21 Years and 1 Day: Mac Phipps (Exclusive)
Mac Phipps Dale Edwin Murray for NPR hide caption
Mac Phipps
Dale Edwin Murray for NPRThe vote was unanimous. In a remote hearing held late in February, the Louisiana Board of Pardons and Committee on Parole recommended clemency for New Orleans rapper Mac Phipps.
In our first season, Louder Than A Riot reported on Mac's rise and fall, from breakout star on Master P's No Limit Records to convicted felon for a crime he says he didn't commit. Now, after 21 years in prison and one denied appeal after another, Mac has been granted a new hearing that could mean early — almost immediate — release. But what does justice look like when you've already spent half your life incarcerated?
On this bonus episode, we dive into the power dynamics at play throughout Mac's clemency hearing and examine how his hip-hop career continues to affect his image in the eyes of the law. Mac's wife, Angelique, and father, McKinley Sr., walk us through the clemency process and the years of damage the rapper's imprisonment has dealt to their family.
And finally, for the first time ever, we speak with Mac himself, who opens up about maintaining optimism, his regrets regarding the nightclub shooting for which he was convicted and future plans to return to music after his release.
To follow along with the music in this episode, check out the Louder Than A Riot playlists on Apple Music & Spotify. We'll update them every week.
To connect with us, follow the show on Twitter @LouderThanARiot, or send us an email at louder@npr.org.