Once inside, the prosecutor recognizes Bain before addressing the judge. “Due to a conflict of interest,” he says, “I must recuse myself from this case, your honor. I know the defendant standing before us today.” He continues, “Mr. Bain was in my class back at Harvard Law.”
Time stops. Bain freezes as a bass line creeps in. Then, Bain, the protagonist, addresses his audience. “The prosecutor is the guy who’s got my back?” he cries out. He transitions into song before interrupting himself to speak again. “You despise this cracker ass system the white man designed EXCEPT when it’s working out fine for your privileged behind. You do need to get yourself free but from an even bigger prison: your own hypocrisy.”
This is a scene from Lyrics From Lockdown, a one-man, multimedia theater piece utilizing elements of hip-hop, Calypso, and spoken word. Lyrics from Lockdown tells the story of Bain’s wrongful incarceration at the hands of the New York City Police Department. Bain assumes over 40 different characters to expose the system of mass incarceration through rhyme, underscored by the sounds of live musicians and a deejay."— Kambi Gathesha, Apr. 18, 2021
