<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/musician">Music industry</a> celebs Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Marshmello, and others are being accused of misusing funds distributed during the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/covid-19">COVID</a> pandemic meant to help struggling artists survive ongoing shutdowns.
An extensive <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lil-wayne-chris-brown-covid-relief-funds-svog-grant-2024-12">report</a> from Business Insider noted that these musicians applied for and received funds after President Donald Trump signed the grant into law in 2020. Other musicians and groups mentioned in the report include Alice in Chains, Shinedown, hip hop duo Rae Sremmerd, and Steve Aoki.
The Shuttered Venue Operations Grant (SVOG) allowed artists to collect up to $10 million to cover “ordinary and necessary” expenses. As part of the agreement, they were required to make a good-faith statement to the Small Business Administration and show that their companies had lost a minimum of 25% of revenue between one quarter in 2019 and the same quarter in 2020, the outlet noted.
The report accused Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Carter Jr., of accepting $8.9 million through the SVOG and spending $1.3 million on private jets, more than $460,000 on designer clothes, and $2.14 million to pay a debt he owed to his former manager. He also stands accused of spending more than $175,000 on a music festival promoting his marijuana brand, GKUA.
BI alleged that Brown collected $10 million for his company, CBE Touring. From that, the rapper reportedly paid himself $5.1 million. He also reportedly used $80,000 to host his birthday party. 
Marshmello, whose real name is Christopher Comstock, was approved for a $9.9 million grant, the outlet noted. That money was allegedly all given to him as salary, which was permitted under grant conditions because it did not exceed the amount of money he made the previous year.
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DJ and record producer Aoki’s company, DJ Kid Millionaire Touring, allegedly spent $2.4 million of their approved grant money on payroll, including a $1.9 million chunk for Aoki himself. 
Shinedown band members reportedly took $8.3 million total and split $2.5 million three ways to pay themselves. Rae Sremmurd allegedly took $7.7 million in all.
The outlet noted that 13,000 groups received money from SVOG. The SVOG <a href="https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/shuttered-venue-operators-grant/about-svog">website</a> says the program included more than $16 billion in grants. Originally, musicians weren’t eligible for the grants, but that decision was later changed.
As of Thursday, none of the artists mentioned in the article had responded to requests for comment or publicly discussed the accusations.

Lil Wayne

Rappers, Musicians Accused Of Using COVID Grants For Private Jets And Parties: Report

Chris Brown

COVID

Entertainment

Music Industry

U.S.

Rap artist <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lil-wayne" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lil Wayne</a> walked off the stage and abandoned his scheduled <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/music" target="_blank" rel="noopener">concert</a> after concluding fans weren’t hyped up enough over one of his guest acts.
The 40-year-old showed up at The Wiltern in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/los-angeles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Los Angeles</a> on Saturday night for the last stop of his Welcome to Tha Carter tour, per a report from <a href="https://people.com/music/lil-wayne-walks-off-stage-after-thirty-minutes-due-to-low-energy-crowd/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a>. Wayne was reportedly more than an hour late for the show and left the stage after just 30 minutes of performing.
At that point, he brought out the first surprise guest, 2 Chainz, before taking a break and letting Young Money artists Lil Twist, Yaj Kader, and Allan Cubas perform instead. The crowd reacted badly to the swap, which prompted Lil Wayne to come back out and abruptly end the show just as Cubas was about to sing his second song.
&#8220;We appreciate it, but we ain&#8217;t about to be bending over backwards for these folks. We work too hard for this s***. We work way too hard,&#8221; Lil Wayne said in a video posted to social media afterward.
&#8220;This my motherf***er artist Allan, that was Twist, that was Yaj. We are Young Money. We appreciate y&#8217;all time,&#8221; the rapper said before leaving the stage. A few minutes later, the venue lights were turned on, signaling the show&#8217;s end.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Last thing Lil’ Wayne said before ending the concert tonight :’) <a href="https://t.co/iNSZhwZLib">pic.twitter.com/iNSZhwZLib</a>
&mdash; Petty Crocker✨ (@herlindacarter_) <a href="https://twitter.com/herlindacarter_/status/1657644919132135425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Fans reacted strongly on social media.
&#8220;I will never go to another Lil Wayne concert again after he arrived 3.5 hours late then performed for 30 had intermission put his new artist to perform then came out and canceled the rest of the concert because the crowd wasn&#8217;t hype enough for his new artist,” one concertgoer <a href="https://twitter.com/HerNameIsEmpres/status/1657663604160868352" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>.
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&#8220;Lil Wayne need to stay humble and appreciate the people who support him, canceling a show you were 3 hours late for because the crowd didn&#8217;t know your artist is insane,” the fan continued in a follow up tweet.
“So let me get this straight&#8230;you show up an hour late for a show you&#8217;re allegedly headlining, do a 30-minute set, cede the stage to people (respectfully) nobody&#8217;s heard of&#8230;and the crowd&#8217;s not allowed to be just a teeny bit irked?” another person asked.

