21 Savage Reveals Meek Mill Played a Role in His Release From ICE Custody
21 Savage says he played a major role in getting Meek Mill released from an immigration detention center.
The British national was arrested in 2019 after Immigration and Customs Enforcement learned he was living in the US on an expired visa. ICE officials told the media that 21 was convicted of a felony drug charge in Fulton County, Georgia in 2014; however, his lawyer later clarified that the conviction was vacated before the ICE arrest.
21 – She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph-born – spent more than a week in ICE custody before finally being released on bond. The rapper spoke to Math Hoffa about the incident during a recent appearance on My Expert Opinion and explained that it was instrumental in facilitating Meek’s release.
“They detained me ’cause they said I had felony conviction, but the felony conviction got dismissed,” he explained. “And I called Meek while I was in jail and told Meek, ‘Bro, I just got locked up.’ [Meek] called Jay-Z, and Jay-Z put a lawyer on my case … [he] played a role in getting me out of there.”
21 Savage Misses His Friend
Hov and Roc Nation tapped attorney Alex Spiro to assist 21’s legal battle. Jay called the arrest an “absolute travesty” and vowed he and his team would continue fighting the case until the rapper was released from ICE custody.
“The arrest and detention of 21 Savage is an absolute travesty, his U visa petition has been pending for 4 years,” Jay wrote in a statement shortly after 21 was detained. “In addition to being a successful recording artist, 21 deserves to be reunited with his children immediately, #Free21Savage.”
While speaking to My Expert Opinion, 21 expressed gratitude to Jay for lending him a hand, even though he is not part of the Roc Nation family.
“[Jay’s] ain’t just doing that shit for anybody, just ’cause you rap …,” he said. “It’s like you gotta be from a certain cloth … I don’t feel like he’s just doing that for anybody. I ain’t Roc Nation or any of that shit.”
Elsewhere in the interview, 21 spoke about linking with J. Cole on the Grammy-winning track “A Lot.” He said he met the Dreamville rapper during a party at the Made in America festival—the same night he was introduced to Jay. 21 said Cole told him to reach out if he ever needed anything, and also offered a piece of advice before he left: “Make sure you tour.”
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