Boo-Ray Esq., or Ray Thomas Jr. Esq., is a rapper/lawyer from Buffalo, NY. The Daily Lobo conducted an interview with this up and coming artist on his EP release Gemini: Two Sides of the Same Dollar.
Daily Lobo: Your life story is the essence of the American dream. You were born in Buffalo, N.Y. and raised in relative poverty but rose to become a successful lawyer, and now aspiring emcee.
RT: Thanks for the compliment; it's good to know that my survival and accomplishments are acknowledged. Word!
The first part of your comment is on point. However, regarding the second part, it would be more accurate to say that I was "successful in becoming a lawyer," as opposed to saying that I am "a successful lawyer."
The truth of the matter is that I have yet to formally exercise my privilege of practice law. Immediately after taking the bar exam [July 2001] I set this music venture [Intellect Records, LLC] in motion. It has kept me extremely busy ever since. Also, I have been writing and performing as a rap artist for over 15 years now, which means that I was an emcee well before I became a lawyer.
DL: As someone who has been on both sides, how do you feel about the concept of the "American Dream?" Do you feel it is possible for many to repeat your life story?
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
We live in one of the best, if not the best, countries in the world. However, America is not perfect and there is lots of room for improvement. In my opinion, fulfilling "The American Dream" is not as simple as the clichÇ would imply.
There are many variables which come into play that can affect whether or not one's dreams will remain just that, dreams, or become reality. Sometimes Americans have control over these variables, and sometimes they do not.
With my having been born and raised in the inner city, I will assume that the "many" you refer to are inner-city youth. My answer to your question is -- most definitely!
However, the following are some of the many ingredients that I feel must go into their mix: opportunity, dedication/commitment, persistence, patience, willingness to work hard, will-power, confidence, mentoring, high visibility of role models, etc.
At this point, I feel that it is appropriate to announce the title of my Sophomore LP which is about half-finished now, by the way, Ghetto Golden-Child: The Chosen One. The rationale behind the title is as follows: I feel that it is part of my duty to highlight my accomplishments through rap, a mode of communication which has captured the attention of my people.
I believe that this, in turn, will remind them that they too can do whatever it is they want so long as the above-mentioned ingredients are in the their mix.
Daily Lobo: You are the first lawyer/rapper, but are you also the first rapper to use the word accrue as a rhymed end line for a verse? "As far as me? I m workin' on you/and pressed to know what type of benefits is likely to accrue," from "Pretty in Pink" is what I'm referencing here.
RT: (Laughing) I see you did your homework my friend. Off-hand, I cannot think of anybody that ever did, but an honest answer to this question is simply, "I don't know."
DL: You have a degree in criminal justice and are a practicing lawyer. Your bio states that your youth contained a few run-ins with the law. You were wrongly accused of armed robbery in 1996 which prompted you to become a lawyer. From your unique perspective what would be the most beneficial way to prevent crime?
RT: The crime prevention portion of your question is very broad, so I will narrow it down and then answer my version of it. Now, if that's not lawyerly, then I do not know what is.
Let us discuss the drug trade, on which I wrote a paper in college. So long as there is a great demand, there will be suppliers willing to take risks, no matter how great they are. The federal and state governments have spent enormous amounts of money and time on trying to lock up the suppliers.
In my opinion, this is the wrong approach because for every supplier that is taken out of action, there are others standing by to fill the void. I ask the following rhetorical question to further my point -- did the cocaine trade cease with the death, if he is really dead, of Pablo Escobar? A better and more effective approach would be for those governments to spend that money and time on rehabilitating the addicts.
Such would curb the demand, which in turn would make supplying not so lucrative and more importantly, restore hope to the lives of those most directly affected by drugs, the addicts.
DL: What would be the best way to make our justice system more efficient?
RT: Better and more thorough screening of prospective police officers in the beginning to weed out the bad apples, (corrupt, lazy, etc.) before they get any chances to cause injustices.
