10 Rappers Who Dropped Bangers After Doing a Bid

These rappers didn't miss a beat when they came home.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Prison sucks, and unfortunately many of our favorite rappers know it. They've gotten caught up, either because they're paranoid and keep guns on them, or they do stupid shit like shoot someone in the belly for a couple stacks. Rappers tend to go in at the worst possible times too. They'll be at the height of their career (see: Slick Rick), and then, boom, they're facing jail time.


Even after they're out, not all rappers are able to come back like they never left. Jail breaks your spirit, and it hinders motivation (see: Shyne). These 10 artists were able to shake that stereotype and come back strong. Most of them had various run-ins with the law, which led to judges finally getting fed up with their shit. T.I. hasn't been the same since getting caught up with an army of guns, but he was able to drop a banger. Project Pat vowed to never go back (he didn't), Remy Ma came at necks a day after she came home, and most recently Meek Mill dropped a ferocious freestyle over a legendary beat.

All of these artists mentioned had their promising careers stalled for a bit, but were able to deliver once they finally saw daylight. These are 10 Rappers Who Dropped Bangers After Doing a Bid.

2Pac “California Love” (1996)

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Charge(s): Sexual assault

"Out on bail, fresh out of jail, California dreamin'." Pac's first line on "California Love" is iconic. After serving about a year of his prison sentence, stemming from a sexual assault crime he claimed he didn't commit, Pac basically sold his soul to Suge Knight in exchange for bail money after he won an appeal. This track and video were the first things he dropped after he came home, something that united L.A., and shook up the rest of rap. Little did everyone know, it was the beginning of the end. The Great East/West War began and ended with no winners.

Mac Dre “Life's a Bitch” (1998)

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Charge(s): Conspiracy to commit robbery

The Bay Area legend did five years because he didn't snitch. They don't make 'em like this anymore. His Romper Room clique were not only known for making music, but for committing robberies. Mac taunted the police and talked about some of the "real" shit his buddies did in the past in his songs.

The Feds were able to turn a gang member, who recorded conversations of them planning a bank heist, and the rest is history. Mac was in the car but was never involved in any of the said 47 robberies his crew committed. He refused to turn state's evidence and took the time like a G. He was also one of the first rappers to record over a jail phone.

Mac's an innovator to say the least. Stupid Doo Doo Dumb was his comeback album and "Life's a Bitch" is one of his realest songs. The beat features that signature Bay bounce and what sounds like a Too $hort "bitch" sample. Mac raps about the pain that comes with inner city violence, and he speaks about his time in jail:


"They sent me to the pen for five years/For a crime that was never committed/I ain't no bank robber but that five years/Had me thinking maybe I should have did it."

Life's a bitch, indeed.

Beanie Sigel “All Eyez on Sig” (2005)

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Charge(s): Drug and weapons charges

Beanie released the street classic mixtape Public Enemy #1 in 2005, after serving a year and a day in 2004 for having drugs and a gun in his car. Beans threw a gun out of his Escalade window while the cops were pursuing him. He went in during a tough time in Roc-A-Fella history. The label was in turmoil, and he was working on his follow-up to The Reason. He also beat an attempted murder case during this period, something he eludes to on "All Eyez on Sig." Complete with the Pac flow, Beans talks guns and clashing crews. The Broad Street Bully is always ready for war:


"5-0 tryna slander my name/Tryna charge me for attempt/Disrespectin’ my aim like my fifth don't blaze right."

Come on, scrap, he keeps it hot like a California summer.

Project Pat “I Ain’t Goin’ Back to Jail” (2006)

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Charge(s): Felony possession of a firearm

You don't fuck with Project Pat? Fuck you! He's a North Memphis monster, and he ain't going back to jail. Pat was already on parole for an aggravated robbery charge when he was caught with two revolvers under the seat of his car. He released Crook by da Book: The Fed Story​ when he came home, and "I Ain't Going Back to Jail" was the first track. He can't go back because he "got more pussy to swell and more dreams to tell."

Lil Wayne f/ Corey Gunz “6 Foot 7 Foot” (2010)

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Charge(s): Attempted criminal possession of a weapon

After doing an eight-month stretch on Rikers Island, Wayne went to work on the Carter IV. He decided to go with a street single featuring fellow flame-thrower Corey Gunz, proving that his skid bid of hard time on the island didn't deteriorate his ability to string metaphors together. "6 Foot 7 Foot" sounds sort of like "A Milli" because they were both produced by Bangladesh.

