Street Legal

Opening Statements

July 2008 Issue
By Stephanie Francis Ward

CD Cover courtesy of Mekka Don

In the rap world it’s all about street cred. And Emeka Onyejekwe has credibility—just not the kind typically associated with rap. What he does have is a law degree from New York University and experience as a litigation associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges in Manhattan.

But the 26-year-old left it all behind to become a rap artist. His self-produced “mixtape,” Law & Order, can be downloaded from MySpace, and his reality show The “Legal” Hustler can be seen on YouTube.

When Onyejekwe calls himself a hustler, he’s not kidding. Besides music, he says, he’s earning a living through modeling, event planning and sports marketing along with running a small legal practice with his sister.

Q: You are the son of a U.N. diplomat and an academic. What do your parents think about your career change?

They’ve always known I had a burning desire to be an artist. And it’s not like I just left and said I’m going to rap every single day. I may be crazy, but I’m not dumb.

Q: If you had it to do over, would you go to law school again?

Definitely—I love the law. That’s what people kind of lose in this situation.

Q: What do you mean?

I’ve been able to make it cool trying to run your business like a model citizen. All these things rappers talking about that people love so much—money, women, cars, jewelry—there are other ways to get those things. I graduated from law school at 24 and was making $160,000.

Q: So why give it up?

It makes me less legitimate in some people’s eyes if they think I’m doing this as a side thing. For me to really make it, I had to go all out. If I was still working at Weil, I would still have that support system, and I wouldn’t have that burning desire to make it.

Q: What’s the biggest misunderstanding about you and your work?

That I’m doing this for fame, to get rich, just for stardom. That it’s kind of a self-serving type of situation. That’s not entirely wrong, but it’s misguided.

Q: Fame and fortune is not such a terrible thing.

Well, yes. But this may not be my best idea. I probably have better business ideas and opportunities than this.

Q: What sort of reaction are you getting from the legal community?

To my face they say it’s cool, but behind my back there are a lot of negative responses. Some black lawyers think this is the worst possible thing I could have done in the black community. But almost every piece of criticism is from someone who’s never heard my music.

Web extra:

See all of Mekka Don's The "Legal" Hustler.

Season finale, part 1:

Season finale, part 2

Comments

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Posted by Gatsby - Jul 11, 2008 07:01 am CDT

Dear Mr. Don...or Mr. Mekka Don...or whatever your name is...I think you’re using the “Law & Order” title without permission. Please cease and desist. Thanks. Sincerely, Not a Fan.
Posted by Andrea - Jul 11, 2008 09:40 am CDT

I may not agree with you, but I certainly respect you for being bold enough and courageous enough to do what makes you happy regardless of what people think! By the way, as an attorney, I am confident that you did your research before naming your album or I am sure that you would not have used that particular name. Rap is poetry put to music, it is just another form of art and it all depends on the message. In some cases, you can reach certain people by putting a message in a form that not only will they listen to, but they will understand. You’ve accomplished much, be proud of yourself! I wonder what would have been the reaction had to decided to record Country music, or something else? You can’t please everyone - but you will be very successful pleasing yourself!
Posted by V - Jul 11, 2008 10:57 am CDT

Nice leveraging of the uncoolness of attorneys to get the ABA to write articles about you.

Note to self - do anything creative “as an attorney” and gain more cred$ from attorneys who want to seem cooler.
Posted by G - Jul 11, 2008 11:06 am CDT

It would have been funnier if it was a stereotypical lawyer (think older Jewish guy) that suddenly changed career paths into hip-hop. He would have (wall) street cred and j-date groupies.
Posted by Mekka Don - Jul 14, 2008 04:13 pm CDT

Interesting responses. Thanks for your interest (or disinterest, lol)
First, I don’t need permission to use the title as my mixtape is PROMOTIONAL (as in “not for sale"). Look up the “fair use” doctrine as well for a deeper explanation if you feel so inclined. “Not a Fan”? To each his/her own.
Second, I didn’t ask anyone to write an article on me, and I do think there are several things attorneys do “as attorneys” that are “cool” - that’s probably why I still practice. In fact, one of my goals is to show minority youth exactly how cool it is.
I don’t really understand where all the hostility comes from. I’m trying to penetrate an industry that I feel needs help - a positive influence. I don’t see the crime in that.
Posted by Gully - Jul 17, 2008 01:30 pm CDT

Mekka Don,

In lieu of a sarcastic or condescending remark, I would actually like to tip my hat to you sir. Unlike your detractors who read this article and scoff, I find it rather refreshing. I think that when one can combine their passions in life with their educational accomplishments it oft results in inspiration and innovation. I am currently a male minority 2L at a Tier 1 law school (not NYU). Oddly enough, I used to rap in high school and am still very much into hip hop. I believe that some of the same skills that served me as a lyricist in a cypher will also serve me one day as a litigator in the court room. It would be interesting to see how the two cultures can positively intersect. Unfortunately, law school and the legal workplaces are not exactly hotbeds for candid discussions on the issues and sometimes controversy that emanates from hip hop as an art and as a culture. If you have any contact information, could you send it my way or post it on the site? Either way, keep following your heart and your passions. I am enclosing a “celebratory fist bump” like the one that Barack Obama disperses when he intends to mark a showing of solidarity.
Posted by Bernadette a brusco - Jul 25, 2008 06:16 am CDT

I am a public school high school teacher, inner city high school in NYC, and a graduate of Columbia Law School and an alum of Sullivan & Cromwell. Can you contact me at my email address as I would like to discuss with you developing a a public school program? Thank you.
Posted by Cunyon - Jul 25, 2008 05:16 pm CDT

Mekka, I don’t know if you are correct on your “fair use” response to the criticism about the title of your album. The Dick Wolf enterprise’s lawyers could well complain not just because you used the name (which may still have its generic meaning left), but because you virtually copied their font, color scheme, even that weird L&O shadowing. I’m not an IP lawyer, but I don’t think people can steal hard-earned recognition in order to benefit, whether the item is given away or sold. As a fan of the show and its many progeny, I was expecting to read an article about a young brother writing for or advising the show. It’s misleading IMHO, and you’ve benefited from it. The Journal’s responsibility? IDK.

That said, good luck to you Mekka. I think it’s refreshing that The Journal wrote about the untraditional things lawyers do, whether for love, money or plain old vanity. I read the online Journal all the time, and I frequently see complaints posted that too many articles are about the ins and outs of large law firms; go in another direction and still the posters are unhappy, this time about this portrayal of a legal road less taken. Go figure.

To #4: too bad that your stereotypical lawyer is an old Jewish guy; funny, when I think lawyer, i see Gloria Allred, Hillary Clinton, and Judge Ann Williams. And too bad that you think there’s likely a rapper hidden inside a black male lawyer. We have so far to go. . .
Posted by Mekka Don - Jul 25, 2008 05:38 pm CDT

#6 and 7, I can be reached at mekkadonmusic@gmail.com. Your email addresses aren’t showing up. Thoughtful response #8 and thank you