Meek Mill becomes the first rapper to receive the Nelson Mandela Foundation Humanitarian Award.
The Philadelphia rapper has received several awards, including a BET award and one from Billboard; he also was nominated for a Grammy in 2020 for Best Rap Album. His latest award may be the one to take the cake. On Thursday (August 12), Meek Mill received Nelson Mandela’s Foundation Humanitarian Award for his advocacy in criminal justice reform. The rapper co-founded the REFORM Alliance with Micheal Reuben and Jay-Z last year. The organization works with entertainers, politicians, and law enforcement with plans to eliminate restrictions on parole and probation.
The Dreams and Nightmares rapper took to his Instagram to share a photo of his award along with his "Dream Chasers" chain. "Blessings.. I got 'the Nelson Mandela humanitarian award' Thank you Rip to the great Nelson Mandela," he wrote. “I ain’t grow up playing ball. I had a smith & western* because where I’m from, it’s very hard to turn 27' #survivors."
Meek Mill has been outspoken and adamant about the issues of prison and criminal justice reform issues after his stint with the Pennsylvania justice system after being sentenced to two to four years in prison for violating parole. Meek was released in April of 2018 after a year-long legal dispute between the Pennsylvania supreme court.
Congratulations, Meek Mill, for the lifetime achievement, and continue to fight for basic human rights for all people!