After spending 26 years in prison for a deadly home invasion, Sacramento, California, rapper X-Raided was granted parole and released in September of 2018. According to a new report by The Blast, his release was partially due to a supportive letter written to the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility parole board by an unlikely source: the Menendez brothers.
The brothers, Lyle and Erik — currently serving life sentences for the 1989 murder of their parents — befriended the rapper and helped mentor him while he worked through his rehabilitation. In 2015, Erik was so moved by his growth, that he penned a letter hoping to help facilitate his release.
“He has developed into a kind and patient person, rooted in integrity, and passionate about his ideas,” Menendez wrote.”He is optimistic, engaging, and shares a belief in his future that is contagious among fellow inmates.”
Though locked up he continued to record music, releasing a staggering 14 solo albums — in addition to a few EPs and collaborative projects — much to the confusion of jail personnel, as prisoners aren’t supposed to have recording equipment.
Now a free man, X-Raided (now performing under the name Anaraé VeShaughn) is prepping a new solo project, as well as a collaborative project with longtime friend Brother Lynch Hung.
“I’m on a new journey to be a responsible adult male who enjoys life and makes music and doesn’t want to harm anybody,” he explained in an interview with Oakland’s KPIX 5. “So whoever supported X-Raided and that’s all you wanted from me, this is where we part. I love you, and I appreciate everything you did for me.”
You can read the full letter, here.
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I remember reading about this guy who was affiliated with Brotha Lynch back in like 2002 or 2003, and how he had been sentenced to 30 years, and at the time it had been less than 10, thinking his release was so far away. He didn’t quite reach 30 years but 26 is close enough that I feel very, very old reading about it.
I know what you mean bro. I don’t even like looking at the release dates of some older music. Hard to think 2002 is 17 years ago. Where has the time gone
Man I’m right there with both of y’all. Talk about feeling old….I went to the first ever hiphop tour “The Fresh Fest”
In 2002, Eminem dropped his last good album. Feel like it was yesterday,.
Wow this shit is crazy. He sounds like a changed man. Hope his life on the outside works out for him
A few months late with the post but his latest interviews show a lot of maturity and growth.
so the thing to take away from this story is your parents?
We in California been knowing he got out of prison months ago. Y’all late af.
The story clearly says he was released in September, they didn’t say it just happened. The fact that the Menendez brothers helped influence his release is the new revelation.
I heard the album he put out a couple months ago and it’s surprisingly good. There’s some really moving songs and his flow is unique. I don’t know if he always rapped like that back in the day but it’s worth checking out.
He was always tight on the mike.
Late on the report.. But glad they put this up. I was surprised when he was released, he had been locked up forever. Super dig the moves hes been making since getting out.
Yup hes remorseful nothing like murdering a woman probably for less than $1000 then posin with the murder weapom on the cover of an album like a trophy an outstanding member of society i hope california falls in the ocean
Your an idiot liberal leftist or right wing conservative to be able to think like you do. It’s morons like you that don’t understand that people can change they can’t change what crime wasn’t committed but they can change. And why not give him a chance to be part of the community and possibly give something back will it replace the life he took know but at least he has remorse unlike or politicians but I don’t hear anything being said about those pieces of crap and they victimize our communities worse than x raided ever could
Wanna know who cannot change? The woman who died 26 years ago or how about her children who had to grow up without a mother how about the unexpected unwanted change in their lives? Or her husband who had to be lonely over some petty ass shit and no im not a liberal or conservative im a centrist that believes in an eye for an eye if it were up to me he would have been executed publicly i dont believe he is entitled to change or peace after taking those rights away from another living being so fucking needlessly see if it was him defending his life or someone elses and he got a manslaughter or 2nd 3rd degree murder charge id agree with letting him go but he maliciously planned out an attack and invasion on his victem it was coordinated and planned not just some crime of passion or a mistake it was a blatent lack of respect for the law and anothers life as far as im concerned i hope the ladies husband puts a bullet in this fucks head cause he deserves it
Her sons*
Hey bro, are you mad?
Let that mofo move next door to you. Nobody said he can’t change, but killing somebody is pretty fucked up. That lady doesn’t get a second chance, and I fucked with X back in the day before he got locked up. Next thing you know Big Lurch is going to be getting paroled with fools saying just give him another chance. He just had one bad night on that PCP, never mind that he killed and started eating a bitch’s body, lol.
He sons were gangbangers, which is the reason they were at the house in the first place so I don’t think it would’ve mattered if she was there or not…he didn’t kill her someone else did and that guy got acquitted on some technically…and they said the gun on the album was similar to the one used
In jail since albums like Das Efx or Pete rock CL smooth or Dre’s Chronic first albums debuted. Dame year. Before even Biggie’s. Crazy to think about.
Everyone deserves a second chance!!!!!
Some people need to leave the judgment to God period. Inmates are still human beings just because they mess up and end up on the line don’t mean they are not human and deserve chances. The cold part is when your actually innocent wrongfully convicted victimized by the prosecution the jury and the judge back in the 80’s this was what the judicial system was all about especially being black that’s why so many of the prisons in new York Texas California is filled with elder inmates doing life being exonerated with the new laws for elderly inmates and the murder rule alot of them will be released but only after spending most of the life behind bars just glad to see X make it home and sharing his experience with the rest of the world the only thing is how the hell do the Melendez brothers letter have anything to do with his release im confused.
He wrote the letter to the parole board (I assume that’s who it’s addressed to?) discussing how much X has changed as an individual and what a positive influence he has been in the prison community, that what helped him get released.
It literally says right in the story
How the fuck could an innocent man be sent to Folsom at the age of 17 for a crime he did not commit? It doesn’t make sense. What the fuck is wrong with this country?
Another pos claiming innocence
Another pussy talking shit from a keyboard