Finesse2Tymes, whose real name is Ricky Hampton, showed up in federal court May 8, 2025, after being charged with the violation of violating probation. The charges are failed drug screens and a more serious one for sending out terroristic threats, which can result in a stint of 12-17 months in prison.
Finesse2Tymes, who is now 32, stood in a Texas court, his newest legal affairs playing out under public gaze and media attention. On May 2, 2025, he turned himself in and was subsequently arrested. Hampton’s case is just one in a saga of problematic behavior for the nascent hip-hop star, who has seen his budding career consistently pushed into the shadows by encounters with the authorities.
Alias Finesse2Tymes, rose out of Memphis, Tennessee, with an edgy, inspirational sound that caught the ears of hip-hop listeners. His 2022 mixtape 90 Days, which included collaborations with artists such as Lil Baby and Gucci Mane, was his major-label introduction and solidified him in the Southern hip hop community. Yet his music career has frequently taken the back burner to courtrooms. Hampton, in 2010, was found guilty of aggravated robbery in Tennessee and served half of an eight-year sentence. In 2018, he was sentenced to five years in federal custody for possessing a firearm illegally while being a convicted felon, which stemmed from an Arkansas nightclub confrontation. Released in July of 2022, he was put under supervised release with strict terms, such as no use of narcotics and no further crime.
Hampton’s legal troubles resurfaced when he turned himself in to federal authorities May 2, 2025, after an arrest warrant for violating probation. His court hearing May 8, which took place at what looked to be the Bob Casey United States Courthouse in Texas, dealt with the violations. The results of the hearing are not clear, but Hampton’s lawyers have stated that the violations would see him sent to prison for an additional 12-to-17 months. Social media activity from Hampton, such as an Instagram Story where he stood in front of the courthouse and wrote “I’ll be back,” indicates both defiance and resignation as he goes through the legal system.
Federal prosecutors allege Hampton violated his supervised release in three ways. First, he tested positive for marijuana in 2022 and again in 2024, breaching the drug-free condition of his probation. While marijuana is legal in some U.S. states, federal probation terms strictly prohibit its use. Second, and more gravely, Hampton was arrested in October 2024 for allegedly making terroristic threats in Humble, Texas. The incident involved a confrontation with the guardian of FNG King, an 11-year-old rapper Hampton once mentored. The guardian claimed Hampton and his brother threatened her outside a smoke shop, with Hampton allegedly lifting his shirt to reveal a firearm and saying he would “up that fire,” a Memphis slang term for pulling a gun. This dispute, tied to a custody battle over FNG King, led to a new charge that further jeopardized Hampton’s probation.
The case has sparked lively discussion on social media. On X, posts from accounts like @SaycheeseDGTL and @nojumper reported on Hampton’s court appearance and the potential 12-to-17-month sentence. One post from @onlydubsX noted Hampton smoking a large joint before turning himself in, a bold move given his drug-related violations. Hampton himself took to Instagram, acknowledging the probation breach and linking it to the FNG King incident, writing,
“My P.O. just called and said they violated my probation for this happen wit King…finna go turn myself in.”
FNG King, in a video response, denied involvement, saying,
“You violated your own probation.”
An unverified X post from @FlakkoPoetik claimed Hampton’s lawyers quit over unpaid fees, a detail that, if true, could complicate his defense.
Beyond the probation case, Hampton faces a civil lawsuit from Ernest Flores, a former driver who claims he was shot in the head during a 2023 nightclub shooting in Decatur, Georgia, where Hampton was performing. Flores alleges Hampton and the venue failed to ensure adequate security, leading to injuries for five people. This lawsuit adds financial and legal pressure to Hampton’s already crowded plate of troubles.
