During the 20th century, every thirty years seemed to create a zeitgeist of politicism amongst Black people. Marcus Garvey spearheaded the first, while Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served as book ends for the second. In the 1990s, the century's last gasp at politicism played many parts, mostly manifested through the burgeoning hip hop movement. Public Enemy, the Native Tongues, Brand Nubian … there were a wide variety of "conscious" rap acts back then, but none were like X-Clan, ostensibly guided by Lumumba Carson, better known as Professor X the Overseer.
Lumumba Carson (August 4, 1956 – March 17, 2006), known by his stage names Baba Professor X the Overseer,Professor X, or PXO was born the son of Brooklyn-based activist Sonny Carson. Carson was a founding member of the Hip hop group X-Clan and is featured in nearly all songs on the albums To the East, Blackwards (1990) and Xodus (1992) prior to a temporary break-up of the group. Carson died from complications associated with spinal meningitis in 2006.
That's what Wikipedia had to say, but it ignores his solo albums, his influence over Linque Ayoung (then known as Isis) and the historical-based swagger (before that term was popular) that he imparted on the game. He apparently discovered the brilliant Jason Hunter, known to the world as Brother J, and unleashed that lyrical mastermind on hip hop. The sound of his signature catchphrase — "Vanglorious! This is protected by the Red, the Black, and the Green–with a key, sissy!" — could make hairs stand up on the back of your neck, and surely nobody used the word "pimp" the way he did, bringing in the African walking staff as a "pimpstick." Sure, he may have "borrowed" his rap moniker from Charles Xavier, but some might even call that reparations.
In the words of the Kemetic forebears he so often called upon, anedge hirak Professor X, and thank you.
[Source: Wikipedia]