Photo Credit: Lil Wayne/Instagram; ThatBoyNix; Elysabno/Instagram
The assumption a lot of people have about Lil Wayne supporting former President Trump was to get a pardon… that is once it was revealed he was facing time in prison for carrying a loaded gun on a private plane in 2019. Some would leave it at that and let people continue to think so for the sake of his street cred, but not the case here. Wayne’s attorney Bradford Cohen spoke to the New York Times telling them that Wayne didn’t support the President just for a pardon.
“I think they had a very strong connection,” Cohen stated. “It never hurts that someone gets a full understanding of an individual when they’re just looking at a piece of paper. In hindsight, I guess it worked out.”
Wayne also thanked President Trump this morning on Twitter saying, “I want to thank President Trump for recognizing that I have so much more to give to my family, my art, and my community. I also want to thank
@bradfordcohen for working so diligently to secure another chance for me. Love!”
I want to thank President Trump for recognizing that I have so much more to give to my family, my art, and my community. I also want to thank @bradfordcohen for working so diligently to secure another chance for me. Love!
– Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.
— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) January 21, 2021
Cohen responded saying, “It was my pleasure. This pardon was appropriate and should send a message that non violent felony offenders should have their 2a right restored after serving their time.”
As some added context, Cohen appeared on The Apprentice with Donald Trump in 2004. Last year Wayne was represented by Howard Srebnick who also gave a statement on the 20th saying, “for Mr. Carter is consistent with the views of many jurists — including Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett — that prosecuting a nonviolent citizen for merely possessing a firearm violates the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”
Wayne even released a song titled Ain’t Got Time addressing the pardon about trying to enjoy his life during this stage of his career with the FBI harrassing him saying, “And that just don’t sit right / Living like I can’t die, fumble with me / FBI arrest me, why? / They can’t nail mе so they just screwin’ me.”
“Ain’t Got Time” ft @FousheeLive OUT NOW!!! 🚨🚨🚨https://t.co/BvfClHwgEr
— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) January 21, 2021
Now say what you want about President Trump or alleged motives behind Wayne supporting him, for one, rappers have always made music about going to the White House, so the notion of accepting an invite to go no matter who is there shouldn’t surprise anyone and if you could have a meeting to avoid prison, you’d likely take it as well.
And to the premise of why Wayne was going to jail, people carry guns because they need protection. If all 50 states had constitutional carry, we’d be able to carry everywhere and then we wouldn’t be here to discuss this in the first place. We wouldn’t have so many rappers getting in trouble all the time either. Even felons need protection and everyone can’t afford security.