Kodak and Lil Wayne Presidential Pardon Explained
Kodak and Lil Wayne are benefacturies of Donald Trump’s flurry of pardons in his final days in office. The rappers have both shown their support for the controversial former president; and I have to wonder, was it all for the pardons?
In December 2019, Wayne was involved in a situation at the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport. According to The Miami Herald, The Miami-Dade Police tipped off federal officers that a private plane the rapper was chartering from California to Florida was conveying weed and illegal weapons. Lil Wayne was looking at as long as 10 years in jail, after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition. (He was already a convicted felon at the time from gun charges back in 2007.)
The rapper dropped a thank you track “Ain’t Got Time,” the day after officially receiving the pardon from former president Trump. The track highlights artist Fousheé, whose name started popping up after her song "Sleepy Hallow's" was anonymously used on a TikTok. (She has since received credit)
Kodak Black's sentence originates from May 2019, and his charges also involve firearms. He lied on paperwork that he was not under prosecution while attempting to buy guns. At that point, he was out on bond for sexual misconduct charges in South Carolina. In March 2020, Kodak Black conceded to the charges of ownership of a weapon following an April 2019 arrest while crossing the U.S - Canada border. Kodak has been in jail since then, but walked free after Trump commuted his charges.
On January 21, 2021, the newly free rapper released “Last Day In”. The track celebrates his freedom and the pardon.
The White House’s official statements for the pardons explain that both the rappers’ extensive charity work qualified them for the pardons. Days before the election, Wayne tweeted a photo endorsing the President. It makes me wonder, was the pardon a payment for endorsement? Either way Trump still lost, and hopefully we get a new full- length project from either rapper.
