PART 2: THE SOURCE OF THE MIZERY

Mizery's intention as a lyricist and performer is not to offend, but rather to expose the psychology behind the dissatisfied poor and oppressed masses of the earth. His stage-show depends on the audience and the venue. He's sometimes crass, other times he's intellectual, but always confrontational. Having spent his early childhood in Buffalo N.Y., and born in Zaire (Africa), Mizery's first contacts with the West was not plagued by race issues. At the age of six his family moved to Quebec, where he first started school and was first confronted with the fact that he was different and somehow wrong or bad because of it.

As a black person "the police, THE MAN on the horse, the law, weather in Canada, America, South America or South Africa has as a job to catch, discipline and monitor our community. So when I write about shooting a cop, I don't entirely agree with that point of view, but I understand and relate to the black kid who feels he has no rights against an abusive officer. And seeing that the good cops haven't yet denounced the bad ones, we don't trust any of 'em."

Coming to Canada taught him about retaliation. He learned you could run now and get them back later.

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