A good number of Afrocentric, politically oriented rap groups put out records during the late '80s and early '90s. Very few of those groups were on the level of the hard-hitting X Clan, a Brooklyn-based collective that released a pair of stellar albums -- 1990's To the East, Blackwards and 1992's Xodus -- before breaking up. The group's primary members were Grand Verbalizer Funkin Lesson "Brother J" (born Jason Hunter), Lumumba Professor X "The Overseer" (born Lumumba Carson, the son of prominent and influential activist Sonny Carson), the Rhythem Provider "Sugar Shaft" (born Anthony Hardin), and Grand Architect "Paradise" (born Claude Grey), and they were joined by a cast of associates, which included powerful MC Isis (aka Lin Que). X Clan were activists outside of music as well; they were Blackwatch members and were vocal supporters of several pro-black organizations.

Unfortunately, the group's political stance and their bold red-black-green garb often...