Rapper Lil Wayne Walks Offstage After 30 Minutes, Blames Low Energy Crowd: ‘We Work Way Too Hard’

Rapper Lil Wayne Walks Offstage After 30 Minutes, Blames Low Energy Crowd

California

Los Angeles

Music

Rap Music

While many modern rap artists have a contentious relationship with law enforcement, Lil Wayne stands out as a glaring exception to this rule. The 39-year-old Grammy Award winner can’t forget the time a white police officer saved him after a botched suicide attempt at the age of 12. Now he speaks up for cops because of what one did for him.
Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., reiterated his personal stance on police as anti-cop rhetoric reached a fever pitch in 2020 following the death of George Floyd.
“My life was saved when I was young,” he <a href="https://www.instagram.com/2cool2bl0g/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=417f5ab1-756f-4cc2-85a0-ba455715a891">told</a> listeners during an appearance on Apple Music’s Young Money Radio in June of that year. “I was 12 or something, I think. Shot myself. I was saved by a white cop, Uncle Bob. So you have to understand … you have to understand the way I view police, period. I was saved by a white cop.”
“There was a bunch of black cops jumped over me when they saw me at that door, laying on the floor with that hole in my chest. He refused to,” Carter continued. “Those black cops jumped over me, and ran through the crib, and said, ‘We found the gun, we found this, we found that.’ He said, ‘I found this baby on this floor. I need to get to a hospital.’ He didn’t wait for an ambulance. He took his car. He made somebody drive it, and he made sure that I lived.”
The “Lollipop” singer had talked about his experience with “Uncle Bob” (former officer Robert Hoobler) even before sharing that incredible story in 2020. 
At the 2018 BET Hip-Hop Awards, Carter described how Uncle Bob treated him following the shooting. 
“He brought me to the hospital himself. He refused to wait, he kicked in the doors. He said, ‘You get whatever you gotta do and you make sure this child make it’ … Not only did he refuse to sit, not only [didn’t] he give me to the doctors and leave, he refused to leave, he stayed and made sure that I made it.” 
As for perceived racism among police, Carter admits it does exist but cautions critics to take a look at individual officers, not to vilify the law enforcement profession as a whole. 
The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lil-wayne-on-floyd-death-stop-blaming-entire-police-force-entire-race-there-are-a-bunch-of-facts-we-think-we-know-that-we-dont-know">reported</a> in May 2020 that Lil Wayne asked people to  be “very specific” when reacting to Floyd’s death and other headlines and to not blame the “entire force” or an “entire race.”
“I think when we see these situations, I think we also have to understand that we have to get very specific,” Wayne told rapper Fat Joe via Instagram Live, according to Rap Up. “We have to get so specific and what I mean by that, we have to stop viewing it from such a broad view, meaning we have to stop placing the blame on the whole force and the whole everybody of a certain race or everybody with a badge.”
“We have to get into who that person is,” he continued. “If we want to place the blame on anybody, it should be ourselves for not doing more than what we think we’re doing.”
The rapper insisted that many activists are quick to act before knowing all the details. He defended staying silent on controversies surrounding racial injustice simply because he’s not sure what really happened. 
“The reason people always ask me why you don’t say this, why you don’t do that, what else am I gonna do after that?” Carter said. “Some people put a tweet out and they think they did something. Some people wear a shirt, they think they did something.”
“I mean, what you gon’ do after that?” Wayne emphasized. “Did you actually help the person? Did you actually help the family? Did you actually go out and do something?”
“If I ain’t about to do all that, then I ain’t about to do nothing,” he continued. “I pray for them.”
Carter said protestors need to have clear goals when they demonstrate for change.
“What we need to do, we need to learn about it more,” he said. “If we want to scream about something, know what we’re screaming about. You wanna protest about something, know what we protesting about.”
“It’s a bunch of facts that we think we know that we don’t know,” the hip hop star concluded. “If we want to get into it, know what we talkin’ about before we talk about it.”
As for experiencing racism, the top-selling artist has a surprising take as well. Wayne <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PBf_H3z63A">discussed</a> how he’s been blessed enough to avoid it mostly while commenting on Colin Kaepernick kneeling in protest during the national anthem at NFL games in 2016. 
“I have never, you know never is a strong word, dealt with racism, and I’m glad I didn’t have to. I don’t know if it’s because of my blessings… but it is my reality,” he said. “I thought it was over; I still believe it’s over. But obviously it isn’t.”
“We all want someone to figure out what’s going on first, and then put a stop to it — or try to put a stop to it — everybody come together and figure something out, and maybe, just coming together is the solution,” he continued.
Carter’s outlook on police reform is thoughtful and logical, which stands in stark contrast to how most rappers treat the topic. His attitude stems from his love for Uncle Bob, who he offered to help financially before the officer’s passing in 2022.
Per <a href="https://pagesix.com/2021/08/17/lil-wayne-offered-money-to-ex-cop-who-saved-his-life/">Page Six</a>, Hoobler recalled connecting with the rapper in 2019 and being offered money if he wanted it. Though the retired officer declined Wayne’s generosity, he did say he was “glad he saved a life that mattered.”
Carter posted a tribute to Uncle Bob upon hearing about his death in July.
“Everything happens for a reason. I was dying when I met u at this very spot. U refused to let me die. Everything that doesn’t happen, doesn’t happen for a reason. That reason being you and faith. RIP uncle Bob. Aunt Kathie been waiting for u. I’ll love &amp; miss u both and live for us all,” he captioned a photo of Hoobler shared to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgbEexPrkSc/">Instagram</a>.

