X-Clan’s Brother J drops some knowledge on the difference between racism and racial pride

Marcus Garvey taught us to link with black businesses, you know what I'm saying? Reach out to others of the same mind. I'm not going back to become a slave to the wheels of corporation. If people want to support me, I can give back more. If not, I'll struggle, but it's no big thing. We live in the struggle.

NT: Last thing, and you may be kind of surprised to hear this, but race is a sensitive topic for some people.

BJ: (laughs)

NT: You wrote one of the most discussed lines in hip-hop history back on To the East. What exactly was going through your mind when you wrote the famed line, "How can polar bears swing on vines with gorillas?"

BJ: I'm glad that that comment causes so much controversy, but it wasn't written like that. It was made for people to understand that you had to play your position, you feel me? At that time, it was very deep for white kids in hip-hop to imitate us. My whole thing was, people have built careers on that, and I was trying to make a nice statement. Not like, "Step outta hip-hop! You're not invited!" It was more like, "Be you."