Mr. Capone-E

There's no question Los Angeles rap veteran Mr. Capone-E is down for la raza: "I was raised with homies and the culture… I'm down to do whatever it takes to have better opportunities for the gente." Whether he's of Pakistani descent is less clear.

Mr. Capone-E spent the '90s in and out of prison before transitioning into Chicano rap in 2000. The self-described "Sureño rapper" has released over 10 albums, most of them on the label he founded, Hi Power Entertainment and has also collaborated with artists like MC Magic, ODM and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, among others. Smoothed-out tracks like Don't Get It Twisted featuring Twista and I Like It featuring Nate Dogg have helped Mr. Capone-E get mainstream radio play in LA, including Chicano rap shows like Pocos Peros Locos on Power 106.

An entrepreneur as well as a performer, Mr. Capone-E recently sold Hi Power Entertainment, home to acts like Mr. Silent, Scrappy Loco and Bizzy Bone. But he's promised to launch a new label, with his first signing to be partner-in-rhyme Mr. Criminal while his own solo album, Diary of a G is scheduled for release later this year. For his haters, Mr. Capone-E offers a humble comeback: "I am doing what I can to keep bringing up the movement."

See: myspace.com/MRCAPONEETHEREAL COM