_Harding – Lil Wayne And The Police Officer Who Saved His Life

The Heartwarming Story Of Rapper Lil Wayne And The Cop Who Saved His Life

New Orleans

Police

Readers Pass

Rap artist <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/lil-wayne">Lil Wayne</a> is paying tribute to New Orleans police officer Robert Hoobler, better known as “Uncle Bob,” who died recently.
Even as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/defund-the-police">anti-police</a> sentiment grows nationwide, Lil Wayne has remained steadfast that the men in blue deserve nothing but respect. The rapper, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., shared a heartfelt tribute on his <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CgbEexPrkSc/">Instagram</a> account this week.
“Everything happens for a reason. I was dying when I met u at this very spot. U refused to let me die. Everything that doesn’t happen, doesn’t happen for a reason. That reason being you and faith. RIP uncle Bob. Aunt Kathie been waiting for u. I’ll love &amp; miss u both and live for us all,” he captioned a photo of Hoobler.
The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lil-wayne-pledged-financial-support-to-police-officer-who-saved-his-life-pair-stay-in-touch">reported</a> that Lil Wayne had offered to financially compensate Uncle Bob or assist him in any way he could. The officer declined, but the pair remained close until his death.
In 2016, Lil Wayne described on Fox Sports&#8217; “Undisputed” how Hoobler picked him up off the ground and rushed him to the hospital after a botched suicide attempt. The rapper was 12 years old at the time. 
“That day that I shot myself, the police…came through there; they knocked the doors down; I was on the floor; they hopped over me, looking for the drugs,” Lil Wayne recalled. “It was a white police that ran up and stopped, and said, ‘What the f*** are ya’ll doing? Do you not see this baby on the floor?’”
“He picked me up, brought me to the hospital himself. He was white,” the recording artist continued. 
That same year, Lil Wayne declared that he thought racism was “over” when asked about NFL player Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem.
“It’s the man’s decision,” Lil Wayne said. “I’m not into it enough to even give an opinion. So when he did it, someone had to tell me why he was doing it, that’s how much I didn’t know what was going on. And I kind of still don’t.”
When asked if he had experienced racism in his personal life, the rapper had a surprising reply.
“I have never dealt with racism, and I’m glad I didn’t have to. I don’t know if it’s because of my blessings… but it is my reality,” he said. “I thought it was over; I still believe it’s over. But obviously it isn’t.”
“We all want someone to figure out what’s going on first, and then put a stop to it — or try to put a stop to it — everybody come together and figure something out, and maybe, just coming together is the solution,” Wayne said.

2015 iHeartRadio Music Festival – Night 1 – Show

‘Refused To Let Me Die’: Rapper Lil Wayne Mourns Death Of ‘Uncle Bob,’ A Police Officer Who Rescued Him From Botched Suicide Attempt

Rapper Lil Wayne Mourns Death Of 'Uncle Bob,' A Police Officer Who Rescued Him From Botched Suicide Attempt

