In light of all that’s going on between NYPD and residents of New York, Maino recently sat down with UrbLife.com for an in depth interview to discuss it all.
On The Disconnect Between Police Officers & The Community
“Unfortunately I come from an environment, and I come from a time and place, where there is a disconnect between my community and the police. It’s always been. I think that it’s not getting any better, it’s getting worse. I think the justice system is sending bad messages, not only to my community, but also to the police to make them feel like they can get away with that.
We don’t know what their psychological issues are, we don’t know what their financial problems are, and they coming to police us with all these issues. These dudes make 30-40,000 dollars a year, come on man. Ni**as in the rap game are shitting 30-40,000 in a month, let alone a week.
I feel like I was at a place in my life where I didn’t want to be a political person and speak about certain things. I just wanted to get to my money and take care of my family, but certain things start to touch you. Black males are struck down continuously by overzealous police, and it starts to touch you.
I have a 12-year-old son that I’m raising. He’s a Black male that’s going to be in the field soon, and I gotta train him and keep him on point, because he can come in contact with the police. That can be any one of our kids – that can be any one of us. You’re talking to a person that’s been beat by police, shot at by police, police done broke my arm, I’ve been caller ni**er by police, all that. My aunt was killed by police; my best friend is paralyzed to this day by the police.
I’ve been dealing with police contact, overaggressive officers all my life. I feel like it’s a duty of mine. God gave me the opportunity to speak and talk to people, [it’s important] that I not ignore it and I actually address it. I’m no angel, I’m not perfect and I don’t even make music that is politically conscious. Being in this seat that I’m sitting in, I have the opportunity and responsibility with my community, because how can I ignore what’s going on in my culture?“
On Non-Blacks Supporting The Movement
“Of course I think it’s needed. What’s crazy is when the [Mike Brown decision to not indict] came out, I was booked to host Starlets strip club in Queens, and I felt guilty that I was going to spend my night around alcohol, money, women, and music. A festive environment, partying, sex… I just felt a little guilty, and something as eating me up.
You know what I did? I went to Manhattan and I found a protest, and I wanted to be right in the middle of it because I wanted to taste it. I’ve never been in a protest in my life, but I wanted to get out there and let the people see me. I saw a lot of people who were not Black, because this is a people’s struggle it’s not just Black. We need all the help we can get. We need all the voices we could get.
For me it’s about that blue uniform. It’s about the person who puts that blue uniform on and comes to police our environment. Who are you homie? What’s your situation? I believe they need to be more psychologically evaluated. I think the whole idea and their whole training needs to be reconstructed.
You gotta understand, they are already trained not to trust us. The minute they pull you over they are already trained from the time you open up your mouth not to believe what were saying. They already deal with us in a certain kind of way.
Being a Black male I already know how it goes. “Yo where are you coming from?” “Fuck you mean where am I coming from? You are pulling me over for my license plate not being on the front of my car. What difference does it mean where am I coming from? You’re talking to me like I’m a boy. You’re talking to me like I’m a criminal and like I did something wrong. Write me a ticket and leave me alone. If I’ve done something wrong lock me up.” That’s it. Everything else is extra.
It was so many white people protesting it made me feel good. I said, “Wow this is crazy man”. It’s not just our fight, because at the end of the day we’re all people. I don’t know if the average white man understands what it is to be in a low income environment. To be 12, 13 years old and see the cops kicking I your neighbor’s door, but if he understands then cool.”
On Advice He Gives His Son
“We have talks about it, and he doesn’t understand why. I just have to be real with him and tell him that sometimes everybody is not nice, every person is not as friendly and you can’t be as trusting. Even with the people that are supposed to help you.
Some people, just by the way you look will judge you, and people judge by the eye. When they judge you, you have to be mindful where you are, who you’re with, and what’s happening around you at all times. I stress that to him, because he’s not as advanced as I was at that time. When I was 12, I was already I the streets, so I was already having police contact running from police and doing stuff I didn’t have any business doing anyway.
He’s not a street kid, but all I can give him are the lessons and the jewels I’ve learned through my trials and tribulations and help guide him. Fortunately I’m in a position to do more, so that he doesn’t come in contact as much as the average Black male his age from the ghetto.”
You can read the complete interview HERE.
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