“Fourteen years of conversations. The people who made my journey matter.”

In this special 14-Year Celebration episode of Vigilantes Radio Live, Dini sits down with Jackson, Mississippi powerhouse Brad “Kamikaze” Franklin for a conversation more than two decades in the making.

Kamikaze is a hip-hop artist, entrepreneur, activist, writer, motivational speaker, digital creator, and cultural strategist whose influence stretches across Mississippi music, media, branding, artist development, and community building. Known as one-half of the acclaimed Mississippi hip-hop duo Crooked Lettaz alongside David Banner, he has continued building his own legacy through Ourglass Media Group, Jackson Indie Music Week, the Juneteenth on Farish Festival, his commentary on culture and current events, and his return to music with Black Mississippi Genius: Part 1.


For Dini, however, this conversation is deeply personal. Their paths first crossed in 2002 through the late rapper King J-Skillz, when a young Dini joined Kamikaze’s street team while attending Hinds Community College in Utica. At the time, getting Kaze’s attention felt like a dream opportunity. Over the years their paths continued crossing through performances, community events, Dear Silas, Synergy Link discussions, and Mississippi’s evolving creative scene—yet the one-on-one working relationship Dini once hoped for never quite materialized.


More than 20 years later, they finally sit down to discuss the bigger story: Crooked Lettaz, recognition, Mississippi hip-hop history, building infrastructure for creatives, developing artists, fighting for cultural ownership, longevity, criticism, missed opportunities, and what it means to remain committed to a place that does not always give its creators their flowers in real time.


This episode is about more than music. It is about influence, timing, cultural responsibility, and realizing that sometimes someone can help shape your journey without ever knowing how closely you were watching.


Connect with Brad “Kamikaze” Franklin:

Instagram: @mrfranklin601
X: @Kamikaze601
Ourglass Media: @ourglassmedia
Jackson Indie Music Week: jxnindiemusic.com

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/vigilantes-radio-live--2166168/support.

Vigilantes Radio Live! by The Only One Media Group ℗©2026

Episode Credits:
Produced, edited, mixed, and written by Demetrius "Whodini Blak" Reynolds, Sr.
Artwork designed by Demetrius "Whodini Blak" Reynolds, Sr.
Show Introduction by Kate
Segment jingles composed & produced by Demetrius "Whodini Blak" Reynolds, Sr.
Additional music licensed through 7th Sign Recordings

Links:
onlyonemediagroup.com
https://www.instagram.com/vigilantesradio/
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/966-vigilantes-radio-live-29999229/
https://www.instagram.com/whodiniblakin3d/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26009230/

To support our show, please leave reviews, ratings, or you can help fuel the passion over at buymeacoffee.com/vigilantesradio

Email us at onlyonemgt@gmail.com