Celebrities

Racism

Rapper Lil Wayne has been denied entry in to the United Kingdom at the &#8220;last minute&#8221; for a festival he was going to headline this weekend.
The 39-year-old rapper, born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was set to be part of the Strawberries and Creem festival in the U.K. on Saturday until his visa was denied by the Home Office &#8220;in a last minute decision.” He will now be a no-show, <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/lil-wayne-no-longer-appearing-at-strawberries-and-creem-festival-after-being-denied-entry-to-uk-12634621">Sky News</a> reported in a piece published Wednesday.
The Home Office confirmed to the outlet that the rapper’s visa had been denied and said that individuals who have been sentenced to prison for 12 months or more &#8220;must have their application refused.&#8221;
The rapper was sentenced to spend one year behind bars in 2010 for a gun possession charge, of which he served eight months in prison. In the past, he had been denied entry into the U.K. due to his criminal convictions, the outlet noted.
Organizers said it &#8220;received minimal notice,&#8221; describing the timing as &#8220;upsetting for all involved.&#8221;
&#8220;Due to extreme circumstances beyond our control or influence, we are very sorry to inform you that Lil Wayne is now unable to perform at the festival,&#8221; the organization added.
&#8220;Lil Wayne has been refused entry to the UK directly by the Home Office in a last-minute decision,&#8221; the organizers continued. &#8220;We are deeply disappointed by this sudden and negative ruling.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Lil Wayne no longer appearing at Strawberries and Creem festival after being denied entry to UK <a href="https://t.co/z6Qk0kb2OJ">https://t.co/z6Qk0kb2OJ</a>
&mdash; Sky News (@SkyNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1537142482814787589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Lil Wayne was previously set to take the stage along the likes of Mabel, Wilkinson, Katy B, and Tion Wayne.
Festival attendees are reportedly not happy about the decision and have demanded a &#8220;full refund,” accusing the festival of giving false advertising that the &#8220;Sucker For Pain&#8221; hitmaker would in fact be there, the report noted.
&#8220;Gotta be issuing refunds here,&#8221; one person <a href="https://twitter.com/Ryceezy/status/1537043223742390272">tweeted</a>. &#8220;Literally the only act people are coming for is Wayne. The only reason he hasn&#8217;t performed in the UK for so long was because he was refused entry before, so surely you checked this before announcing him?!&#8221;
Another <a href="https://twitter.com/ErnaJ92/status/1537041679756173316">wrote</a>, &#8220;Absolutely no way. Please can you let me know I can receive a full refund. This is false advertising.&#8221;
The festival responded to the upset concert-goers and have offered music fans free entry for Sunday&#8217;s festivities or a discount on their tickets for next year&#8217;s fun.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lil-wayne-thanks-trump-for-presidential-pardon">Lil Wayne Thanks Trump For Presidential Pardon</a>

Lil Wayne-2

Rapper Lil Wayne Denied Entry Into U.K. At The ‘Last Minute’ For Festival Appearance

Rapper

U.K.

Former New Orleans police officer Robert Hoobler, a.k.a. “Uncle Bob,&#8221; <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2021/08/17/lil-wayne-offered-financially-take-care-of-ex-cop-who-saved-his-life/">told</a> TMZ on Tuesday that rapper Lil Wayne has offered to financially support him or help him with anything else he needs; all the former officer has to do is call.
Hoobler was the officer who saved Wayne, real name Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 12. The rapper has come forward in recent years to talk about the suicide attempt and mental health.
&#8220;Hoobler, an ex-police officer, said that he saw Wayne when he was in New Orleans for a radio show in 2019. When they ran into each other, he told Hoobler that he would provide him with financial support if he needed it — all he had to do is say when,&#8221; Page Six <a href="https://pagesix.com/2021/08/17/lil-wayne-offered-money-to-ex-cop-who-saved-his-life/">reported</a>.
Page Six noted that Hoobler has not taken any money from Wayne despite the offer, &#8220;but there have been talks about him joining Weezy&#8217;s team in some sort of administrative capacity,&#8221; TMZ reported.
Wayne rapped about Hoobler on a 2015 song &#8220;London Roads,&#8221; where it was suggested &#8220;Uncle Bob&#8221; had died.
&#8220;But, Bob was still alive &#8230; and says he got in touch with Wayne to let him know all reports or rumors of his death were greatly exaggerated,&#8221; TMZ said. &#8220;Uncle Bob says Wayne was actually ready to pay for his funeral. Thankfully, that wasn&#8217;t necessary.&#8221;
In 2016, Wayne <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-lil-wayne-says-racism-over-praises-white-cop-amanda-prestigiacomo">referenced</a> Hoobler picking him up off the ground and rushing him to the hospital after he shot himself in the chest:
<blockquote>“That day that I shot myself, the police…came through there; they knocked the doors down; I was on the floor; they hopped over me, looking for the drugs,” said Wayne. “It was a white police that ran up and stopped, and said, ‘What the f*** are ya’ll doing? Do you not see this baby on the floor?’”
“He picked me up, bought me to the hospital himself. He was white,” said Wayne.</blockquote>
For years, it was assumed Wayne&#8217;s gunshot wound was an accident, but the rapper has since revealed that it was a suicide attempt.
Talking about the struggle he was feeling at the time of the attempt, Wayne <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_iKNketUXI&amp;t=540s">revealed</a> this month that his family did not discuss feelings openly. He also emphasized that he did not have a father growing up, leading his mother to play the role of both parents, suggesting she was harder on him out of necessity. The 38-year-old credited God with keeping him alive that day.
Notably, back in 2016, Wayne knocked then-NFL QB Colin Kaepernick&#8217;s anti-police protest and said he&#8217;s never experienced racism in America, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-lil-wayne-says-racism-over-praises-white-cop-amanda-prestigiacomo">The Daily Wire</a> reported:
<blockquote>“It’s the man’s decision,” Wayne said of the protest. “I’m not into it enough to even give an opinion. So when he did it, someone had to tell me why he was doing it, that’s how much I didn’t know what was going on. And I kind of still don’t.”
Host Skip Bayless asked, “Where are we in the United States of America, in race relations, in what you see from day-to-day in your life?”
“Skip, they wouldn’t want you to ask me that,” answered Wayne. “I have never dealt with racism, and I’m glad I didn’t have to. I don’t know if it’s because of my blessings… but it is my reality,” he said. “I thought it was over; I still believe it’s over. But obviously it isn’t.”
“So you have never experienced any offensive behavior from any other color..?” asked a stunned Bayless.
“No, sir,” replied the rapper.</blockquote>
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-lil-wayne-says-racism-over-praises-white-cop-amanda-prestigiacomo">WATCH: Lil Wayne Says Racism Is ‘Over,’ Praises White Cop Who Saved Him</a>

