Summary — "Five Shots in the Dark | Escape in the Song" (Suspect S3-E10 — Bonus Episode)

Host: Garrett Tiedemann (sound designer)
Show/Series: Suspect (Campside Media / Wondery) — second bonus episode

Overview

This bonus episode is a focused interview with Leon Benson about his relationship to music: how he began, how music sustained and transformed him during nearly 25 years of incarceration, and the creative process behind key songs from his album Innocent Born Guilty. Garrett Tiedemann—who is a musician and the show’s sound designer—leads a music-minded conversation that probes technique, inspiration, and the meaning behind Leon’s songs.

Key points & main takeaways

• Origins and early career

  • Leon began writing raps in the late 1980s (first around 1987). Early recording technique: using two radios (one to play instrumentals, one to record).
  • Performed in Indianapolis and recorded a dozen songs before his arrest. Early stage name: Evil Lee.

• Music in prison: survival, practice, evolution

  • Incarceration didn’t stop his music; it changed how he practiced and expressed it (beat-making on tables, vocal performances through cell doors).
  • Songs became tools for psychological survival—especially in solitary confinement—helping him maintain identity, motivation, and resilience.
  • Pendleton Correctional provided a chapel with recording/video equipment; performances were broadcast on an institutional channel (audience of thousands), enabling feedback and stage-practice.

• Creative process under constraint

  • Leon recorded contraband phone tracks and used inventive, resourceful methods to get his voice out.
  • Scarcity shaped the content and urgency of his work. He wrote songs over years and often released them long after writing (e.g., wrote "Murder the World" in 2002, recorded in 2016, released 2023).

• Album concept and themes: Innocent Born Guilty

  • Title frames the tension: being innocent of the crime he was convicted for, yet born into systemic conditions that mark people “guilty” (race, class, geography).
  • Core themes: wrongful incarceration, protest, self-belief, rage at systems, and gratitude/recognition of loyal women who support incarcerated men.

• Songs discussed

  • "Innocent" (written 2012): a frank account of his case and a commentary on societal complicity — “I’m not an innocent person, but I’m innocent of this crime.”
  • "Murder the World" (written 2002): visceral expression of rage against systems that harmed him. Leon clarifies it’s metaphorical—targeting harmful consciences and systems rather than literal violence.
  • "She Loved Me": tribute to the women who supported him through incarceration; highlights the tireless care of partners/families.

• Partnership & future work

  • Die Jim Crow Records / Freer Young supported mixing/mastering and released material recorded while Leon was incarcerated.
  • Leon plans to release his next project independently and is optimistic about continuing his music career; he feels spiritually connected to hip-hop lineage and calls himself “one of the realest.”

Notable quotes & insights

• “My philosophy of freedom is believing in yourself.” — on why songs helped him survive solitary.
• “You could escape in the song. I can escape in a song, but my voice can escape.” — on music as literal and mental escape during incarceration.
• On "Innocent": “I’m not an innocent person, but I’m innocent of this crime.”
• On rage and perspective in "Murder the World": “When I say world, you got to be conscious that I said world. I want to murder that conscience that put me in here and replace it with a better conscience.”
• “I feel like the greatest rapper ever that you never heard.” — expressing confidence in his authenticity and craft.

Topics discussed

• Early hip-hop influences and DIY recording techniques
• Music as therapy, protest, and identity preservation in prison
• Detailed breakdown of three songs and their meanings
• The role of performances and prison institutional media in building an audience
• The contributions and labor of women supporting incarcerated men
• Record label support while incarcerated and plans for self-releasing future work
• The spiritual/ancestral connection to hip-hop’s legacy

Action items & recommendations

For listeners who want to support or learn more:

• Listen to Leon Benson’s album Innocent Born Guilty (search streaming platforms / Label: Die Jim Crow / Freer).
• Follow Leon’s upcoming releases and independent drops.
• Support organizations and artists documenting wrongful convictions and prison arts programs.

For creatives and advocates:

• Recognize how scarcity and constraint can be channeled into creative practice; document and preserve work made under difficult conditions.
• Amplify and support the unpaid labor of family members—especially women—who sustain incarcerated people.
• If interested in prison advocacy, explore partnerships with labels or programs that facilitate incarcerated artists’ work and help with distribution.

Production notes

• Interview conducted by Garrett Tiedemann; Matthew Scher explains why Garrett hosted this bonus episode.
• This episode is the second bonus episode of Suspect’s season and includes credits to producers, sound designers, and supporting staff at Campside/Wondery.

This episode gives a focused, personal look at how Leon Benson’s music is both an artistic practice and a lifeline—revealing the emotional and political contours that shape his work. It’s useful for listeners interested in the intersections of hip-hop, incarceration, protest art, and survival.