Spoken word poet, educator and emcee Karega Bailey caught the attention of Public Enemy’s Chuck D in 2014 at the Hymns and Hip-Hop Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Since then, he’s captivated a wider audience with his fierce delivery and brutally honest lyricism. His new video for the single “Crime Pays” is more evidence of Bailey’s staunch commitment to social justice and educating the masses on the seedy underbelly of the D.C. streets. The song addresses organized crime, gentrification/urban development and the relocation of crimes to specific neighborhoods. It’s almost like segregation all over again. As a teacher, he sees many of his students scared to walk home after school so they’re carrying knives to protect themselves and often getting expelled because of it. “The organizers of crime profit from crime more than than the ‘criminal,’” Bailey explains. “The danger is when city developers cluster crime in one region; more innocent people can become victims of circumstances. Like my brother who was a teacher, he was killed in his own neighborhood because he served in a crime clustered community.” With a beat reminiscent of some old MF Doom, “Crime Pays” is that feel good music packed with a powerful message.
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