Rapper Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne Pledged Financial Support To Police Officer Who Saved His Life, Pair Stay In Touch

After receiving a presidential pardon, rapper Lil Wayne publicly thanked former President Trump for granting him clemency in the final hours of Trump&#8217;s White House tenure.
In a tweet on Thursday, the rapper signed his name, Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., as he thanked the president for &#8220;another chance&#8221; at life.
“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 <a class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406 r-1n1174f r-1loqt21 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0 x5l" href="https://twitter.com/bradfordcohen" target="_blank" rel="noopener external noreferrer">@bradfordcohen</a> for working so diligently to secure another chance for me. Love!” the rapper tweeted to his 35 million followers.
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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 <a href="https://twitter.com/bradfordcohen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bradfordcohen</a> for working so diligently to secure another chance for me. Love!
&#8211; Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.
&mdash; Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) <a href="https://twitter.com/LilTunechi/status/1352278708422385667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Lil Wayne was charged with &#8220;possession of a firearm by a convicted felon&#8221; in November 2020. He was not charged with ever brandishing the weapon or posing as a dangerous threat.  The White House said upon the announcement of the rapper&#8217;s pardon:
<blockquote>President Trump granted a full pardon to Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., also known as “Lil Wayne.”  Mr. Carter pled guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, owing to a conviction over 10 years ago.  Brett Berish of Sovereign Brands, who supports a pardon for Mr. Carter, describes him as “trustworthy, kind-hearted and generous.”  Mr. Carter has exhibited this generosity through commitment to a variety of charities, including donations to research hospitals and a host of foodbanks.  Deion Sanders, who also wrote in support of this pardon, calls Mr. Wayne “a provider for his family, a friend to many, a man of faith, a natural giver to the less fortunate, a waymaker, [and] a game changer.”</blockquote>
While not fully endorsing Trump&#8217;s candidacy, Lil Wayne previously expressed support for President Trump&#8217;s now-defunct &#8220;platinum plan&#8221; that was aimed at helping the black community.
&#8220;Just had a great meeting with <a class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406 r-1n1174f r-1loqt21 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" role="link" href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump" data-focusable="true">@realdonaldtrump </a><a class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406 r-1n1174f r-1loqt21 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" role="link" href="https://twitter.com/POTUS" data-focusable="true">@potus, </a>besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership. He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done,&#8221; the rapper tweeted in October.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Just had a great meeting with <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realdonaldtrump</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@potus</a> besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership. He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done. 🤙🏾 <a href="https://t.co/Q9c5k1yMWf">pic.twitter.com/Q9c5k1yMWf</a>
&mdash; Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) <a href="https://twitter.com/LilTunechi/status/1321941986174226432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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President Trump also commuted the sentence of rapper Kodak Black, who pleaded guilty in August 2019 &#8220;after lying on background-check forms to buy firearms in Miami,&#8221; according to <a href="https://www.local10.com/news/local/2021/01/20/kodak-black-fans-expect-trump-to-grant-rapper-clemency-on-federal-weapons-charges/">Local10. </a>In announcing the move, the White House said that Kodak Black had dedicated himself to philanthropic efforts after serving half his 46-month sentence.
&#8220;Kodak Black was sentenced to 46 months in prison for making a false statement on a Federal document. He has served nearly half of his sentence. Before his conviction and after reaching success as a recording artist, Kodak Black became deeply involved in numerous philanthropic efforts,&#8221; the White House said. &#8220;In fact, he has committed to supporting a variety of charitable efforts, such as providing educational resources to students and families of fallen law enforcement officers and the underprivileged. In addition to these efforts, he has paid for the notebooks of school children, provided funding and supplies to daycare centers, provided food for the hungry, and annually provides for underprivileged children during Christmas. Most recently while still incarcerated, Kodak Black donated $50,000 to David Portnoy’s Barstool Fund, which provides funds to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kodak Black’s only request was that his donation go toward restaurants in his hometown.&#8221;
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-pardons-dozens-including-celebrities-political-figures-commutes-sentences-for-dozens">Trump Pardons Dozens Including Celebrities, Political Figures; Commutes Sentences For Dozens</a>

Lil Wayne’s “Funeral” Album Release Party

Lil Wayne Thanks Trump For Presidential Pardon

Donald Trump

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Trump Pardons Dozens Including Celebrities, Political Figures; Commutes Sentences For Dozens

