Kanye West Credited for Helping Secure Larry Hoover’s Sentence Commutation
Kanye West is receiving public thanks from the family of Larry Hoover, the former gang leader whose prison sentence was recently commuted by former President Donald Trump. Hoover’s son, Larry Hoover Jr., spoke out in a new interview praising the rapper for playing a key role in bringing national attention to his father’s case.
Speaking with TMZ, Hoover Jr. highlighted West’s boldness and early advocacy as instrumental in the effort to secure his father’s release.
“He had a very big part because he started it all off,” Hoover Jr. said. “He put us on the platform. He took us to the White House on his platform when he didn’t have to do that.”
West notably advocated for Hoover during his 2018 visit to the White House, where he spoke directly to President Trump about the case. Hoover Jr. emphasized West’s willingness to take risks for what he believes in, adding, “We know he don’t have a problem with sticking his neck out there about what he believes in, and I’m glad he believed in this.”
Following the news of Hoover’s sentence commutation, West took to social media to express his gratitude. On X (formerly Twitter), he wrote:
“WORDS CAN’T EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR OUR DEVOTED ENDURING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FOR FREEING LARRY HOOVER.”
In the same post, West also thanked fellow artist Drake, who joined him in a 2021 benefit concert aimed at raising awareness of Hoover’s case:
“Thank you Drake for helping to bring Larry Hoover home.”
Larry Hoover Sr., who once led the Gangster Disciples gang, was originally convicted in 1973 for ordering the murder of a 19-year-old man. After serving decades behind bars, he received six additional life sentences in 1997 following a federal conviction on charges including drug conspiracy, extortion, and money laundering.
Despite his criminal history, Hoover has repeatedly claimed to have renounced gang life and has pushed for a second chance. His family and legal team have long argued that he has reformed during his more than 50 years in prison.
West’s involvement in the case became a lightning rod for attention, both for its controversial nature and his high-profile platform. His alignment with Trump during that period drew intense media scrutiny, but the Hoover family now credits his advocacy as a key turning point in their fight.
While the road to Hoover’s release has been long and complex, Kanye West’s efforts—combined with political intervention and support from figures like Drake—appear to have made a tangible impact on one of the most debated prison reform cases in recent memory.