DL: Have you ever used rhyme during litigation?
RT: No. The only court action that I have seen thus far was a mock trial and a mock appellate brief, both of which were during law school and I was representing myself, pro se, in traffic court after being wrongfully accused of a moving violation.
DL: Your bio states you would like to use your career to expose untapped talent from your hometown of Buffalo, N.Y. Who should we be looking out for?
RT: Come on now, do you really expect me to tell you exactly what aces I have as my hole cards? Just stay tuned.
DL: Gemini's appear fickle and restless but have a quick and powerful intellect coupled with an impressive imagination. Are you really a Gemini or is that just a suitable extended metaphor to explain your dualistic nature as a lawyer and emcee?
RT: According to the stars and my birth date, I am a Scorpio. I went with "Gemini" because the concept captured the essence of the dual personalities of Boo-Ray, Esq. -- Boo & Ray.
Here is the spill: The word "Gemini" is almost synonymous with the word "twins." The twins of Gemini, Castor and Pollux, collectively referred to as the "Dioscuri," were sons of the Greek God Zeus.
When they died, Zeus converted them into the constellation which now symbolizes the third sign on the Zodiac, Gemini. The Dioscuri, Castor & Pollux, are said to represent the ever-changing cycle from bad to good and good to bad, thus is analogous/comparable to Boo-Ray, Esq. -- Boo & Ray.
DL: Who gave you the name Boo? Your bio says this was your alias in your early years but modern usage of the term, as I understand it, limits it to an affectionate term of endearment usually used towards females. Is there an etymological history I'm missing on here or was this a term of endearment that stuck?
RT: My grandmother assigned me the nickname Boo-Boo when I was an infant. During my teen years it was shortened by myself and/or my street-peers to Boo. Yes, it has since come to be used as a term of affection, but towards males as well as females.
DL: Another question on your chosen nom de guereÇ: Are you aware that Booray is a popular Louisianan card game? It derives from the French BourÇ card game, who gets its name from the traditional dance and song form. Was this an intentional play on words or just a happy coincidence?
RT: Yes, I am aware of the Booray card game. This was a combination of happy coincidence which later turned into intentional play. After deciding on my artist name, a compound made up of the elements of my real and nick/street names, I began to research it, which is when I discovered the Booray card game.
I then decided to connect the dots in some creative way. Although I have never played Booray, I have played many other card games, thus I know that strategy is an important element of winning.
Well, that is very comparable to life in general in that we have to strategize to win or "beat the game" of life. To take it a step further, my definition of a "Playa" is one (male, or female -- Playette) who has had a good-great deal of success in "playing" the game of life.
To be a Playa or Playette means that you have "game." To have game means that your game is tight. Boo-Ray, Esq. is a Playa, who has had a great deal of success in playing the game of life -- therefore, my game is tight. Listen very carefully to "Game Tight" and tell me what you think.
DL: You are the first rapper/lawyer but there s another rapper with a high academic notoriety, Chubb Rock, who received a medical degree. Do you know Chubb Rock?
More thorough research on your part, I see. I am aware that Chubb Rock was a pre-med student at Brown University. I do not know him, but of course I do know of him, who doesn't? His flow was/is incredible, Word! I wish he would drop something new. See www.sing365.com.
DL: Will you ever do a song about being a lawyer, with each verse describing a case you tried? If you haven t, can you please do one?
RT: (Laughing) Maybe I will someday. But I do have a song on my debut LP Street Thesis: Lessons From The Streets, Which No Institution Could Teach entitled "I.R.A.C." (Issue, Rule, Analysis, Conclusion), which is a law school test-taking technique. The song is really slick, and the concept is heavy. Street Thesis will be released on Friday, April 11, 2003 at the door of my LP Release Concert/After-Party.
DL: Thank you, Mr. Thomas!
Hey, cut the Mr. Thomas crap because you are making me feel really old, which I am not! Boo-Ray will suffice. Keep up the excellent work. One!