Steve Bannon

Rapper Lil Wayne set the internet on fire Thursday night when he announced that he had a meeting with President Donald Trump and praised POTUS for his work on criminal justice reform and the administration&#8217;s &#8220;Platinum Plan,&#8221; which is intended to bolster black Americans’ prosperity.
&#8220;Just had a great meeting with [President Donald Trump],&#8221; Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., captioned a photo of the pair together. 
&#8220;Besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform,&#8221; he added, &#8220;the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership. He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done.&#8221;
President Trump retweeted the post from his account.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Just had a great meeting with <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realdonaldtrump</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@potus</a> besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership. He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done. 🤙🏾 <a href="https://t.co/Q9c5k1yMWf">pic.twitter.com/Q9c5k1yMWf</a>
&mdash; Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) <a href="https://twitter.com/LilTunechi/status/1321941986174226432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Wayne isn&#8217;t the only celebrity working with Trump on the Platinum Plan. As noted by The Daily Wire earlier this month, actor and rapper Ice Cube confirmed that he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ice-cube-worked-with-trump-admin-on-platinum-plan-for-black-americans-trump-advisor-says-rapper-responds">worked</a> with the administration on the plan, too.
Wayne has made political headlines before for backing police officers and his criticism of far-Left activism, which he categorized as mostly empty &#8220;hashtag&#8221; or &#8220;t-shirt&#8221; activism.
Speaking on the death of George Floyd back in May, Wayne advised people to be “very specific” when reacting to perceived injustices, warning them not to blame the “entire force” or an “entire race.”
The rapper also implored activists to “know” what they’re “protesting about” before they advocate a cause. “It’s a bunch of facts that we think we know that we don’t know,” he said.
“I think when we see these situations, I think we also have to understand that we have to get very specific,” he told rapper Fat Joe via Instagram Live, according to <a href="https://www.rap-up.com/2020/05/29/lil-wayne-addresses-george-floyd-death-protests/">Rap Up</a>. “We have to get so specific, and what I mean by that, we have to stop viewing it from such a broad view, meaning we have to stop placing the blame on the whole force and the whole everybody of a certain race or everybody with a badge.”
“We have to get into who that person is,” he continued. “If we want to place the blame on anybody, it should be ourselves for not doing more than what we think we’re doing.”
Moreover, back in 2016, during an appearance on Fox Sports’ “<a href="http://www.foxsports.com/watch/undisputed/video?vid=764039235815">Undisputed</a>,&#8221; Wayne expressed that he was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-lil-wayne-says-racism-over-praises-white-cop-amanda-prestigiacomo">unimpressed with then-NFL QB Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest</a>, and said that he’s never experienced racism, and described how a white cop saved his life years ago.
“It’s the man’s decision,” Wayne said of Kaepernick’s protest. “I’m not into it enough to even give an opinion. So when he did it, someone had to tell me why he was doing it, that’s how much I didn’t know what was going on. And I kind of still don’t.”
“I have never—and never’s a strong word—never dealt with racism, and I’m glad I didn’t have to,” he continued. “I don’t know if it’s because of my blessings &#8230; but it is my reality. So &#8230; I’d have to say, not only [that] I thought it was over; I still believe it’s over. But obviously it isn’t.”
“[Racism is] not cool to them,” Wayne said of younger generations, “it don’t matter to them. It’s so not cool that it doesn’t even matter to them.”
The rapper <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-lil-wayne-says-racism-over-praises-white-cop-amanda-prestigiacomo">recalled</a>: “That day that I shot myself, the police … came through there; they knocked the doors down; I was on the floor; they all hopped over me, looking for the drugs, and looking for this and that. It was a white police that ran up and stopped, and said, ‘What the [f***] are ya’ll doing? Do y’all not see this baby on the floor?’ … He picked me up; [he] brought me to the hospital himself. He was white.”
That same year, Wayne <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-lil-wayne-slams-black-lives-matter-amanda-prestigiacomo">criticized Black Lives Matter</a> activists.
“What is it? What do you mean?” he said when asked about the activist group, later adding: “That just sounds weird, I don’t know, that you put a name on. It’s not a name. It’s not ‘whatever, whatever.’ It’s somebody got shot by police for a f***ed up reason.”
“I am a young, black, rich motherf***er—if that don’t let you know that America understand black [inaudible] matters these days, I don’t know what it is,” he said. “That man white; he filmin’ me. I’m a n*****. I don’t know what you mean, [man]. Don’t come at me with that dumb s*** [ma’am].”
“I don’t feel connected to a damn thing that ain’t got nothin’ to do with me,” added Wayne.
Trump’s <a href="https://cdn.donaldjtrump.com/public-files/press_assets/president-trump-platinum-plan-final-version.pdf">Platinum Plan</a> seeks to “increase access to capital in black communities by almost $500 billion” and outlines its four “pillars” as follows:
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<blockquote>OPPORTUNITY – By achieving historic employment levels for Black Americans, as well as increasing access to capital for new businesses, President Trump has been committed to ensuring all Black Americans can achieve the American Dream
SECURITY – By signing into law the celebrated First Step Act, President Trump has brought common sense criminal justice reform to the American people for the first time in decades, while ensuring that our streets and communities are safe for families and business owners
PROSPERITY – As the first President to provide long-term funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, this Administration continues to seek immediate and generational advancement for Black Americans
FAIRNESS – As demonstrated through his actions to initiate investment into Opportunity Zones, as well as address health disparities, wage gaps and necessary education reforms, President Trump works every day to advance a fair and just America for the Black Community</blockquote>
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Lil Wayne Meets With President Trump, Praises His Work With Black Community

