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Big Lurch Talks Music Career & Getting Life in Prison for Cannibalism & Murder
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Big Lurch Talks Music Career & Getting Life in Prison for Cannibalism & Murder

Current Situation and Background What’s Happening with Lurch?

Life in Prison

  • Lurch is currently at New Folsom State Prison in Sacramento, referencing a challenging situation akin to "walking the line" like Johnny Cash.
  • Recently released from solitary confinement after an altercation with prison staff related to his biography titled "Drugs Made Me Do It."

Musical Journey Before Incarceration

  • Lurch shares his extensive background as an underground rapper from Dallas before moving to California's Bay Area music scene.
  • He was introduced to influential figures like Mike Mosley through his brother M Dre, which significantly impacted his career trajectory.

Key Collaborations and Breakthroughs

  • Notable collaborations include working on the video for "How We Cummin'" featuring Mystikal and RBL Posse, marking a significant moment in his career.
  • The song helped establish him within the industry, showcasing his unique Southern style and respectfulness that resonated with established artists.

Career Development Post-Collaboration

  • After the success of "How We Cummin'," he collaborated on a track called "Record Haters," which gained traction during the East Coast-West Coast rap rivalry.
  • His involvement in various projects led to a platinum record, further solidifying his place in the music industry.

Transitioning into Solo Work

  • Initially a solo artist upon arriving in California, he worked closely with producers like Rick Rock while also contributing hooks for other artists' tracks.
  • His prolific output resulted in numerous songs being recorded at Cosmic Slop Shop, leading to a deal with MCA Records.

Impact of Personal Tragedy on Career

Struggles and Challenges in the Music Industry

Overcoming Personal Adversity

  • The speaker discusses their experience with rehab after a serious injury, highlighting the emotional pain and stress they faced during recovery.
  • They mention being approached by record labels promising support while they were vulnerable, indicating a sense of exploitation during a difficult time.

Professional Expectations vs. Reality

  • The artist expresses excitement about working with talented musicians like Roger Troutman Jr., emphasizing their desire to learn and grow as an artist.
  • Upon entering the studio, the atmosphere shifts dramatically as gang affiliations become apparent, leading to discomfort for the speaker who feels out of place.

Tensions Escalate

  • The speaker describes feeling threatened by gang dynamics within the studio environment, contrasting initial promises of professionalism with aggressive behavior from others present.
  • After returning to Texas due to these tensions, they find themselves caught up in legal troubles related to drug use, reflecting on how quickly circumstances can change.

Navigating Dangerous Situations

  • Despite challenges, the speaker commits to completing their album under professional terms but remains wary of ongoing gang influences around them.
  • They recount experiences involving known gang members and how this led them into risky situations that heightened their awareness of street politics.

Lessons Learned from Hardships

  • The narrative reveals a shift towards seeking protection from friends in their community as tensions rise with those trying to assert dominance over them.
  • Reflecting on past decisions, the speaker acknowledges a lack of wisdom in navigating complex social dynamics within California's music scene.

Consequences and Reflections

  • Acknowledging substance use at social events leads to severe consequences; they wake up disoriented after losing control over their life situation.

What Happened During the Two Weeks?

The Experience of Being Unconscious

  • The speaker describes a disorienting experience where they were high and lost consciousness for two weeks, waking up in LA County Jail without memory of events during that time.

Manipulation and Legal Troubles

  • They explain how being in a state of confusion is akin to being drunk after a fight, moving around but not fully aware of their surroundings.
  • Upon waking, the speaker realizes they are incarcerated and reflects on the manipulation involved in their situation, particularly regarding their lawyer Milton Grimes.

California's Influence

  • The speaker discusses California as a place filled with manipulation, especially for outsiders who may not understand the local dynamics. They express feeling out of place coming from Texas.

Connections and Misunderstandings

  • Despite being perceived as inexperienced or "green," the speaker asserts they have connections within California's gang culture that complicate their legal situation.
  • They highlight issues surrounding snitching and legal representation, questioning what constitutes snitching when dealing with law enforcement.

