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About a week ago New York rapper, Bobby Shurmda, was released from 6-year incarceration, 10 months earlier than anticipated. What greeted him was a fanbase steadily growing and waiting for his return.Bobby Shmurda, whose real name is Ackquille Pollard, was first arrested in 2014. His case was on second-degree criminal possession and fourth-degree conspiracy. His incarceration was part of a raid by New York police in December of 2014. Alongside Bobby, 14 other GS9 members were also arrested, including friend and rapper Rowdy Rebel.
For the last 3 years, Pollard had spent his time in upstate New York at Clinton Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison. Speaking on his treatment and time incarcerated Bobby says, “They made me a monster now. You’re like an animal in a f*cking cage. And you're mentally a monster. Physically a monster. Spiritually a monster. They aren't going to know what to do with you.” It's no secret that prisons' treatment of inmates is a problem, especially with people of color. The power surge that correctional officers gain can be tormenting to the livelihoods and mental health of inmates. And for inmates with fame, it can go both ways. Pollard explains how the racially charged abuse started with the rise of his fame causing him inconveniences and problems within the walls of the prison. “That’s just how cowards with power work. What I’mma do? Blame it on the tax bracket,” Pollard says, exposing the truth of these prison systems. Pollard spent no time at all upon his release rekindling the relationships that were put on halt at the time of his arrest. Long-time friend, Quavo, made sure of it that Pollard was greeted with abundance and prosperity for his first day out of the cell. Welcoming Pollard in a private jet, he was ready to take him to his welcome home party where his family and friends had been waiting to see him for six years. The Bobby Shmurda of today has been hardened by prison mentally and physically. But the carefree, goofy, and playful Bobby seen in the music video that skyrocketed him to fame is still there. “My spirit’s always gon’ be up. I used to sleep next to people who had 40 to life. People who’ve been in there for 30 years and haven’t laughed—I’d have them crying all day.” He explains, “When you got good energy, no matter where you at, you can bring a smile to someone’s face.” As for what his plans are for the future, his time in prison helps him to create those plans. He began to study and learn about real estate which gave him a new goal for when he was. Music is always a career option for him, but expanding his empire in other ways with real estate is what is on his mind. Showing their loyalty, fans throughout his incarceration have been keeping Pollards' spirits high. Sending him letters and mail expressing their allegiance and gratitude for Bobby and his music. “I didn't really care too much for it until I went to jail and I seen how the fans were loyal,” GQ writes. “I can’t name a week that I didn’t see at least 10 [pieces] of fan mail, throughout the whole bid.” Not only did those motivating letters help him to start to take his music career seriously, but they also helped to show him people were looking up to him and watching him as an example. “It was 2016, I was in the box. A six-year-old girl wrote to me; she said I was her favorite rapper… That just let me know the kids are watching me, and I have to be a role model.” Bobby says. Along with his studies within the prison on real estate, and his fan letters showing him that he is a role model. Bobby plans to use his influence to help speak to kids who have had difficulty with the law and need support. “I want to talk to those kids, you know, in those places and tell them they can be more and this is not it. Nobody want to spend their life in jail and I feel like they can do so much more.” While there is a lot of potential, opportunities, and goals that Pollard has for his new life. For now, he wants to enjoy his life outside the prison walls with family and friends. “I just wanna watch the city, man,” he says, looking out to the city that both made him and locked him up. “I been watching mountains for too long.”
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AuthorScarlet Ruiz Archives
April 2021
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