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X-Raided

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X-Raided
Birth nameAnerae Veshaughn Brown[1]
Born (1974-07-30) July 30, 1974 (age 50)
OriginSacramento, California, U.S.
GenresGangsta rap[2]
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
Years active1989–present
Labels

Anerae Veshaughn Brown[1] (born July 30, 1974), better known by his stage name X-Raided, is an American rapper from Sacramento, California. In 1992, Brown was sentenced to 31 years in prison on murder charges, which Brown denied, maintaining his innocence. The lyrics of his debut album, Psycho Active, was submitted as evidence by the prosecutors.[2][6][7] Subsequently, Brown continued to record rap songs in prison, until being released on parole 26 years into his sentence. He was later signed with Strange Music.[3]

Biography

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Brown was raised by his mother, Shirley James 'Jaz' Brown, a clerk at the Sacramento County courthouse.[6] Brown was raised on the south side of Sacramento and subsequently joined the Garden Blocc Crips which is a block carved out by Florin Road, Meadowview Road, 24th Street and 29th Street. X was from 24th Street. [8] In 1992, Brown released his debut album, Psycho Active, before being arrested in March with four other Crips for the killing of Patricia Harris during a home invasion, with the prosecution citing Brown's lyrics in his trial, accusing Brown of premeditated murder.[2][6] The weapon that was used to kill Harris was never found, and Brown maintains that he is innocent.[7]

Brown's second album, Xorcist, was recorded over the phone while he was in jail awaiting trial.[2] He was later sentenced to 31 years in prison.[1] His third album, Unforgiven, was recorded on a DAT recorder smuggled in by a prison guard.[6] Brown also operated a record label, Bloc Star Entertainment from prison.[4] The recordings Brown made while in prison documented the maturation of Brown's psychological development as he processed the gravity of his imprisonment.[1] In 2010, Brown was stabbed seven times during after CO's ordered them to attack X Raided, because they were upset he was recording rap music and had to let him because he was legally protected to do so.[9]

Brown was paroled on September 14, 2018 after serving 26 years in prison,[10] due to a letter of support from Lyle and Erik Menendez, whom Brown had befriended in prison, who wrote that Brown "has developed into a kind and patient person, rooted in integrity, and passionate about his ideas."[11] Brown expressed remorse for his past criminal activity, and expressed the intention leading a new life as a changed man, as well as marking a change in his career and lyrical style.[12] After being released from prison, Brown signed with BMG Rights Management.[5] In 2022, Brown signed with Strange Music.[3]

Style and influences

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Brown, reflecting on his early music, described his younger self as a "stereotypical rapper" that was "trying to be the toughest, hardest guy, writing a lot of fantastical music in the vein of the Geto Boys."[13] Steve "Flash" Juon, retrospectively reviewing Brown's debut for RapReviews, described Brown's lyrics as "decent yet unremarkable boasting".[14] Brown cited N.W.A and Ice Cube as his influences at this stage in his career.[13] After his incarceration, Brown's lyrical influences shifted to James Baldwin, Langston Hughes and W.E.B. DuBois.[13]

Discography

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Solo albums

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  • Psycho Active (1992)
  • Xorcist (1995)
  • Unforgiven (1999)
  • Speak of the Devil (2000) as Nefarious
  • Vengeance Is Mine (2000)
  • The Initiation (2001)
  • And He Shall Appear (2001)
  • Deadly Game (2002)
  • These Walls Can Talk (2002)
  • The Unforgiven Vol. 2: Assisted Suicide (2009)
  • Unforgiven Vol. 3: Vindication (2011)
  • Sacramentally Disturbed (2012)
  • Psychoactive 2 (2014)
  • Aneraé VeShaughn – The Execution Of X-Raided (2018) as Aneraé VeShaughn
  • California Dreamin (2019)
  • There Will Be a Storm (2020)
  • A Prayer in Hell (2023)
  • A Sin in Heaven (2024)[15]

Collaboration albums

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  • City of Kings with Kingpen (2002)
  • Ignition with Loki (2007)
  • Bloc Bizniz with Bloc Star (2010)
  • Family Matters with Luni Coleone (2021)

Compilation albums

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  • X-Ology: The Best of X-Raided (2001)
  • The X-Filez, Vol. 1 (2003)
  • The X-Filez, Vol. 2 (2004)
  • The X-Filez, Vol. 3 (2005)
  • The Unforgiven Vol. 2.5: Assisted Suicide [Collector's Edition] (2010)

Mixtapes

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  • Sacrifice Mixtape (2012)
  • Psychotic Activity (2014)

Extended plays

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  • Niggaz In Black (1991)
  • The Eternally Unforgiven Project (2009)
  • A Gun With a Body on It with Smigg Dirtee (2015)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Decker, David (2022-07-30). "X-Raided: The Evolution of a Legend". Digital Beat Magazine. Archived from the original on 2022-08-25. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
  2. ^ a b c d Ankeny, Jason. "X-Raided Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  3. ^ a b c Flaugher, Sierra (May 11, 2022). "Tech N9ne's Strange Music has signed the legendary rapper, X-Raided!". Strange Music. Archived from the original on 2022-06-12. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  4. ^ a b Bark, Theo (May 17, 2010). "X-RAIDED STABBED SEVEN TIMES IN PRISON RIOT". The Boombox. Archived from the original on 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  5. ^ a b jbanks (April 17, 2019). "X-Raided On Reinventing Himself After Prison, Nipsey Hussle + Signing w/ BMG Records". 935kday. Archived from the original on 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  6. ^ a b c d e Boucher, Geoff (17 November 2002). "Tied by music and murder". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  7. ^ a b Roca, Teresa (January 26, 2019). "Rapper X-Raided Shopping Around Reality TV Show On Prison Life To Feature Lyle Menendez". Radar Online. Archived from the original on 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  8. ^ Wallace, Riley (March 8, 2019). "AFTER 2 DECADES OF INCARCERATION, X-RAIDED IS READY TO CARVE OUT A POSITIVE NEW LEGACY". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  9. ^ Grouchy Greg Watkins (May 15, 2010). "Rapper X-Raided Stabbed 7 Times In Prison Riot Over Rap Album". AllHipHop. Archived from the original on 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  10. ^ Hardee, Howard (October 4, 2018). "The penitent rapper". Sacramento News & Review. Chico Community Publishing. Archived from the original on October 6, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  11. ^ Wallace, Riley (January 17, 2019). "RAPPER X-RAIDED RELEASED FROM PRISON AFTER MENENDEZ BROTHERS SUPPORT". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  12. ^ Vazquez, Joe (December 5, 2018). "Paroled Gangster Rapper Seeks Redemption After 26 Years Behind Bars". cbslocal.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  13. ^ a b c Sawari, Amani (December 30, 2018). "'The Execution of X-Raided': The power of redemption". San Francisco Bay View. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022.
  14. ^ Juon, Steve "Flash" (August 30, 2022). "X-RAIDED :: PSYCHO ACTIVE". RapReviews. Archived from the original on 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  15. ^ "Rapper X-Raided Says CA Rap Lyrics Bill Would've Prevented 26-Year Prison Term". TMZ. 25 August 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-12-18. Retrieved 2022-08-25.
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