Rowdy Rebel is free. The Brooklyn rapper, who rose to fame in 2014 along with Bobby Shmurda and the GS9 collective, was released from the Collins Correctional Facility in New York on December 15, after serving six years behind bars.
The rapper has already received an outpouring of support on social media in just 24 hours since his release. But there are still people who don’t know Rowdy’s background or affiliations in rap. Here’s everything you need to know about Rowdy Rebel.
How did he break through as a rapper?
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Rowdy Rebel broke into the public consciousness in 2014 with the rise of Bobby Shmurda’s hit single “Hot Nigga.” Rowdy appeared in the original music video with Bobby and other GS9 members. He was later featured on the “Hot Nigga Remix” alongside Fabolous, Jadakiss, Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, and Yo Gotti. Following his success as a guest artist, Rowdy Rebel dropped several solo records like “Computers,” which appeared on the 2014 mixtape, Shmoney Shmurda (Shmixtape). He also released “Shmoney Dance” with Bobby. In July 2014, Rowdy Rebel signed a record deal with Epic Records, just two weeks after Bobby Shmurda secured his deal.
Why was he in prison?
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On Dec. 17, 2014, Rowdy Rebel, born Chad Marshall, was arrested in New York City for conspiracy, attempted murder, attempted assault, reckless endangerment, and criminal possession of a weapon. He was among 13 affiliates of the New York group GS9 arrested during an NYPD raid. While Rowdy originally plead not guilty to all of the charges, he later reversed his plea in exchange for a six to seven-year prison sentence. He began his sentence in 2016. Due to time served awaiting his trial, Rowdy received two years of credit. During a parole hearing in Aug. 2020, the rapper received a conditional release date for Dec. 15, 2020. He was finally released after serving six years behind bars.
How is he affiliated with Bobby Shmurda?
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Rowdy Rebel grew up in Brooklyn’s East Flatbush area and became affiliated with GS9, a group that originated in the same East Flatbush neighborhood. He is closely associated with GS9’s Bobby Shmurda, who was among the men arrested with Rowdy Rebel in 2014. In a 2016 interview, Bobby Shmurda revealed that he accepted a plea deal in his the murder conspiracy case in order to lower Rowdy Rebel’s sentencing. “I did it for Rowdy,” he told Complex on why he took the plea deal. “They offered me five and offered Rowdy 12. They said the only way they’ll give him seven is if I took seven too. So, you know, I had to take one for the dawgs.”
What’s Rowdy’s connection to Brooklyn drill?
What was the response after his release?
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Rowdy Rebel has been met with overwhelmingly positive feedback since his release as many fans flooded Twitter with celebratory emojis and messages. Many supporters also called for the release of Bobby Shmurda, who isn’t scheduled to get out until Dec. 2021.
What has Rowdy said since his release?
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Rowdy has not released an official statement, but video footage captured the moments following the rapper’s release from New York’s Collins Correctional Facility on Dec. 15. In the video, Rowdy is seen dancing as he walks out of the facility doors and friends and family surround him and cheer. Though Rowdy has not commented on his prison release, he recorded and shared a jailhouse phone conversation with Bobby Shmurda on Instagram Live. On the call, Shmurda can be heard saying, “I love all my fans. I love all the support. We’ll be right there… Welcome home my big bro. You deserve it. We bout to turn up like no fucking tomorrow.”
What are Rowdy’s plans to release new music?
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In July 2020, Rowdy Rebel appeared on Pop Smoke’s “Make It Rain.” The track was the lead single on Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, Pop Smoke’s first posthumous project following his murder in February 2020. New video that leaked on social media following his release shows Rowdy Rebel back in the studio working on new music. And in April, Steven Victor suggested Rowdy would be ready to drop a lot of music once he was home. “I still speak to Rowdy all the time, and every time he calls me, he’s spitting bars over the phone,” Victor told Complex months ahead of Rowdy’s return. “So I know when he comes home, he’s going to have music ready to drop.”
