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Brother J - Rejuvenation
Interview By: Claudio E. Cabrera
 Not too many people know, but the blueprint and the start of the Afro-Centric Hip Hop movement was not started by Public Enemy, but by the X-Clan. The fearsome four-some of the late Professor X and late Sugar Shaft along with Brother J and Architect Paradise, were “Black and Proud” as James Brown would say marching in their green, red and black outfits. Close to a decade since the groups peak, standout lyricist Brother J is back to remind Hip Hop of the impact X Clan made and can still make in today’s day and age.
 Nobodysmiling.com : You are currently on tour right now correct?
Brother J : Yes, doing alot of spot dates to promote the new album to our die hard fans and to introduce our music to the new generation.
Nobodysmiling.com : Speaking of the new generation, educate the public on Brother J, X-Clan and your impact on Hip Hop.
Brother J : Well when we came out in the 90's what we wanted to achieve was freedom thru expression. X Clan was saying things that did the media wouldn’t dare say. We spoke the truth.
Nobodysmiling.com : What’s been the overall response across the country?
Brother J : Good man. A lot of people are receiving us as a new group. For the past fans it’s like a rejuvenation.
Nobodysmiling.com : Do you feel you ever received the proper respect from the media or industry?
Brother J : They really can’t embrace what they don’t know. We weren’t available to the public like most groups. X Clan was on a small label and we were grass roots and in the community while still doing our music thing. It was all one. The media looked at us as a political group but we were really a spiritual group.
Nobodysmiling.com : So they looked at you like Public Enemy?
Brother J : Definitely. You had the streets battling the government in this instance. We were street knowledge messengers. X Clan brought it back to the ancestral ways with our speech, clothing and approach.
Nobodysmiling.com : Explain to me what “Blackwatch” was?
Brother J : BlackWatch was a youth organization based out of Brooklyn that promoted freedom of speech. We were not getting the respect as a people that we deserved. Black Watch helped empower people in the African American community through our music and various neighborhood efforts.
Nobodysmiling.com : Is it true you started a petition concerning radio playing some relevant music for a few hours a day?
Brother J : It is much needed. While music has grown since it’s inception, the substance is no longer there and we are getting close to 30,000 signatures for radio stations to be forced to play 2 to 3 hours of conscious music a day.
Nobodysmiling.com : I applaud you for coming up with that drive to give our children something positive to hear for once?
Brother J : If we don’t do it who will. The corporations won’t that’s for sure. Sometimes we fail to realize the power within us. Even if we fail with this petition, we tried and we brought awareness.
Nobodysmiling.com : The media kind of took this movement as a Black nationalist movement when it really wasn’t. Are you bitter about that?
Brother J : It was not a hate-filled organization. All we did was to show people what freedom of speech was and there’s no problem with speaking up. They made us out to be the bad guy but in reality, when you look back in history, everyone who tried to make change is looked upon as a bad guy. Look how they portray Malcolm.
Nobodysmiling.com : True True
Brother J : Crack dehumanized us my brother. This is when the collapse in the Black community began and what we tried to do as a unit is push self empowerment and education to quell this problem.
Nobodysmiling.com : Do you think the snowball began to develop when Martin and Malcolm died and crack just made it bigger?
Brother J : It doesn’t matter what race or culture you come from, when you lose a leader there will be a down period and unfortunately for us the down time actually went on for a long time and some would say is continuing today. We can never forget those deaths, but we have to move on and uplift ourselves like those brothers wanted us to do.
Nobodysmiling.com : What do you think of Hip Hop today?
Brother J : I feel Hip Hop is growing and it’s at a different stage. You cant expect everything to stay the same but I miss the messages that groups like ours and PE use to put out. No one does that anymore. I feel that’s why Nas is important. He’s on a major label and he is still spitting it hard and showing MC’s out there what lyrics are supposed to sound like.
Nobodysmiling.com : Do you agree with Nas’ statement that Hip Hop is Dead?
Brother J : No I don’t agree with the statement. I look at the game as a businessman as well and I understand that a certain type of music makes money but at the same time there are plenty of people keeping it raw on an underground level making paper.
Nobodysmiling.com : How do you feel about the way women are portrayed in videos?
Brother J : Sex sells is the bottom line. Unfortunately that’s the way it is. Our videos show we don’t respect our women. But, we need people like Lauryn to come back and show people you can be beautiful without wearing short skirts and showing all your assets so to speak. Beautiful isn’t just physical but mental as well. It’s not all the man’s fault. Women play this to their advantage as well.
Nobodysmiling.com : Word
Brother J : Think about it. If you take the average rap song knowadays and you tell a 13 year-old kid to sing it in front of their parents at the dinner table that will decide whether it’s acceptable or not. The art has deteriorated but it’s not dead.
Nobodysmiling.com : So are you saying the art should be censored or toned down?
Brother J : No it should not be censored but we have to be more responsible with our words. It’s all great to express how we feel but we have to understand that the young generation mimicks us from our style to our lingo.
Nobodysmiling.com : What do you think of the N word?
Brother J : I use it with my friends and where I grew up. It’s a term of endearment to some. It’s terminology in my neighborhood.
Nobodysmiling.com : What do you think of politicians who want to censor the N word and take it out of our vocabulary?
Brother J : The way it’s been going around I don’t blame them. Our younger generation doesn’t understand the power of that word. Too many people are still left over from the Civil Rights era and when they hear that word, negative things arise inside of them. It must hurt them to hear kids saying it rampant all the time. I’ve even found myself re-examining my use of that word because now it’s getting out of control.
Nobodysmiling.com : How did the name X Clan come about?
Brother J : It really came from Generation X. We were going to call it Rated X at one time but Architect was our guide and told us that was corny. We all sat down and thought we were a movement and said we should call ourselves a clan. Then came X Clan.
Nobodysmiling.com : How difficult was it enduring the passing of Professor X?
Brother J : It was extremely difficult man but it’s unfortunately a part of the cycle of life and the most we can do is continue to make good music and carry on his legacy. We will continue to make him as well as our fans proud.
Nobodysmiling.com : Tell me about “Return of the Mecca?”
Brother J : It’s just a headbanger man. This album is the essence. The reason it’s called “Return of the Mecca” is because I had my own Malcolm X type moment when I escaped NY and went to LA and found myself again. I was able to relax and dig deep into my soul and come back refreshed.
Nobodysmiling.com : What do you think listeners will get out of this album?
Brother J : Heartfelt, intelligent music. The stuff that they don’t hear anymore I’m here to deliver. A lot of people feel there’s no place for the type of music we made and Public Enemy made. I’m here to prove them wrong. What I wrote in 88 can be just as influential now in 2007.
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