High-profile rap careers often continue to make headlines long after the music stops, especially when criminal cases are involved. This article looks at rappers who remain behind bars as of November 20, 2025, highlighting why they were locked up and how much time they are expected to serve. Their situations range from long-standing life sentences to recent convictions and pretrial detentions.
YNW Melly
Florida rapper YNW Melly has been jailed since 2019 on two counts of first-degree murder related to the deaths of two associates, with a retrial in his case now pushed back to early 2027. He remains in pretrial detention, meaning he has already spent years behind bars without a final conviction. If found guilty at a future trial, he could face a potential life sentence or worse, extending his time in custody far beyond the eight years he will have already served by then.
Casanova
Brooklyn rapper Casanova is serving a 15-year federal sentence after pleading guilty to racketeering and narcotics offenses linked to the Gorilla Stone Nation gang. He surrendered to authorities in 2020 and was sentenced in 2023, with his projected release falling well into the 2030s. Even with credit for time served and potential reductions, he is expected to remain incarcerated for most of the coming decade.
Mystikal
New Orleans rapper Mystikal has been held without bond in a Louisiana jail since his July 2022 arrest on first-degree rape and related charges. Judges have repeatedly denied his bond requests, so he remains in custody while awaiting a trial currently scheduled for 2026. Because the charges carry a possible life sentence, he faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life in prison if convicted.
Tory Lanez
Canadian artist Tory Lanez is serving a 10-year sentence in California after being convicted for shooting rapper Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. His appeals have been unsuccessful so far, and he remains housed in a state correctional facility with a projected release sometime in the early 2030s. Unless a higher court intervenes, he is expected to serve most of that term before becoming eligible for release.
Quando Rondo
Savannah rapper Quando Rondo is in federal prison after pleading guilty to a marijuana conspiracy charge and receiving a 33-month sentence in late 2024. He turned himself in at the start of 2025 and is currently serving his time at a federal facility in Ohio. With credit for good behavior, his release date is generally expected to land in spring 2027.
9lokknine
Orlando rapper 9lokknine is serving a seven-year federal sentence after pleading guilty to firearms and identity theft charges, including fraud involving pandemic relief funds. He was sentenced in 2021 and has been incarcerated since that year, with supervised release to follow once his term ends. Based on the length of the sentence, he is expected to remain behind bars until roughly 2028, depending on credits and program participation.
Tsu Surf
Battle rapper Tsu Surf received a five-year federal sentence in 2023 after pleading guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges in New Jersey. He has used his time in custody to stay active with fans through letters and online updates coordinated by his team. Given when he was sentenced, he is likely to remain in prison until around 2028, though federal good-time credits could adjust the exact date.
Lil Reese
Chicago drill rapper Lil Reese is serving a five-year sentence in Texas for aggravated assault of a family member, stemming from an incident first reported in 2022. Court records show he was sentenced in October 2024 and is currently incarcerated at the Garza West Unit. His projected release is in 2029, with the possibility of parole several years earlier if he meets eligibility requirements.
Cash Out
Atlanta rapper Cash Out received a severe sentence in July 2025 after being convicted of rape, sex trafficking, racketeering, and other offenses in Georgia. He was given life in prison plus additional decades on related counts, leaving little realistic prospect of release.
Fetty Wap
New Jersey rapper Fetty Wap is serving a federal sentence after pleading guilty in a drug trafficking case that involved distributing narcotics across Long Island and New Jersey. Originally facing a release in 2027, recent updates from prison authorities show his projected release date has been moved up to late 2026. Until then, he remains in federal custody, with supervised release to follow his time behind bars.
Unfoonk
Atlanta rapper Unfoonk, known as Young Thug’s brother, was sentenced in 2023 to nine and a half years in prison after violating the terms of a plea deal in the YSL racketeering case. Prosecutors argued he broke his agreement by possessing a firearm, leading the judge to revoke his prior leniency. That sentence keeps him incarcerated well into the 2030s unless he wins post-conviction relief.
Kidd Creole
Hip-hop pioneer Kidd Creole, a founding member of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, is serving a 16-year sentence in New York for first-degree manslaughter. He was convicted in 2022 for fatally stabbing a man during a late-night encounter in Manhattan. With additional post-release supervision built into the judgment, he is expected to remain under the justice system’s control well beyond his mid-70s.
Lul G
California rapper Lul G, formerly of SOB x RBE, is serving a 21-year sentence after pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter in a 2019 shooting. The plea deal, finalized in 2023, allowed him to avoid a possible life term on the original murder charge. If he serves the full sentence, he could remain in state prison into the early 2040s, though parole boards may eventually review his case.
Foogiano
Gucci Mane affiliate Foogiano is incarcerated on a five-year sentence after cutting off his court-ordered ankle monitor and violating probation in Georgia. He was sentenced in 2021, and reporting at the time indicated he would serve the full term in state custody. Based on that schedule, he is expected to remain imprisoned at least through 2026 unless he earns early release.
Big Lurch
Texas rapper Big Lurch has been serving a life sentence without parole since 2003 after being convicted of murdering his roommate in a highly publicized case that involved allegations of cannibalism. Because his term is life without parole, he has no standard release date built into the sentence. Unless a court overturns his conviction or commutes his punishment, he is expected to remain imprisoned for the rest of his life.
C-Murder
Louisiana rapper C-Murder is serving a life sentence at the Louisiana State Penitentiary for a 2002 nightclub killing, a conviction that has been contested for years by supporters who argue he was wrongfully convicted. Despite public campaigns and family efforts to secure a new trial or clemency, he remains incarcerated with no set release date. Recent coverage confirms that, as of late 2025, he is still behind bars while legal challenges continue.
Kay Flock
Bronx drill rapper Kay Flock was found guilty in federal court in March 2025 on racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, and firearms charges tied to alleged gang activity. He has been held in custody since his 2021 arrest and now faces a sentencing range that runs from a 10-year mandatory minimum up to life in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for December 2025, so he will remain behind bars at least until then and quite possibly for decades after.
Diddy
Music mogul Diddy is serving a 50-month federal sentence after a 2025 conviction on two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution under the Mann Act, while being acquitted on more serious racketeering and sex trafficking charges. He has been in custody since his 2024 arrest and was ordered to remain detained through sentencing, with a projected release in 2028 assuming standard good-time credits. His case, which has drawn intense global attention, continues to generate legal debate as his team prepares appeals and he adjusts to life in federal prison.
