So that's why I was saying how one can go from this today in the blink of an eye. That's why the cover concept tells a story within itself. People told me don't even put my picture on the cover book. They’d say, what if a white person that don't know nothing about this and pick the book up somewhere and look at it, and say, nah, this is some black urban bullshit. I said I don't think this... I think it is going to work the opposite for me. First of all, you're going to look at it, you going to say, oh, damn, this is the same guy and it's called the Ugly Truth, so let me take a look. Let me read the back of the book, and once you read the back of the book, you know, it catches you. Now you want to read the whole book, you want to read everything between cover to cover, you know what I mean? I just decided to push this, man, you know, because I needed to get some of this off my chest and I need to get my story out there. Like I said, this book is called The Ugly Truth, not a pretty little lie, it's not sugarcoated. I'm not a real author, I just wrote this shit, you know, because I thought that it would help some people understand life inside the penitentiary, the choices and decisions that led me to this and the things that I did to get me through and get me by this shit, you know what I mean? And now, you know, I'm staying

focused on my focus. Therefore, when I come home I can walk a different walk and be successful in a different genre, so that's basically how the book came about!

Yeah. Did you give your son his copy?

My whole family has copies. There are a lot of Waldens and everybody is going to get.

Shout-out to my son Omar Kalif, my other son Aamar, you know, both my daughters and all my nieces. Especially Jamila!

Is there anyone you wish to shout-out?

I have to shout-out, man, a few brothers, man, they actually did this whole bid with me. When I say whole bid, I'm talking about 24 years, 1 month and 1 day and they never wavered.

Well, I want to shout-out my man Jerome Brown, that's Prince, you know, he played an integral part in helping me, you know, with this commutation. My man Gino, my main man and my man King Allah from Roosevelt. They were with me day one to day one out, you know what I'm saying? Whatever I needed, whatever I needed them to do, they did it. If they couldn't do it then and there, they did it later on, but it got done.

My man Shane Boogie. Listen, Shane wasn't even allowed to come see me because he had an extended record. So what he would do is he would drive his wife and his kids up to see me, sit in a parking lot for eight hours waiting for his wife and kids to come out and then he would drive home. Finally, I went to another spot, they allowed my man come to see me. They told me he was approved for visits on a Wednesday, that Friday he came to see me and he’s been coming to see me ever since, and his family loves me, man. Great guy. You ain't going to see guys like this. Then my man Rahsun, that's Kendu’s brother. Rahsun is a great guy, grew up with him all my life. My main man, I love them to death. Then there’s my main man Waters, you know, me and Waters from day one we met, we clicked, man. It was authentic. It was genuine. It was pure. You know what I'm saying? It is no bullshit between us. That's why when he asked me do you have somebody to come pick you up - - first of all, they told me that at 8:31, while I was in the shower. 8:31in the morning they say, “Yo, Walden, you got to be out of here by 9 o'clock.” I said, “Oh word.” So when I get down to R & D they said, do you have a ride? I said, if you give me a phone call I'll get a ride. So I called my man Waters, he said, “I'm already on my way. I ain't even brush my teeth.

I ain’t put on nothing but my drawers and my socks. I’ma get dressed in the parking lot, I'm on my way.” So shout-out to my main man Waters. Then my man Amar from Roosevelt, man, listen, Amar was with me while doing a bid. Amar went home maybe

five, six years before I came home, but through that whole time, Amar, he was there for me. Anything I needed him to do, he did it. I respect him whole heartedly, you know, because he was in the struggle with me. I gave him some game, when he went home, he executed the game. He followed protocol, now he is in a good place and he always thanks me. Saying, “AR, if you would not have told me what you told me, I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing.” Everything is legal and he's having a ball. So definitely shout-out to my main man Amar.

It's a host of other brothers, it's a host of beautiful woman that came through and rolled with me, you know, during the whole stay. I'd like to shout-out all of them.

They know who they are and I ain’t even got to name names. You know who you are if you walked this walk with me for these 24 pieces (years). I'm not saying that they didn't get ghost periodically, however, they've got a life to live and I'm not selfish.

I'm never going to tell a woman not to live her life. Feel what I'm saying? She’s got wants, needs and desires. Now, all I'm saying is, just be there for me when I need you. Like I was there for you when you needed me. Like I said, I'm never selfish, you know? And I know in jail a man can't really, in my opinion, other brothers beg to differ, a man can't really have a wife or girlfriend. You can have friends, associates or acquaintances, because that's all you've got. You may be legally married but she can't do wifely duties. You may say you've got a girlfriend, what’s going to happen when she’s decided that she met somebody or she’s tired of running up there? It costs her -- gas, tolls, she’s got to feed you out of the vending machines, all kinds of things. What happens when she gets tired of that and decides she wants to live life a little bit? She found a little somebody that likes her, they start dating, maybe in a couple of years a relationship, now you’re bent out of shape. I never got bent out of shape because I never even discussed that with other girls, you know, because I already know. What's understood doesn't need to be explained. They're pretty girls and they're going to, you know, they're going to be involved with guys and they gonna want to be made to be felt like a woman, but bottom line, they never forgot me. There was never a time where I would call them and say I need you take care of this for me and they said I ain't going to be able to do it. Or if I say I need you to come see me, and they say they wasn't going to be able to do it, they rode that train with me the whole time. But my guys, my guys were something different, man, never wavered, always there, you know, and that's how it went. Feel me!

Indeed. Peace.

Peace!

CURRENTSEE’s Official Review:

ALLAH SENT ME CURRENTSEE’s Official Review:

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