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Many people are aware of Da Sean J-Dee Cooper's work in Ice Cube's legendary rap project Da Lench Mob. What some may not be familiar with is that J-Dee is serving 29 years to life in a California prison cell for a crime that does not fit the evidence. As a staple in the flourishing Gangsta Rap community in the early 90's, Da Lench Mob's work stood out with politically aggressive lyrics.These fiery words not only reflected life in South Central Los Angeles, but also brought it a step further by diagnosing the causation behind the daily fight for survival in the shadows of Los Angeless glamorous and wealthy persona. With a lack of physical evidence and fluctuating witness statements, it became those political words that the prosecution used against J-Dee to influence a weak case.At the same time as events unfolded during the night in question, Da Lench Mob's debut release, Guerillas in the Mist, had gained the attention of the federal government. It eventually even became the subject of congressional hearings. J-Dee has remained steadfast,I cannot apologize for my political beliefs at that time, nor will I apologize for them now. Notwithstanding my position, I am not a murderer. Nor did I participate in any way in the taking of the young man's life on the night of June 20, 1993.On trial for murder, not for the lyrical content of the job he used to support his family, the prosecution issued a copy of his debut album to the foreman of the jury where he questioned whether or not this is the type of man that the jury would want on the streets. Despite obvious connotations of jury tampering and prosecutorial misconduct, Da Sean J-Dee Cooper has been denied a new trial and his conviction continues to stand.In addition to the inclusion of his political thought into a trial that had nothing to do with his occupation, no Gun Shot Residue (GSR) testing was done on J-Dee or his clothing. This was an omission that J-Dee knows would completely irradiate him from any connection to the crime. Investigators recovered 50 plus shell casings from the scene with no partial or full fingerprints to link J-Dee to the murder weapon. In addition, J-Dee has repeatedly offered to take a polygraph tests to establish his innocence, regardless of its inadmissibility as court evidence.The witnesses testimony was equally as sporadic and several were impeached. There was even one hidden witness that told homicide detectives that on the night of the crime she "never seen J-Dee, and she had never seen J-Dee with a gun nor seen him shoot anyone." During trial, however, she testified that she did see J-Dee shoot her friend while looking in her rearview mirror. This altered testimony that was essential in the circumstantial case the prosecution argued, was also jaded by the fact that she admittedly saw all of this while she drove her car down a dimly lit street at 1:30 a.m. under the threat of gunfire.Witnesses claim that the only way they positively identified J-Dee was through muzzle flash from the weapons in which he was convicted of firing. According to a ballistic expert, this phenomenon is scientifically impossible. Other initial reports also indicate that two alleged shooters were standing over the victim.In a system based upon proving the accused guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, there are so many doubts that stand in the wake of J-Dees murder conviction.Further adding to the mystique around J-Dee and the many reasonable doubts that continue to surface around his conviction is his personal contact with friends and family of the victim. Members of the victims friends and family have personally told J-Dee that they were aware of his innocence; however, if he did not come forth with the identities of the real shooters, they would testify to his guilt in the court of law.With over 13 years in prison and pieces of his life that can never be remedied, J-Dee continues to maintain his innocence. His battle has also been wrought with prison transfers and fluctuating counsel.J-Dee needs to get the logistics of his case brought to light by securing adequate council. He needs our help to gain his long overdue Constitutional rights to a fair and impartial trial by a jury of his peers. Wont you please help this innocent man regain the freedom that so many of us take for granted?The group made their first debut on the first Ice Cube solo album AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted.With Ice Cube as their executive producer, Da Lench Mob released their debut album Guerillas in tha Mist in 1992. The video for the album's lead single, also titled "Guerillas in tha Mist", became popular in the fall of 1992.In 1993, J-Dee was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for murder, and was dropped by the Lench Mob Records. J-Dee maintains his innocence. Instead of disbanding, the group brought in an South Central Los Angeles-based rapper called Maulkie (former member of the Ruthless Records group "Yomo and Maulkie") for their second album Planet of da Apes, released in 1994. The group broke up very soon afterwards.[1]Guerillas in tha Mist [WITH J-DEE] Released: 1992 Chart Positions: 24 U.S., 4 Top R&B/Hip hop[2] Last RIAA description: Gold[citation needed] Singles: "Guerillas in tha Mist", "Freedom Got an A.K.", "Ain't Got no Class" Planet of da Apes [WITHOUT J-DEE] Released: 1994 Chart Positions: 81 U.S., 14 Top R&B/Hip hop[2] Last RIAA description: Gold[citation needed] Singles: "Goin' Bananas", "Environmental Terrorists", "Cut Throats"
