WASHINGTON -- A world-renowned DJ and D.C. native weighs in on the immigration debate by sharing his family's story of crossing the border illegally.
Carnage is a famous hip-hop and electronic music DJ and producer. He now joins artists like Coldplay and RZA in releasing songs about immigration. He recently sat down with WUSA9 in between shows to talk about his latest message to the world.
We set up the interview in his hotel room. He was fresh off a gig in his hometown. Carnage has a message that is more than music.
"There are so many stories like my family’s," Carnage said.
DJ Carnage has moved massive crowds from Coachella's stage to Europe. The 28-year-old D.C. native has performed all over the world, yet he and WUSA9's Delia Gonçalves have one thing in common.
"My parents were immigrants from Cape Verde Islands," Gonçalves said. "And as a child of immigrants, you carry this weight on your shoulders like you're trying to make it for your whole family because there is a lot of sacrifice."
"It’s mind blowing," Carnage said. "Growing up, they always reminded all the kids they sacrificed a lot to give us a better life. As long as I can repay them by spreading their story."
And his newest video tells their story.
"'Letting People Go' is a journey of a family fleeing Nicaragua and a family with hard-working parents, and a bunch of kids fleeing from something horrible form Nicaragua and coming to America to give their children a better life and that was my mom," explained Carnage.
The video shows a family paying smugglers and getting into a van to flee Nicaragua, running from border patrol agents and finally getting handcuffed and detained.
Carnage was born Diamante Anthony Blackmon. His grandparents and their five children crossed the border illegally in 1979, risking their lives amid gunshots from the communist Sandinistas. When the family finally made it to the U.S., they were separated and detained in one of the same Texas border cities where immigrants are held today.
DJ Carnage
"It doesn't need to be like this," he said. "We need to raise awareness and help this crisis stop. It's not something we should allow to happen as humans."
Carnage believes in using his art to create political discussions.
"Just like politics, we also have a platform and millions of people across the world look at us," Carnage said. "We can't just entertain we have to help."
Carnage said his immigrant family sacrificed a lot to chase the American Dream and he wants to repay them by making them proud doing what he loves.
His video "Letting People Go" has more than two million views on YouTube.
The more views, the more money Carnage will donate toward Raices Foundation, a nonprofit that offers legal aid to immigrant families and refugees.
Carnage is committed to using his platform to educate and give back to his community. He's already built two schools in his family’s native Nicaragua.