Since being released from prison Meek Mill, who had served time for probation violation, has been an active proponent of prison reform. Billboard honored the rapper's efforts with their Impact Award. Meek kept it one hundred during his acceptance speech. The full clip is available below.
After Van Jones' introduction, the artist explained why he chose this new path of social justice.
“This time when I went to prison a lot of people stood up for me and a lot of people stuck their necks out for me at my roughest time in life. So, you know, I thought it was only right if I use some of my platform and my power to actually reach back and help the people that stood up for me in my worst times.”
He had previously shed light on the fact that his status does not change the way the system approaches him, which only cements his beliefs in its reform.
“At 18 years old I was caught up in that system. Even though I’ve been on the path ever since of doing spectacular in my life and where I come from, that same system is still haunting me and hawking me down even at the age of 31, and having a record deal and being able to handle business and work. It’s still haunting me, to pull me back to the same system where I just left 11 years ago.”