Fans of YoungBoy Never Broke Again are on a mission to free the incarcerated rapper.
As pointed out by HipHopDX, a Change.org petition to release the 21-year-old rapper has amassed more than 111,000 signatures as of Thursday night. The petition was created by user “YB Supporter” and calls on President Joe Biden to free the Baton Rouge artist from jail. The online request includes a brief breakdown of the YoungBoy’s most recent legal troubles, which stem from a September 2020 arrest in Louisiana, where he and 16 others were charged with drug- and weapons-related charges during a video shoot.
Though YoungBoy was released the following day, he was back in police custody in March of this year following a high-speed chase in Los Angeles. The LAPD claimed the rapper fled from police during an attempted traffic stop on an outstanding warrant, which was connected to the September charges in his home state. Authorities said they pursued the rapper’s vehicle for a brief time, until he eventually got out and started running. He was apprehended shortly after and has remained behind bars ever since.
YoungBoy’s legal team argued the rapper was unfairly targeted by police, and described his March arrest as a “wildly unnecessary militaristic display of force and intimidation.”
The Change.org petition points out that the rapper’s next court dates aren’t scheduled until later this month, but urged Biden to grant him a release before his 22nd birthday on Oct. 20.
“It is with great belief that Mr. Gaulden would see this as a great opportunity to ameliorate himself as a person and an artist,” the petition reads. “We have watched him grow over the years and he has much more time to better himself. Being granted a release by the president himself would be life-changing and historical. Not only would the rapper be able to be with his family and friends, but he would be able to provide music for his fans and live his life.”
Earlier this week, YoungBoy’s Sincerely, Kentrell album debuted atop the Billboard 200, making him only the third rapper to release a No. 1 album while in custody. The feature-less project delivered 21 tracks, including the previously released singles “White Teeth,” “Nevada,” and “Life Support.”
