Rapper Kodak Black to be Released From Federal Custody on Time Served

Kodak Black

U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez ruled on Wednesday to release rapper Kodak Black from federal custody, granting him credit for time served after spending approximately two months behind bars. The 26-year-old artist, known for hits like “No Flockin” and “Super Gremlin,” faced legal scrutiny over a probation violation stemming from a guilty plea for failure to report police contact.

The ruling comes in the wake of recent developments in Broward County court, where Circuit Judge Barbara Duffy dismissed a drug possession case against Kodak Black. Attorney Bradford Cohen, representing the rapper, presented evidence of a 2022 oxycodone prescription from a pharmacy, attributing the inconsistencies in court-ordered drug tests to rehab and a warrant.

According to his defense, Kodak Black’s use of oxycodone was a result of pain management following a prison assault in 2020 and a gunshot wound to the leg in 2022, incurred during an incident at a restaurant afterparty hosted by Justin Bieber in California.

Despite his legal battles, Kodak Black remains active in the music scene. His latest music video, “Shampoo,” released on YouTube earlier this week, quickly climbed the charts, ranking in the top 16 globally within days of its release. In the song, the rapper references substance use with lyrics like “I’ve been smoking... I’ve been drinking... whipping up a dope cake.”

This isn't the first time Kodak Black has faced legal challenges. His history includes multiple arrests and convictions dating back several years:

In 2015, he faced charges in Broward County for assault, robbery, kidnapping, false imprisonment, driving with a suspended license and possession of marijuana. He also faced charges in St. Lucie County for marijuana possession and drug paraphernalia.

In 2016, he was charged in Florence, South Carolina, for sexual battery, as well as for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana, and fleeing from law enforcement.

In 2018, he faced charges in Broward for grand theft of a firearm, possession of marijuana, child neglect, two counts of possession of a weapon by a felon and two counts of probation violation.

In 2019, he faced federal weapons charges related to a U.S.-Canada border search and a purchase in Miami-Dade.

In 2022, he was charged in Broward for trespassing in Pompano Beach and a drug possession charge related to a Florida Highway Patrol search.

Kodak Black's legal struggles persisted even after former President Donald Trump commuted his three-year prison sentence in 2021 for federal weapons charges. Despite the setbacks, his music continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, reaffirming his status as a prominent figure in the hip-hop community.