Lil Wayne, Kodak Black, and Rap Executives Were Pardoned. Here's What You Need to Know.

Lil Wayne, Kodak Black, and major rap executives like Desiree Perez were granted clemency by Trump. Here are the explanations that have been given.

ByJessica Mckinney

Jan 20, 2021

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Images via Getty

On his final day in office, Donald Trump issued a list of pardons and commutations. Trump pardoned a total of 73 people and commuted the sentences of 70 others.The majority of pardons and commutations appear to be awarded to individuals who had close ties to the president or whose cases were championed by advocates. Among the list were Trump’s allies, including former chief strategist Steve Bannon and former top fundraiser Elliott Broidy. The list also included some notable names in hip-hop, including Lil Wayne, Kodak Black, and prominent executives like Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez.

For those who are unaware, a clemency is a general term for granting a convicted person relief from a prison sentence or other legal consequences. The two primary methods of clemency are pardons and commutations, which come with different plans or actions by the government and law enforcement. A pardon is an action taken by the government to relieve a convicted person of all or some of legal consequences from their conviction. A commutation is the decision to reduce the punishments of a conviction. Usually, a commutation results in a reduced prison term or reduced court-ordered fines.

Here’s a breakdown of each of Trump’s pardons and commutations of notable hip-hop figures.

Who is he? Michael “Harry-O” Harris was a music executive best known for co-founding and financing Death Row Records in the 1990s. He contends that he put up $1.5 million in 1991 to launch Death Row following a visit from Suge Knight.

Type of action: Commutation

What was his legal issue? In 1988, Michael Harris was convicted of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and cocaine dealing. According to filings from his attorneys, Harris petitioned to be released due to “suffering badly for around a week and remains in a fatigued and weakened condition.” He was originally scheduled to be released in October 2028.

What explanation has been given for the commutation? Harris has served 30 years of his 25-years-to-life sentence. The White House notes, “Mr. Harris is a 59 year old who has served 30 years of a 25 year to life sentence for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Mr. Harris has had an exemplary prison record for three decades. He is a former entrepreneur and has mentored and taught fellow prisoners how to start and run businesses. He has completed courses towards business and journalism degrees. Upon his release, Mr. Harris will have a meaningful place of employment and housing with the support of his family.” Alice Johnson, whose life sentence was commuted by Trump in 2018, told The Daily Beast that she had begun lobbying Ivanka Trump and White House chief of Staff Mark Meadows for Harris’ release in August 2020. “The president knows how much this case means to me,” she said. “In reviewing Michael Harris' case, his story, and what he's gone through, this is such an unfair case… He should have been home a decade ago.” Snoop Dogg, who pushed for Harris’ pardon said, “That’s great work for the president and his team on the way out. They did some great work while they was in there and they did some great work on their way out.” — youtu.be

**Who is he?** Michael “Harry-O” Harris was a music executive best known for co-founding and financing Death Row Records in the 1990s. He contends that he put up $1.5 million in 1991 to launch Death Row following a visit from Suge Knight.

**Type of action:** Commutation

**What was his legal issue?** In 1988, Michael Harris was convicted of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and cocaine dealing. According to filings from his attorneys, Harris petitioned to be released due to “suffering badly for around a week and remains in a fatigued and weakened condition.” He was originally scheduled to be released in October 2028.

**What explanation has been given for the commutation?** Harris has served 30 years of his 25-years-to-life sentence. The White House notes, “Mr. Harris is a 59 year old who has served 30 years of a 25 year to life sentence for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Mr. Harris has had an exemplary prison record for three decades. He is a former entrepreneur and has mentored and taught fellow prisoners how to start and run businesses. He has completed courses towards business and journalism degrees. Upon his release, Mr. Harris will have a meaningful place of employment and housing with the support of his family.” Alice Johnson, whose life sentence was commuted by Trump in 2018, told *The Daily Beast* that she had begun lobbying Ivanka Trump and White House chief of Staff Mark Meadows for Harris’ release in August 2020. “The president knows how much this case means to me,” she said. “In reviewing Michael Harris' case, his story, and what he's gone through, this is such an unfair case… He should have been home a decade ago.” Snoop Dogg, who pushed for Harris’ pardon said, “That’s great work for the president and his team on the way out. They did some great work while they was in there and they did some great work on their way out.”

youtu.be

**Who is he?** Michael “Harry-O” Harris was a music executive best known for co-founding and financing Death Row Records in the 1990s. He contends that he put up $1.5 million in 1991 to launch Death Row following a visit from Suge Knight.

**Type of action:** Commutation

**What was his legal issue?** In 1988, Michael Harris was convicted of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and cocaine dealing. According to filings from his attorneys, Harris petitioned to be released due to “suffering badly for around a week and remains in a fatigued and weakened condition.” He was originally scheduled to be released in October 2028.

**What explanation has been given for the commutation?** Harris has served 30 years of his 25-years-to-life sentence. The White House notes, “Mr. Harris is a 59 year old who has served 30 years of a 25 year to life sentence for conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. Mr. Harris has had an exemplary prison record for three decades. He is a former entrepreneur and has mentored and taught fellow prisoners how to start and run businesses. He has completed courses towards business and journalism degrees. Upon his release, Mr. Harris will have a meaningful place of employment and housing with the support of his family.” Alice Johnson, whose life sentence was commuted by Trump in 2018, told *The Daily Beast* that she had begun lobbying Ivanka Trump and White House chief of Staff Mark Meadows for Harris’ release in August 2020. “The president knows how much this case means to me,” she said. “In reviewing Michael Harris' case, his story, and what he's gone through, this is such an unfair case… He should have been home a decade ago.” Snoop Dogg, who pushed for Harris’ pardon said, “That’s great work for the president and his team on the way out. They did some great work while they was in there and they did some great work on their way out.”

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Lil Wayne, Kodak Black, and Rap Executives Were Pardoned. Here's What You Need to Know.

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