The Case Details

Legal Representation Issues

  • The speaker criticizes their lawyer’s handling of their case, suggesting that Grimes manipulated information to serve his interests rather than those of the speaker.

Courtroom Dynamics

  • A metaphor is used comparing courtroom tactics to sexual assault scenarios, emphasizing feelings of powerlessness and manipulation by those in authority.

Case Number Reference

  • The speaker provides specific details about their case number (12 55692), urging listeners to look it up for more context on their legal struggles.

Circumstances Surrounding the Incident

Allegations Against Them

  • They discuss allegations related to DNA evidence found at a crime scene that did not match them or the victim, raising questions about guilt and innocence.

Living Conditions at the Time

  • The speaker describes living conditions while involved with Grimes' associates, indicating an environment rife with drug use and criminal activity.

Reflections on Manipulation

Disillusionment with Legal Counsel

  • After conviction, there was a noticeable lack of support from Grimes; he ceased communication once his interests were secured.

Disturbing Crime Scene Details

  • Graphic descriptions are provided regarding the condition of a deceased individual linked to them; however, they argue against sensationalized narratives surrounding her death.

Examination of a Disturbing Case

Discovery of the Body

  • The body was found with bite marks and "N" marks, indicating a violent crime scene. The victim had been cut open, and there was blood present.
  • A dog was present in the house where the body was discovered, but Milton Grimes, the lawyer, did not mention it during the case.

Witness Manipulation

  • Witnesses were allegedly coerced into providing false testimonies. Derek admitted that he was instructed to say certain things during his testimony.
  • Despite admitting to being manipulated, witnesses were allowed to testify without proper cross-examination from Grimes.

Legal Representation Issues

  • Grimes appeared unprepared and conceded points during trial without adequately challenging evidence against his client.
  • There is a perception that legal professionals are interconnected (e.g., golfing together), which may influence judicial outcomes.

Questionable Evidence

  • A small particle of lung flesh allegedly found in the defendant's stomach raised questions about how evidence was handled or possibly planted.
  • The defense argued that this minuscule piece of evidence was exaggerated by prosecutors to paint a more incriminating picture.

Personal Reflections on Jealousy and Humiliation

  • The speaker reflects on feelings of jealousy from peers after being involved in a high-profile case; they question whether humiliation played a role in their treatment post-crime.

Inconsistencies in Evidence Collection

  • No drugs or weapons were found at the crime scene despite it being known as a drug house; this raises doubts about police investigations.

Trial Proceedings and Sentencing

  • During trial proceedings, no plea bargain was offered. The prosecution initially sought the death penalty but later settled for life without parole.

Mental Health Defense Complications

  • Grimes failed to properly argue for an insanity defense based on mental illness; instead, he focused solely on drug intoxication (PCP).

Consequences of Conviction

  • The judge dismissed claims of mental illness due to lack of supporting evidence presented by Grimes during trial phases.

Life After Conviction

Insights on Life in Prison and Personal Struggles

The Reality of Prison Life

  • The speaker discusses the challenges faced in prison, including threats from rival gangs and the need for loyalty among friends. He emphasizes having supportive "G homies" who help him navigate this environment.
  • General population dynamics are described, highlighting that even those in protective custody (PC) must interact with others, making it a dangerous setting where violence can occur unexpectedly.

Fighting Legal Battles

  • The speaker is currently fighting a case while trying to pursue music as a form of expression and potential income. He mentions using earnings to fund his legal defense.
  • Expresses feelings of isolation due to his conviction, comparing his suffering to that of Jesus Christ, indicating deep emotional pain and a sense of injustice regarding his situation.

Coping with Incarceration

  • Discusses the psychological toll of being incarcerated for life without parole under severe circumstances, such as being labeled a cannibal.
  • Despite the hardships, he expresses resilience and determination to use his experiences as lessons for others through music.