As riots continue to rage across the country, leaders in the African-American community are stepping up to condemn the violence and ask for peace.
The most impactful statement came from Terrence Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, whose death following a police-related incident in Minneapolis sparked the protests and riots, said his brother was a “gentle giant” and wouldn’t stand for this.
“I’m outraged, too. Sometimes I get angry, I want to bust some heads, too,” Terrence told ABC News <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/george-floyd-brother-urges-peace-says-message-getting-lost-in-rioting-my-brother-was-about-peace">over the weekend</a>. “I wanna get — just go crazy. But I’m here to just — My brother wasn’t about that. My brother was about peace. You’ll hear a lot of people say, he was a gentle giant.”
“You’ll see him coming over and say, ‘wow he’s a big dude,’ but then when you talk to him and he’s all about positivity, motivation. I just can’t believe he’s gone,” Terrence continued.
Rapper Lil Wayne was perhaps the most prominent voice to speak out against the violence, saying during an Instagram Live segment with fellow rapper Fat Joe that people shouldn’t blame the “entire [police] force” or an “entire race” when something like this happens.
“I think when we see these situations, I think we also have to understand that we have to get very specific,” Wayne <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lil-wayne-on-floyd-death-stop-blaming-entire-police-force-entire-race-there-are-a-bunch-of-facts-we-think-we-know-that-we-dont-know">said</a>. “We have to get so specific and what I mean by that, we have to stop viewing it from such a broad view, meaning we have to stop placing the blame on the whole force and the whole everybody of a certain race or everybody with a badge.&#8221;
“I mean, what you gon’ do after that?” he added. “Did you actually help the person? Did you actually help the family? Did you actually go out and do something?”
In Atlanta, Georgia, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms gave <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/go-home-atlanta-mayor-gives-fiery-speech-admonishing-disgraceful-rioters">an impassioned plea</a> for rioters to “go home.”
“It’s enough,” she said during a press conference last Friday. “We are all angry. This hurts. This hurts everybody in this room. But what are you changing by tearing up a city? You’ve lost all credibility now. This is not how we change America. This is not how we change the world.”
“You are disgracing our city, you are disgracing the life of George Floyd and every other person who has been killed in this country,” she added. “We are better than this. We are better than this as a city. We are better than this as a country. Go home! Go home!”
Rapper Killer Mike also stepped into the fray <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/karmas-a-mother-rapper-killer-mike-unloads-on-cnn-for-feeding-fear-and-anger-every-day">to condemn CNN</a> for its role in fomenting the riots.
“I love CNN, I love Cartoon Network,” the rapper said. “But, I’d like to say to CNN right now, karma’s a mother, stop feeding fear and anger every day. Stop making people feel so fearful. Give them hope.”
“I’m glad they only took down a sign and defaced a building, and they’re not killing human beings like that policeman did,” he continued. “I’m glad they only destroyed some brick and mortar and they didn’t rip a father from a son. They didn’t rip a son from a mother, like the policeman did.”
In Cincinnati, Ohio, city councilman Jeff Pastor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-black-cincinnati-city-councilman-lashes-out-at-those-encouraging-kids-to-attack-cops-this-is-wrong">pleaded with his community</a> to stop encouraging kids to attack cops.
“These cops, black cops, white cops, or whatever, they did not do anything. And I’m not here to take one side or the other, but what I’m suggesting to the people of Cincinnati is that, what type of success are you going to have with attacking these people that have nothing to do with this?” Pastor asked.
“And what I’m saying is, is that you got people down here that are literally encouraging kids to attack cops. You are encouraging the kids to attack cops and they’re using Emmett Till, they’re using Martin Luther King to justify why these 14- or 15-year-old kids should be out here. These are former students of mine, you see what I’m saying?” he continued.
“If any African-American is encouraging these 14- and 15-year-old kids to be out here, they are wrong. That’s wrong. These cops didn’t do anything to George Floyd. This is wrong. I don’t give a f*** how you see it. It’s wrong,” Pastor concluded, before apologizing for swearing.
On Monday, President Donald Trump said he would deploy the National Guard to stop the riots.
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Black Leaders Across America Pleading For Violence To End

