The hip-hop community is processing the news of rapper Bankroll Freddie‘s 12.5-year prison sentence, as the once-rising star faces serious repercussions following a high-profile federal case. Freddie, also known as Freddie Gladney III, was convicted of charges that range from drug trafficking and firearm violations to his leading role in criminal activities pertaining to Arkansas-based gang activities.
This sentence, meted out in federal court on Nov. 1, underlines the real-world consequences some artists face when personal struggles and community pressures collide with their personas.
An indictment against Gladney is associated with a federal wire that caught him on November 9, 2022. Investigators found the defendant with high-grade marijuana, firearms, and cash at the time of the operation. That operation targeted the Every Body Killas, or EBK, gang that brought in close to 50 arrests.
Gladney pled guilty to counts for conspiracy to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and using a telephone in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The sentencing court also found at the time of sentencing that Gladney was an organizer or leader in the criminal activity and enhanced his sentence accordingly.
Aside from imprisonment, Gladney had been ordered to pay a money judgment in the amount of $242,000. Three years of supervised release shall also be served upon discharge from the Bureau of Prisons. Judge James M. Moody Jr. has added that in this case, the sentence had been enhanced since the manufacturing of a privately made firearm, or “ghost gun,” was involved.
The charges against him were part of a larger federal investigation into the Every Body Killas, aka EBK, gang. Investigations included several FBI operations to reduce violence and narcotics trafficking in the corridor between Pine Bluff and Little Rock. At the time of this arrest during the traffic stop, law enforcement officials found a multitude of firearms, which included a ghost gun, 21.4 pounds of high-grade marijuana, $33,662 cash, and seven ammunition magazines.
Growing up in Helena, Arkansas, Freddie experienced firsthand the challenges that faces his community-violence and a lack of opportunities for the people. After a family tragedy in 2009, he moved to Conway, determined to rise above his circumstances. Having graduated from Conway High School in 2013, Freddie dove headfirst into music, finding his voice through the harsh realities of his early life.
His big break came in 2017 with the #ActUpChallenge, where he did a freestyle over the instrumental of City Girls’ “Act Up.” That freestyle popped relatively fast and was sent to Pierre “P” Thomas, CEO of Quality Control Music.
The opportunity took him to Los Angeles, and by 2019, he had a viral hit with “Drip Like This,” which pushed him onto the national stage. He got into music a bit later on, releasing a mixtape entitled Saved by the Bales, featuring guest stars such as Young Dolph and Lil Baby, which more so sealed his fate in hip-hop.
In 2020, the rapper signed with Motown Records and released his full-length mixtape entitled From Trap to Rap-an effort that perfectly combined trap sensibilities with infectious beats and heavy feature contributions from the likes of Moneybagg Yo and Lil Yachty, among others.
The growing discography-from which we include 2021’s Big Bank-aligned Freddie as an unapologetic southern voice, making this cat Arkansas’ own hip-hop hero. His work brought one of a kind’s point of view to his life, straddling success and survival. With all of his legal issues, Freddie’s fan base has remained loyal to him.
The music really touched the souls of listeners; especially those who furthered their understanding of where he was coming from with many of the things he rapped about. He is known for his rising-in-the-music-world lyrics, and setbacks he had to face outside of the stage.
This loyalty, however, has been put to the test as his personal life has become interspersed with his legal troubles. His fans were forced to consider the fact that many of his lyrics were actual choices he had made that had slowly started to lead him down a path of danger. Fans look upon him as a product of the environment, a talented artist attempting to balance his creative dreams with realities of life in a neighborhood stricken with gang ties and limited success opportunities.
Freddie’s sentencing has polarized feelings for his fans: on one hand, they are in awe of how he took his craft seriously, while on the other, quite disappointed altogether by the way he chose to set things rolling. Several fans wished he could continue writing his music from jail-a place where many artists find the urge to voice themselves. Up-and-coming mingled-generation artists will continue to walk in his footsteps inspired by his journey as an artist.