Outgoing president Trump pardons Lil Wayne and Kodak Black

The pardons and commutations of sentence were announced yesterday (19 January) as one of the final acts of the outgoing US president.

Trump's list of pardons and commutations featured names including Death Row Records co-founder Michael "Harry-O" Harris, former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon, and rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black.

Lil Wayne received a full presidential pardon after pleading guilty to a firearm possession charge in Miami in December. The rapper was facing a possible 10-year prison sentence. According to Pitchfork, a statement released by the White House comments on Lil Wayne's charity commitments, as well as featuring supportive quotes from Sovereign Brands’ Brett Berish - who called the rapper "trustworthy, kind-hearted, and generous" - and Deion Sanders - who described Lil Wayne as "a provider for his family, a friend to many, a man of faith, a natural giver to the less fortunate, a waymaker, [and] a game changer".

Kodak Black, who is currently serving over three years after pleading guilty to a weapons charge, received a commutation from Trump. The White House's statement on Kodak Black highlights his "numerous philanthropic efforts" and his commitment to "supporting a variety of charitable efforts, such as providing educational resources to students and families of fallen law enforcement officers and the underprivileged."