George Floyd

Killer Mike

Riots

Reacting to the death of George Floyd, rapper Lil Wayne said Friday that folks need to be &#8220;very specific&#8221; when reacting to perceived injustices, warning not to blame the &#8220;entire force&#8221; or an &#8220;entire race.&#8221;
Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr., noted that he&#8217;s unimpressed by &#8220;hashtag&#8221; and &#8220;t-shirt&#8221; activism if you don&#8217;t actually help the person you&#8217;re claiming to get justice for.
The rapper also implored activists to &#8220;know&#8221; what they&#8217;re &#8220;protesting about&#8221; before they advocate a cause. &#8220;It’s a bunch of facts that we think we know that we don’t know,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;I think when we see these situations, I think we also have to understand that we have to get very specific,&#8221; Wayne told rapper Fat Joe via Instagram Live, according to <a href="https://www.rap-up.com/2020/05/29/lil-wayne-addresses-george-floyd-death-protests/">Rap Up</a>. &#8220;We have to get so specific and what I mean by that, we have to stop viewing it from such a broad view, meaning we have to stop placing the blame on the whole force and the whole everybody of a certain race or everybody with a badge.&#8221;
“We have to get into who that person is,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;If we want to place the blame on anybody, it should be ourselves for not doing more than what we think we’re doing.”
Wayne noted that he&#8217;s often questioned about his apparent silence on some issues, seemingly referring to racial issues.
“The reason people always ask me why you don’t say this, why you don’t do that, what else am I gonna do after that?&#8221; he explained. &#8220;Some people put a tweet out and they think they did something. Some people wear a shirt, they think they did something.&#8221;
“I mean, what you gon’ do after that?&#8221; Wayne emphasized. &#8220;Did you actually help the person? Did you actually help the family? Did you actually go out and do something?&#8221;
&#8220;If I ain’t about to do all that, then I ain’t about to do nothing,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I pray for them.”
The 37-year-old added that protesters should understand what they are advocating for, noting of heavy misconceptions among activists.
“What we need to do, we need to learn about it more,&#8221; he said. &#8220;If we want to scream about something, know what we’re screaming about. You wanna protest about something, know what we protesting about.&#8221;
&#8220;It’s a bunch of facts that we think we know that we don’t know,&#8221; Wayne added. &#8220;If we want to get into it, know what we talkin’ about before we talk about it.”
During an appearance on Fox Sports’ “<a href="http://www.foxsports.com/watch/undisputed/video?vid=764039235815">Undisputed</a>” in 2016, Wayne expressed that he was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-lil-wayne-says-racism-over-praises-white-cop-amanda-prestigiacomo">unimpressed with then-NFL QB Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest</a>, said that he&#8217;s never experienced racism, and described how a white cop saved his life years ago.
“It’s the man’s decision,” Wayne said of Kaepernick’s protest. “I’m not into it enough to even give an opinion. So when he did it, someone had to tell me why he was doing it, that’s how much I didn’t know what was going on. And I kind of still don’t.”
“I have never dealt with racism, and I’m glad I didn’t have to,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I don’t know if it’s because of my blessings… but it is my reality. I thought it was over; I still believe it’s over. But obviously it isn’t.”
“[Racism] is not cool to them,&#8221; Wayne said of younger generations, &#8220;it’s so not cool, it doesn’t even matter to them.”
The rapper then <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-lil-wayne-says-racism-over-praises-white-cop-amanda-prestigiacomo">recalled</a>: &#8220;That day that I shot myself, the police…came through there; they knocked the doors down; I was on the floor; they hopped over me, looking for the drugs. It was a white police that ran up and stopped, and said, ‘What the f*ck are ya’ll doing? Do you not see this baby on the floor?’ &#8230; He picked me up, bought me to the hospital himself. He was white.&#8221;
That same year, Wayne <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-lil-wayne-slams-black-lives-matter-amanda-prestigiacomo">ripped Black Lives Matter</a> activists.
“What is it? What do you mean?” he said when asked about the activist group. “That just sounds weird, I don’t know that you put a name on. It’s not a name…It’s not ‘whatever, whatever.’ It’s somebody got shot by police for a f***ed up reason.”
“I am a young black rich motherf***er, if that don’t let you know that America understand black mothe rf***ers matters these days, I don’t know what it is,&#8221; he said. &#8220;That man white, he filmin’ me. I’m a n*****. I don’t know what you don’t come to me with that dumb s*** ma’am.&#8221;
“I don’t feel connected to a damn thing that ain’t got nothin’ to do with me,&#8221; added Wayne. &#8220;I’m connected to this mother f***ing flag right here.&#8221;
WATCH:
https://twitter.com/ComplexAmbition/status/1266207941415313409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1266207941415313409&#038;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rap-up.com%2F2020%2F05%2F29%2Flil-wayne-addresses-george-floyd-death-protests%2F
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-lil-wayne-says-racism-over-praises-white-cop-amanda-prestigiacomo">WATCH: Lil Wayne Says Racism Is ‘Over,’ Praises White Cop Who Saved Him</a>
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Lil Wayne On Floyd Death: Stop Blaming Entire Police Force, Entire Race; There Are ‘A Bunch Of Facts We Think We Know That We Don’t Know’

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