My new album, “It Took A Minute: The Eulogy Live From the Killin’ Fields,” describes what is going on in America. Right now, some people are saying that Rap music is dead, and that it is the cause of the violence, and it teaches kids how to gang-bang. “The Eulogy” breaks that down, even about the men of God who are having personal struggles in living their lives.
It basically talks about the journey, the pilgrimage, mentoring, and raising up of other positive emcees straight out of the church, to make a difference in the community, as well as legislatively.

Back to the roots of Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King, we are an oratory people, from an articulative history; Biblical people. I believe we are a people that have to convey the message of what’s going on—get it across from one community to the other.

I think right now, Cornell Wess, Tavis Smiley, and a few others are communicating and bringing more consciousness to this rhythm, to the drum, that affects our community.

The media tells us that our community is self-destructing because of the violence. We need to get out the message that it’s time to get together, because, like BET was showing about Black men: the truth is going down; it’s life or death right now.

Some people would say Jesus was a troublemaker, because when you have certain things going on, some people are just not trying to feel or hear it, and are far removed from the real fires. At the same time, we have a lot of house cleaning to do.

Instead of fanning the fires in Denver, it’s time for us to all get buckets and pails of water and dive in.

I was with the homeless at the Rescue Mission, and I’m getting ready to knock on some doors, from the senators to the mayors.

We need to have a real dialog about whether we are discriminating and making a permanent underclass, or whether we are passing the plate and helping folks in the community.

My goal is to help anyone I have ever worked with, to go to the next level, from wherever they are stuck. I want to provide whatever assistance they need. That is my way of giving back.

Miami Mike Devine’s new album, “It Took a Minute: The Eulogy Live From the Killin’ Fields,” is available at http://musicblackcommunity.com, Miami Mike Devine, O.S. Welles, or http://myspace.com/miamimikedevine