Because the world awaits the sentencing of Sean Diddy Combs’ within the closing part of his salacious federal case, there are whispers throughout political and leisure circles alike that what ever sentence he receives is perhaps undone by the very best workplace within the land. Phrase on the road is that President Trump could also be eyeing a presidential pardon for the disgraced Dangerous Boy mogul. Whereas nothing has been confirmed, it might not be the primary time a hip hop determine has been granted a reprieve from a POTUS or Governor in our nice republic.
Whereas we look forward to the results of these rumors and Diddy’s sentencing, we took a have a look at 5 names in Hip Hop who made headlines after receiving a pardon or commutation, altering the course of their lives and legacies.
Lil Wayne – Pardoned in 2021
Lil Wayne was staring down a federal weapons cost stemming from a 2019 arrest when he caught the eye of President Trump. After pleading responsible to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Wayne confronted as much as 10 years in jail. However simply earlier than Trump left workplace in January 2021, he granted the New Orleans rapper a full pardon, citing his charitable work and artistic contributions to music.
Kodak Black – Sentence Commuted in 2021
One other Florida rapper additionally benefited from Trump’s closing acts in workplace. Kodak Black had been serving time on a weapons cost after falsifying data on federal gun buy types. Trump commuted his sentence the identical day he pardoned Lil Wayne. Kodak later thanked him publicly, saying the transfer gave him a second probability at life and freedom.
McKinley “Mac” Phipps – Granted Clemency in 2021
Whereas not a presidential pardon, former No Restrict Data rapper Mac was granted clemency by Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards after serving over 20 years behind bars. Convicted in 2001 for manslaughter in a nightclub taking pictures, Mac lengthy maintained his innocence. Advocacy from his household and nationwide consideration helped pave the best way for his launch in 2021.
John Forte – Pardoned in 2008
Grammy-nominated artist and former Fugees collaborator John Forte was granted a full pardon by President George W Bush in 2008. Forte had been serving a 14-year sentence after being convicted of trafficking liquid cocaine by Newark Worldwide Airport in 2000. After a number of years behind bars, a marketing campaign led by Carly Simon and others helped carry consideration to his case and finally contributed to his launch.
NBA YoungBoy – Pardoned in 2024
NBA YoungBoy, probably the most streamed rappers of his technology, was lately granted a pardon by none apart from President Trump for a earlier firearms conviction that was set to hold a cloud over his profession. On his new album MASA, Youngboy expressed Trump’s strikes are nice for the younger technology on the one “XXX”: “Make America Slimy Once more/ No matter Trump doin’, b—h, it’s good for the youngins.”
With Diddy’s sentencing swiftly approaching and rumors swirling a couple of doable intervention from President Trump, the intersection of politics and hip hop stays as layered and complex as ever. Whether or not or not a pardon comes, historical past reveals that when music and energy collide, something can occur.
