*Sacramento rapper Anerae “X-Raided” Brown was sentenced to 31 years to life in prison at age 17, following a conviction for first-degree murder. Despite maintaining his innocence, prosecutors used lyrics from his debut album, “Psycho Active,” as evidence against him. His co-defendant was acquitted, but Brown was ultimately sentenced, spending over 26 years in prison before being granted parole in 2018.
While incarcerated, Brown crossed paths with Lyle and Erik Phenomenal, infamous for their highly publicized trial for the murders of their parents. Brown said after bonding with the brother in prison, his perception of them changed, Newsweek reports.
He first met Lyle in 2001 at Mule Creek State Prison in California and developed a personal understanding of the siblings beyond what the media had portrayed. “Meeting Lyle, he struck me as sturdy. He was a strong man; he wasn’t a weakling or someone who couldn’t hold his own,” he told Newsweek.
“I respected that about him. I also admired his confidence and intellect, which allowed us to bond,” Brown added.
Brown claims his connection with Lyle helped him recognize his worth.
“I was still trying to blend in with elements from our history that were—not less than—but different in terms of what he came from and what his experience was. I started to understand that I had a responsibility to elevate myself, as well as those around me in my community, because of Lyle,” he explained. “So, yeah, when he showed up, it was boom—you knew Lyle Menendez was there.”
He added, “When I got there, he came looking for me and brought a letter that Lyle had written to him, essentially telling him, ‘Hey, this is X-Raided. He’s our little brother. I love him, so you love him, too.’ He took me under his wing from there.”
Brown said he met Erik in 2015 at RJ Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, and Lyle was transferred to the facility in 2018, according to Newsweek.
“He [Erik] could stand on his own; he wasn’t a coward,” he shared. “He was very intelligent, and his emotional intelligence was probably higher than anyone I had ever met before. He helped me a lot with that.”
After serving 26 years in prison, Brown was granted parole in 2018 with support from Lyle and Erik. The rapper told Newsweek that Erik introduced him to a forensic psychologist who helped with his case.
“Erik actually introduced me to Dr. Vickery, who came and conducted my forensic examination and drafted my psychological report, which we used when I went to the board,” Brown said, noting that Erik wrote a letter to the parole board on his behalf.
“He discussed his experience with me and how much I embraced the different opportunities he exposed me to for education and program participation,” he said. “When we ran out of programs, we began to build them ourselves for ourselves and others. He went to bat for me big time.”
Meanwhile, we reported earlier via CNN that Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said he’ll recommend that a judge resentence the Menendez brothers for nearly 30 years – a recommendation that he said would make them eligible for immediate parole.
“After a very careful review of all arguments made from people on both sides of this equation, I came to a place where I believe under the law resentencing is appropriate and I am going to recommend that to a court tomorrow,” Gascón said at a news conference in Los Angeles last month.
The brothers have been serving life without the possibility of parole since their 1996 convictions of first-degree murder in the 1989 killings of their parents, Jose and Kitty, in their Beverly Hills mansion.
“I believe that they have paid their debt to society and the system provides a vehicle for their case to be reviewed by a parole board, and if the board concurs with my assessment … they will be released accordingly,” Gascón said.
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: LA DA George Gascón Says He’ll Recommend Resentencing in Decades-old Menendez Brothers’ Murder Case | WATCH
