Imagine spending over two decades behind bars for a crime you didn’t commit—all because of lyrics you wrote. That’s the reality hip hop artist Mac Phipps lived through.
His words, meant to express creativity and emotion, were twisted into evidence of guilt. Now free, Mac is sounding the alarm for artists everywhere.
A Conviction That Shook the Music World
Mac Phipps, once an up-and-coming rapper in the early 2000s, saw his world collapse after a tragic shooting led to the death of 19-year-old Barron Victor Jr. In 2001, he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 30 years in a Louisiana prison.
But here’s the catch—Mac insists he had nothing to do with the crime.
Instead, he believes his lyrics, especially those from songs like Shell Shocked and Murda, Murda, Kill, Kill, were taken out of context and used to paint him as guilty.
Ironically, those lyrics were inspired by his father’s military service, not real-life violence.
21 Years Lost, But Not in Vain
Mac spent 21 years locked up at the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center.
Although he was granted clemency and released on parole in 2021, his conviction still stands. And that injustice fuels his mission today.
“This was a travesty,” Mac told DailyMail.com. “We’re talking about 21 years of someone’s life.
Even if it wasn’t me, it could have been anybody’s son or daughter.”
Warning to Artists: Your Art Could Be Used Against You
Mac’s story is far from unique. Other artists, like rapper Young Thug, have faced similar legal battles, with their music being scrutinized in court.
For Mac, that’s a dangerous road to be heading down.
“Today it’s hip hop,” he warns. “But what will it be tomorrow?”
That’s why he teamed up with the organization Free Our Art—a group that’s fighting to protect artists from having their creative expression used as courtroom ammunition.
The movement isn’t just about rap; it’s about all forms of art.
Advocating for Legal Change
Through Free Our Art, Mac is pushing for new legislation on both the state and federal levels.
The goal? Prevent prosecutors from twisting lyrics, poetry, or other creative works into supposed “confessions.”
Lobbyists in states like Georgia and Missouri are working hard to pass bills that would set legal boundaries around the use of artistic expression in trials.
The organization also provides support to defendants, legal resources, and research initiatives.
“Art is meant to be expressive, not literal,” Mac emphasized. “It’s imagination. It’s storytelling.”
Holding On Through the Darkness
Reflecting on his prison experience, Mac admits it was one of the hardest chapters of his life. He even questioned if pursuing hip hop was worth it.
“There were times I lost hope,” he said. “And what hurt the most was knowing that the thing I loved—my music—was used against me.”
What got him through? Letters from fans, unwavering support from his family, and eventually, a renewed love for hip hop inspired by artists like J. Cole.
“Those letters meant the world to me. Just knowing people believed I was wronged gave me strength,” he said.
Remembering the Day Freedom Returned
April marks the anniversary of Mac’s clemency—an emotional turning point he remembers vividly.
“I’ll never forget the feeling,” he shared. “It was like all the weight I’d carried for years just lifted off me. I finally felt light again.”
But while Mac may be free physically, the emotional and mental toll of wrongful incarceration still lingers.
Forgiveness Without Forgetting
Mac says he forgives, but that doesn’t mean he’s letting go of the fight for justice.
“I’ll never accept what happened to me,” he said.
“If I did, I wouldn’t be here today, standing up for others.”
And that’s his mission now—ensuring no other artist goes through what he did.
He wants to empower anyone wrongfully accused to keep fighting.
“To anyone out there in a similar situation: Never give up hope,” he urged.
“Find that thing that keeps you alive, hold on to it, and don’t stop fighting for your freedom.
You’re not alone—we’re out here fighting with you.”