Rapper Befriends Menendez Brothers In Prison: ‘Phenomenal Human Beings’

Anerae “X-Raided” Brown, a rapper who spent 26 years in prison for murder, found unexpected allies in Lyle and Erik Menendez, who helped him rise above his past and discover his own worth.

Hailing from Sacramento, X-Raided emerged as a leading figure in the early nineties underground rap scene.

At seventeen, X-Raided faced arrest and charges of first-degree murder with a gang enhancement. Tried as an adult, he battled the death penalty, as prosecutors used lyrics from his debut album, Psycho Active, against him in court. While his co-defendant walked free after acquittal, X-Raided received a conviction and a 31-year-to-life sentence, insisting on his innocence to this day.

With support from Lyle and Erik, X-Raided was granted parole in 2018.

How Rapper Met Menendez Brothers

As a Californian, X-Raided told Newsweek it was impossible not to know about the Menendez brothers, as they were as notable as Tupac Shakur and O.J. Simpson. He didn’t hold a negative opinion of them; rather, he observed them like everyone else. Meeting them in person, however, shifted and deepened his perspective.

X-Raided met Lyle Menendez first.

“Meeting Lyle, he struck me as sturdy. He was a strong man; he wasn’t a weakling or someone who couldn’t hold his own,” he told Newsweek. “I respected that about him. I also admired his confidence and intellect, which allowed us to bond.”

He said Lyle taught him to see himself in a new light and recognize his worth, despite his challenging upbringing.

“I was still trying to blend in with elements from our history that were—not less than—but different in terms of what he came from and what his experience was. I started to understand that I had a responsibility to elevate myself, as well as those around me in my community, because of Lyle,” X-Raided said. “So, yeah, when he showed up, it was boom—you knew Lyle Menendez was there.”

When the rapper was transferred to another facility, he met Erik.

“When I got there, he came looking for me and brought a letter that Lyle had written to him, essentially telling him, ‘Hey, this is X-Raided. He’s our little brother. I love him, so you love him, too.’ He took me under his wing from there.”

X-Raided continued, “He [Erik] could stand on his own; he wasn’t a coward. He was very intelligent, and his emotional intelligence was probably higher than anyone I had ever met before. He helped me a lot with that.”

X-Raided’s Experience with the Parole Board

After spending 26 years in prison, X-Raided was released on parole in 2018 with the help of Lyle and Erik.

The rapper told Newsweek in the Department of Corrections, inmates with life sentences undergo extensive evaluations, akin to criminal profiling, which include assessments by forensic psychologists and psychopathy tests. To pass, they must score in the 25th percentile or lower. This process can be volatile, and relying solely on California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation doctors for these examinations often leads to negative outcomes.

“Erik actually introduced me to Dr. Vickery, who came and conducted my forensic examination and drafted my psychological report, which we used when I went to the board,” X-Raided said.

Vickery is a forensic psychologist who has worked with the Menendez brothers, particularly in the context of their legal proceedings and evaluations.

The rapper also told Newsweek Erik wrote a letter to the parole board on his behalf.

“He discussed his experience with me and how much I embraced the different opportunities he exposed me to for education and program participation,” X-Raided said. “When we ran out of programs, we began to build them ourselves for ourselves and others. He went to bat for me big time.”

The Menendez Brothers Chance at Freedom

Now, it’s the Menendez brothers’ turn for a chance at freedom.

On October 24, Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón announced plans to recommend the Menendez brothers’ life sentences without the possibility of parole be replaced with a 50-years-to-life sentence for murder. He said, due to their ages at the time of the crimes, they would be eligible for parole immediately.

This stands in contrast to their current sentences, though the murder convictions remain in place.

On February 2, 1996, the jury convicted both brothers of first-degree murder, and they received life sentences without the possibility of parole for gunning down their parents, José and Kitty Menendez. The brothers fired 14 shots as the couple sat watching TV in the den of their Beverly Hills home on August 20, 1989.

The brothers’ defense attorneys, Mark Geragos and Cliff Gardner, are exploring three strategies to secure Lyle and Erik’s freedom, ideally before the holidays.

The first avenue involves a request for clemency from California Governor Gavin Newsom, which was filed on October 28. The other two paths include seeking Judge Michael V. Jesic’s review of the resentencing recommended by Gascón and pursuing Judge William Ryan’s review of the habeas petition.

If they don’t pursue clemency, the brothers could either be released on their scheduled court date of December 11 at the Van Nuys Courthouse or await a hearing before the parole board at Judge Jesic’s request.

“I very much respect the decision he [Gascón] made in terms of his willingness to move at all. He could have done nothing, so I do respect that,” X-Raided said. “I would have preferred that we didn’t have an experience where there was a request for the sentence to be moved to 50 years to life and to force an experience with the board.”

X-Raided told Newsweek the last six months between his board hearing and release were the most challenging in prison, as any small issue could lead to problems, and a “weak spirit” could have easily targeted him.

“I’m not fearful of them having to go through that process, but I definitely would have preferred an outcome that didn’t require it,” X-Raided said. “So I’m hopeful that Gavin Newsom will hear the request for clemency, that it will be granted, and we can skip that process altogether and not have to be subjected to potential negative experiences with them staying there longer.”

Gascón’s recommendation follows a review of new evidence submitted in May 2023. He told Newsweek his office examined a 1988 letter Erik wrote to his cousin, Andy Cano, detailing the alleged sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of his father. It also included a statement from former Menudo member Roy Rossello, who claims he, too, was sexually assaulted by José.

The district attorney’s decision also comes in the wake of Ryan Murphy’s new series. In September, Netflix unveiled the latest chapter of its Monster anthology series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

However, the rapper told Newsweek he believes credit should be given to younger generations on TikTok for their significant role in generating interest and views leading to the creation of a Netflix series. He said this generation stands up for victims of abuse more than any other.

X-Raided said he made it through only an episode and a half of the series before he “tapped out.”

“I wasn’t the biggest fan of it. I understand Ryan Murphy used the–throw everything at the wall and whatever sticks, sticks. It wasn’t necessarily an attempt to be completely accurate,” X-Raided said. “It was more, these are the stories that have been told. This is the information out there and you can see it how you want to see it.”

X-Raided said he appreciates the actors’ comments on their portrayals and perspectives, noting their firsthand experiences meeting the brothers led them to question the accuracy of the depiction. He believes the portrayal is a fictionalized and sensationalized version of the story, which, nonetheless, has had a significant impact.

What’s Next for Menendez Brothers?

X-Raided expressed hope Erik and Lyle will soon be released from prison, eager for them to witness all he has accomplished outside the confines of incarceration.

“I’m very happy that everyone has figured out what we’ve known all along: that the brothers are phenomenal human beings. They’re great people,” X-Raided said. “They had a tragic upbringing, a childhood that most people wouldn’t have been able to fathom or survive.”

X-Raided continued, “They took their lemons and built a lemonade factory. They didn’t just build a stand. They’re going to be phenomenal when they get out of there.”

Newsom will now review the case, with the brothers’ potential release ultimately in his hands. Clemency offers their quickest path to freedom.

Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story or the Menendez Brothers? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com