Lil Wayne and Corey Gunz both show off their lyrical gymnastics, and the song features one of Wayne's most famous lines: "Bitch, real G's move in silence like lasagna." Wayne came out of Rikers like a man possessed.

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T.I. “I'm Back” (2010)

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Charge(s): Federal weapons charges

Labeling someone as a snitch without seeing paperwork is a corny thing to do. We don't do that where I'm from. Let's just say Tip had one hell of a defense team. Everyone thought he was finished after being caught with an arsenal of weapons because felons aren't supposed to own machine guns and silencers, especially ones that aren't registered. He ended up doing only nine months, and the first song he dropped was "I'm Back." It featured a reinvigorated Tip over a triumphant beat. In it he talks about other rappers who have been locked up on how it makes up-and-comers think jail is cool:


"Probably just seen Wayne, Gucci Mane Me and Boosie all go to prison/Now he flippin' hoes, every nigga trippin'/Listen dude, for you that ain't in the cards/Think the power's in the guns, but overall it's in your heart."

The song and video were supposed to be a promo single for his King Uncaged lead-up. However, he decided to change the name to No Mercy. He did a bid at the worst possible time, and it's safe to say Tip hasn't been the same, though his initial offering was on point.


Prodigy “Black Devil” (2011)

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Charge(s): Gun possession

Prodigy lived up to his gangster persona when he did a three-year stint for gun possession. He came home and wasted no time releasing The Ellsworth Bumpy Johnson EP. There are various cuts to choose from, but "Black Devil" stuck out because he speaks of his time inside: "I did three years in prison/And the white boys showed me more love than any of my so-called niggas​." A guy who's been in the game for so long has seen it all. Some people hang around you for your success and what you can do for them. It's hard to figure out someone's motives, especially those who you keep close, and it's always your own people who betray you.

Sid Roams delivers a cinematic beat to go with Prodigy's vivid slow flow. Prodigy manages to make classic material with three separate producers (Havoc, Alchemist, and Sid). That's a tall task, and it speaks to his exceptional song-crafting ability.

Lil Boosie “Same Game” (2014)

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Charge(s): Conspiring to bring drugs into a penal institution

Boosie Badazz had the streets in the palm of his hand in 2010, and then it all went to shit. He was brought up on first-degree murder charges (he was later found not guilty), and drug charges, the latter of which he plead guilty to. He was sentenced to eight years in 2011, seemingly ending his rap career. But then his lawyers were able to finesse an appeal that would let Boosie out five years early. He came home and immediately went to work, releasing "Same Game." It sounds rough, and the features aren't the best, but one can't deny Boosie's energy.

The rap game is like the crack game, they only love you when you're on top. "From 16s to codeine, from five birds to five words, it all the same." He's charging a stack for a verse. Don't knock the hustle.

DJ Khaled f/ Remy Ma and French Montana “They Don't Love You No More (Remix)” (2014)

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Charge(s): Assault and illegal weapon possession

Fresh off a six-year bid for shooting an associate in the stomach over stolen money, Remy wasted no time getting back in the booth. The very next day she released this heat rock with DJ Khaled's help. She sounded like she never left, and even referenced her crime for good measure: "Give it to her in the tummy, y’all know that I keep it tucked." Damn, Remy, chill. Her and Papoose might very well be rap game Mickey and Mallory​. 

"Remy Makavelli, send shots through bellies.​"

Meek Mill “Ice Cream Freestyle” (2014)

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Charge(s): Parole violation

Meek's Dreams Worth More Than Money album was put on ice due to violating his parole stemming from a deal he struck in 2009. He got caught up in '09 and was put on five-year probation, but he and his probation officer kept having disagreements. Meek wouldn't report back when he traveled so the judge had his probation revoked. After doing a five-month skid bid, Meek came home to rumors of ruining Nicki Minaj's relationship, and now the hype for his album is returning after this "Ice Cream Freestyle."


"The revolution shall be televised/This year it's all about us so fuck the other side/Gotta get killed on camera for us to come alive."

Lines like this give us goosebumps. This track is filled with insightful raps about the system, the struggle, the rumors, the hate; Meek touched on a plethora of subjects. If this is a preview for what's in store, the game's in trouble. He sounds focused and more mature. Jail time will do that. 

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