While the precise date of rapper Bobby Shmurda’s jail release was not determined until January, preparations for his first day out started months before.
“He had this dream: an aircraft filled with his crew, his family, and a few vibes [read: women] for him,” Quavo said in an exclusive GQ interview about Shmurda’s first 24 hours after being released from jail.
Shmurda was freed from the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision earlier this week, capping a six-year sentence for conspiracy to kill, weapon possession, and reckless endangerment.
He was slated to be released in December but became eligible for conditional early release on parole due to his excellent conduct and will remain under community supervision in Kings County until Feb. 23, 2026.
When the rapper was jailed in 2014, his career was only getting started. As senior entertainment editor, Frazier Tharpe of GQ put it, “coming to jail after the explosion helped Bobby realize how blessed rap fame is.” Shmurda also discussed his battle to maintain a good outlook and his commitment to youthful followers.
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“I was in the box in 2016,” he said. “I received an email from a six-year-old girl who said that I was her favorite rapper. That serves as a reminder to me that the children are watching me and that I must serve as a role model.”
The first 24 hours were punctuated with a welcome-home celebration complete with a rack of fashionable clothing, jewelry, and a long-awaited haircut.
When Shmurda came, he was wearing a brace on his right hand. “Prison is jail,” he remarked, adding that shortly after his plea agreement, he encountered “racially tinged abuse from the guards.”
Shmurda referred to 2014 as a “love/hate year,” knowing that the effort he did then has set him up for an infinite number of options today. While an album is not yet ready, he suggested that other projects are undoubtedly in the works.
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“I didn’t care much about [rapping] until I got to prison and saw how dedicated the followers were,” he said. “I can’t recall a single week throughout the whole bid when I didn’t get at least 10 [pieces] of fan mail.”
