Award-winning Atlanta rappers Young Thug and Gunna performed a random act of kindness over the weekend after they posted bail for 30 inmates who were being held at the city’s Fulton County Jail for minor offenses.
Speaking to WSB-TV, the rappers said a handful of the freed detainees had committed minor offenses but could not afford to post bail.
“This is where we are from,” Young Thug, born Jeffrey Williams, said. “We just woke up and went to the jail with the lawyer and, you know, DA’s and the prosecutors, you know, the bonding companies and just got as many people as we can out.”
In a video shared by the news outlet, the son of one of the freed beneficiaries could be seen running to his dad for an embrace as he exited the facility in what was an emotional moment.
“You never know what somebody been through. There was people sitting out three or four years and couldn’t get out on a bond,” Gunna, real name Sergio Kitchens, said. Young Thug added: “If they did the crime, then they can do the time, then it’s all right. But it’s like you’re giving them a bond higher than what they stole.”
The rappers’ kind gesture comes after an initial WSB-TV report that revealed the facility was over-capacity by 400 inmates. That was two months ago. “This is some of the worst conditions I’ve ever seen,” a councilman told the news outlet at the time.
The inmates who were freed over the weekend were welcomed with a home-cooked meal. They were also informed they’ll have cameo appearances in a music video. “It feels so good to the point where you start feeling that’s why God put me here. He put me here to do this,” Young Thug said.
And though the rappers did not reveal how much it cost them, they told WSB-TV their endeavor wouldn’t be a nine-day wonder as they plan on extending a helping hand to other inmates facing similar predicaments. They also challenged colleague musicians to follow suit.