Education of a Felon: The Autobiography of Thief Sicario
Born from the gang and drug infested Sick Side streets and varrio’s of the
Inland Empire on the anniversary of the deaths of rock legends and
pioneers Robert Johnson and Elvis it seems as though Thief Sicario was
destined to make his mark either in crime or music. He would go on to do a
little of both. Simultaneous to this a new form of music and urban
expression was created and the two would grow together.
The son of a teen mother, Thief Sicario was raised in the midst of drugs,
gangs, prostitutes, exotic dancers, and violence which inevitably led him
to foster homes, group homes, and ultimately prison for aggravated assault
and firearms use. These experiences would influence what started as
neighborhood rhymes and evolved into highly developed lyricism. But it
wouldn't be until he was sentenced to ten years did he begin to take his
music serious. Around 1996 Thief Sicario and other incarcerated Chicano
rappers founded the notorious Brown Recluse becoming the first
Chicano/Latino rap group to record an album (Arachnophobia) while in
prison. Seen as a threat they were blamed for inciting riots, staging
strikes, assaulting officers, and promoting security threat groups. Prison
officials broke up the group and seized their masters but it was too late,
cassettes were being distributed up and down the West Coast and getting
airplay on radio stations from Portland to San Diego.
During this period Thief Sicario spent alot of time in the hole giving him
the opportunity to write thousands of songs. Upon release from prison
Thief Sicario hooked up with long time friends and collaborators Santotzin
and Trafek and began doing shows and recording an album that would be
stalled at set back due to Thief Sicario's continued legal problems that
landed him in jail, twice for parole violations. Much of Education of a
Felon was recorded while he was on the run. Persecuted by law enforcement
and right wing groups such as the Minutemen for the Revolutionary messages
and politics in his music and continued alleged gang affiliation did
nothing but fuel Thief Sicario's drive to create a classic.
Education of a Felon, his 2007 solo debut, has been hailed by many notable
Chicano and Latino hip hop legends as a Sick Side classic with it's
thought provoking lyrical masterpieces such as "Numbers" and "Amerika" and
for it's nearly flawless production by Trafek and Spain's Elespecialista
of Verbal System. Thief Sicario subsequently hooked up with Sick Side
underground legend Krazy Race to finish his album making it the first
release on Krazy Race's Realizm Rekords.
Gritty tales of gangs and prison interpreted from the first person
criminal perspective in relation to ancient Mesoamerican history, Chicano
culture, and Revolution are the themes of Education of a Felon which was
named after the autobiography of the late famed convict turned novelist
Edward Bunker. Like the books of Bunker, Thief Sicario spins a masterpiece
of hip hop literature over dark beats that evoke a mid-nities classic vibe
comparable to Psycho Realm, Immortal Technique, Mobb Deep, and Wu Tang
Clan. As seen at the Latin Rap Conference and heard on Divine Forces
Radio, Thief Sicario is staying prolific with Education of a Felon now
available and a series of mixtapes set to drop. Let the Realizm begin.
