Illuminati 2G

Jehuniko: Street Native, Final Outlaws label/Manager put us in contact with one another. I meet people all the time but it was hella refreshing to talk to a working artist, about everything other than music. None of this "me, I do this and I do that." No. We talked about life, humanity and having music be the healer of hurt. Look for this New York MC to appear on my upcoming street album as well as making his rounds around California.

Jehuniko: When we spoke on the phone that 1st time, you had some definite opinions about hip hop in New York. You mentioned that if anything, it makes you sharpen your skills, tell us about whats cracking on the East Coast.

Final Outlaw: In New York we have something called EOW (End of the weak) It runs every Sunday at the pyramid club in the L.E.S. It has provided a platform for emcees to sharpen their skills as well as showcase before a demanding crowd of other skilled rappers. Many big acts like Jin and Immortal technique started really getting exposure through this venue.

Jehuniko: Give us a little history on the name, what environment you were born into and what led you to grab the mic?

Final Outlaw: I felt like it was unfair that I wasn't given a chance to choose my own name. Growing up in an environment where everyone seems so artificial and impersonal I began to feel like part of a dying breed of what an honest, loyal, honorable person should be. Being brown I realized that most of my people are already viewed as criminals. This is were I began calling myself Final Outlaw. 

Jehuniko: Tell me about your role the Grass Roots Artist Movement.

Final Outlaw: I'm an active member now, but I have served in community service as well as organize and lead within the Administration of G.a.me.  I was and still am involved in a lot of community work, panels, rallies, forums, marches, etc. Basically activism involving the black and brown communities.

Jehuniko: Your bio speaks of the R.E.B.E.L Program, which builds up leadership qualities in todays youth as well as prevents youth incarceration. Tell us about that.

Final Outlaw: G.A.ME is doing a lot of great work with the youth. We've been able to get kids from the hoods of the Bronx to become involved and interested in running a small green market and earn their own money as well as stay off the street by coming to G.A.ME head quarters and becoming influenced and enlightened on their origins and history.

Jehuniko: Hey dog, school us on Professor Abiodun Oyewole, of The Last Poets who you mentioned were often regarded as the first ever rap group.

Final Outlaw: They are a very respected group of individuals who began performing poetry of a political nature before anyone had ever dared to attempt it. The rest is self explanatory really, many view them as being the very first "rap" group that traveled and did shows together as one unit.

Jehuniko: You've performed with alot of ill people out there, what shows stand out and why?

Final Outlaw: I've been blessed enough to do shows with many talented and well known individuals. Papoose, Mr Cheeks, Keith Murray, Immortal Technique, La Bruja, RA The Rugged Man, Wu Tang, etc. But I think the shows that stood out the most were the small dark alleys and basements where I performed when I first began. It was there where I fell in love with the environment and feeling of what hip hop was all about.

Jehuniko: What are your motivations with this music, what inspires you to put your insides on the line?

Final Outlaw: I am motivated by the people and their pains and the things that bother them. I'm inspired by the potential love and loyalty that may still exist within people. But mostly I wish to fulfill my soul and find closure to this life.

Jehuniko: Last CD you bought?

Final Outlaw: KRS-One Hip hop lives

Jehuniko: Final Outlaw also played an angry young New Yorker looking to lash out at anyone who resembles Afghani terrorists during post-9/11 times in the film Al Qarem.” Tell us about the film and a little more about your role.

Final Outlaw: I basically played the typical role for a black or brown person - a thug. Although it was my choice, I was very happy to be part of this film and spent a lot of time shooting for it. You can imagine my disappointment when I actually watched the film and most of my footage was cut out for reasons never explained to me. Honestly I believe its because they never wrote a script for my part in the first place, there for we had to improvise and a lot of it didn't fit in. I wish to be involved in a more organized better thought out film experience.

Jehuniko: I agree, some of that gangster shit, like maybe N.W.A. is revolutionary in the sense that it depicts self empowerment, fuck the cops, the underground economy, etc and I feel its up to people like ourselves to carry the torch, but with respect to our sisters, mothers, etc.

Final Outlaw: And I agree with you as well, however I believe we must begin to improve on certain things rather than to repeat the same mistakes. It was a wonderful thing for so many artists to finally speak on issues that had been tormenting their communities and families for so long, but I feel like in 2007 we should be smarter than we were in 97 and we should be smarter and more careful about what we say about anything. Whether it's about the cops or women. We must realize that all people are people, whether they are are cops or women or politicians, etc. The system changed them and made them evil, the environments they grew up in corrupted them and changed them, we should begin to shift our anger into understanding and improve on our ideals rather than continue repeating them.

Jehuniko: Hey I recall you mentioning something from one of our conversations about you looking out for a young lady in your neighborhood and I hella respect that.

Final Outlaw: I feel very strongly about the subject of physical, emotional, and mental rape. Especially when it comes to our women. I feel that our women are becoming conformists, habitual, addicted and attached. Many of our women are dependent of men and cannot fend for themselves. I believe that the reason this is happening is because of men being cowards not being able to look over and protect their villages, communities and every women and child within them. I do everything I can to help any women in my path because I realize and understand that they are undeniable the future of humanity.

Jehuniko: There's alot of fools who talk equality and righteousness, but use that stance to be shady and
disrespect women. You're about to embark on a West Coast visit, where are you going and what message are you bringing?

Final Outlaw: I'm going into the hood, I'm going into any venue I can get into but mostly I wish to speak my message to families and people that feel trapped. Simply put people talk a lot of shit about helping and revolution but don't do shit about it. They don't walk it. My journey is one of being honest, and loyal, and disciplining my people and myself.


Jehuniko: Much love to the Street Native family, so tell us about Street Native and you all connected.

Final Outlaw: Street Native is a group of individuals who care about families, the hood, hip hop and the music, the people and so much more. What I like about them the most is there is no ego or reputation involved. No fear no insecurities. This is the reason why I became part of street native. We are working on bridging the gap between Hip hop spread throughout the world, namely the east and west coasts. They have also been a grand help in promoting and pushing my message all throughout California. I plan to continue working with them and pioneering the resurrection of Hip hop.

Jehuniko: You have an album coming in 2008, what can people expect?

Final Outlaw: All I will say is that it is titled "The broken hearted society" and will be released with a book.