The City of Lexington, Kentucky, recently marked a milestone, reaching 150 days without recording a single homicide. As the city continues to see violence rates drop, one of the most prominent voices working to fight gun violence has been Devine Carama, an Emmy-winning hip-hop artist who has spent years leading the ONE Lexington government-community anti-violence collaboration.
Blavity spoke with Carama about Lexington’s achievement, the work still ahead, as well as his rap career and latest project, Guardians of the Boom Bap 2.
Community outreach and gun violence prevention efforts bear fruit in Lexington
Devine Carama, a renowned hip-hop artist and director of the ONE Lexington initiative created by the city’s mayor, said the city’s milestone of 150 homicide-free days is part of a broader trend of progress.
After violent crime spiked in 2020 in Lexington and across much of the country, the city has now seen four consecutive years of declining violence, which has dropped 60% since 2021, far exceeding the national decline in gun violence.
Carama credits an “all hearts on deck” strategy that brings together everyone from government officials to former gang members and survivors of violence “for this greater mission of keeping our community safe.”
Carama also credits a “working upstream model” that prioritizes prevention by asking, “What are the root causes of gun violence? Kids aren’t born with guns in their hands.”
Carama’s community work has been closely connected with his career as a hip-hop artist.
“I was born in the era of hip hop when it was still synonymous with community, when it was still kind of a voice for the voiceless.”
Carama said he made “a natural transition from hip hop into activism” around 2010, beginning with community coat drives before founding the nonprofit Believing in Forever, Inc in 2014.
After working with both public and private community organizations, Carama was tapped in 2021 to serve as director of ONE Lexington, a gun violence prevention initiative created by the mayor of Lexington.
The outreach by ONE Lexington and its partners has focused not only on reducing gun violence but also on improving quality of life, as reflected in declining unemployment among Black boys and men, increased enrollment in trade schools and other positive developments.
At the heart of ONE Lexington is the PIER Model: Prevention by addressing the factors that lead to violence; Intervention in response to gun violence incidents; Enforcement/Engagement through community policing; and Reentry for individuals returning to the community after involvement in the criminal justice system.
Music and activism as part of the same mission
On the music side, Carama recently released his latest album, Guardians of the Boom Bap II, a collaboration with New York producer Amadeus360.
His music is heavily rooted in 1990s-era hip hop, encompassing elements of mainstream, street and conscious rap.
“The latest album combines Amadeus’ sample-heavy production, reminiscent of producers like DJ Premier, with Carama’s lyrical and gritty style.”
“In my mind, I always wanted to be Common. He was one of my favorite MCs, one of my biggest inspirations, right. But the reality is I sound like Big L.”
Carama said, “I don’t want to be too preachy in the music, but at the same token I do want to be a model, I want to be a standard,” and said his multilayered rhymes reflect both his life experiences and passion for hip hop, as heard on songs like “Old School, New School.”
Carama sees his rap career and community work as intertwined.
“For me, the music is part of a bigger mission with the activism.”
He describes his work as a “calling” and sees himself pursuing a unique, God-given mission.
Looking ahead, Carama hopes to establish ONE Lexington as its own office rather than an initiative within the mayor’s office to further strengthen the organization’s work.
He also plans to continue promoting Guardians of the Boom Bap II through music videos and live performances.
Carama sees both his activism and music as part of the legacy he hopes to leave for his children.
“When I’m dead and gone, I want my kids to go through my discography and know exactly where my daddy was at.”
Carama also draws inspiration as the father of four daughters, including honoring the legacy of his daughter, Kamaria Spaulding, who died in a car accident in 2020.
From activism to MC’ing, Carama continues to impact Lexington and beyond. Guardians of the Boom Bap 2 is now streaming, and more information about ONE Lexington is available on the City of Lexington’s website.