Message to Victims' Families

  • When addressing the family of Tanisha, a murder victim, he conveys sincerity and offers support through his music aimed at educating youth about dangers they may face.
  • He shares insights into how young people can be manipulated into criminal activities and stresses the importance of leading by example.

Commitment to Change

  • The speaker emphasizes action over words when it comes to supporting victims' families. He expresses hope for future opportunities to assist them financially as he gains stability.
  • Reflecting on feeling set up by the legal system, he maintains loyalty to his code despite being surrounded by informants within prison culture.

Final Thoughts on Consequences

  • Concludes with an acknowledgment that many will learn valuable lessons from his story about the dangers associated with drugs and negative influences prevalent in certain lifestyles.

Drugs, Music, and Ambitions

The Dangers of Drug Use

  • The speaker warns against drug use, emphasizing that it leads to manipulation and distraction. He encourages listeners to stay focused on their goals and engage in productive activities like reading.

Promoting Music and Future Projects

  • The speaker promotes his music projects available on cdbaby.com, specifically mentioning "Big Lurch" and "Lord Have Mercy." He expresses enthusiasm for writing books and music, inviting collaboration with publishers.

Commitment to Excellence

  • A strong message is conveyed about the importance of avoiding distractions from negative influences. The speaker asserts his dedication to becoming the best in his field and reassures listeners of his reliability.

Personal Aspirations

  • The speaker shares personal aspirations related to studying law and reading books. He expresses gratitude for support received during a challenging time in prison while affirming loyalty to his West Coast roots.

Industry Insights

Video description

Well before the Rodney King riots took place in California the state has been viewed worldwide as one built on corruption and organized crime. If anyone can attest to this is incarcerated gangster rap artist Big Lurch, who is currently serving life without parole in New Folsom State Prison for the murder of Tynisha Ysais in 2002. "California is a place of manipulation. People from out of town, they don't know what they're getting themselves into when they come out here 'cause this is the pros, you know," Big Lurch told DJ Vlad during their exclusive interview. The East Dallas rapper known for tracks like "How We Comin'" with the RBL Posse and Mac Dre's "Fire" spoke with Vlad about Texas, his strenuous music career, and what led to his unfortunate downfall. A night on PCP led to Ysais' death and the widespread belief that Big Lurch is a cannibal after the woman's corpse was found gnawed and chewed on. "My car was gone, my money was gone. They found me walking up the street naked, a dead body in the house...When I came to, out of being stuck, I had been in L.A. County [Jail] for two weeks - I had been arraigned and everything," Lurch recalled. "And guess who my lawyer was? Milton Grimes, the one who owned the label." Milton Grimes, famous for being the attorney in the Rodney King trial, also served as the lawyer for Big Lurch during his. According to the rapper, Grimes had been against him from the beginning as he had ties to some Los Angeles Crips - Lurch is a Blood. Their gang ties led to major conflict between the two, which Big Lurch ultimately feels is the reason he remains in prison. "Soon as I got convicted he stopped answering the phone," he stated. Grimes allegedly told Lurch to make Ysais' death "look as worse as we can" in order to take the insanity defense. He also had this to add: "Now there was a baby blue-nosed pitbull in that house, so where there's blood, you know, little dogs chew or bite. God bless her soul, but it wasn't like the way people talk about it." Big Lurch - born Antron Singleton - now has a case against the State of California as he continues to maintain his innocence. During this interview Big Lurch recounts the events leading up to the murder (including the car accident that left him paralyzed with a broken neck) and speaks on having to deal with Crip-affiliates behind bars while serving his time in general population. "This California, man. People gon' take you for a ride if you don't have that wisdom [sic]...You learn this game by blood, sweat, and tears. Ain't nobody just gon' give you the game." Hear his advice to Chris Brown, snitches and more up top. For Big Lurch's music projects, check out Already, Vol 1. and Lord Have Mercy! on his CD Baby Music Store page.