Larry Hoover Jr. has thanked Ye (formerly Kanye West) for his support over the years when it comes to advocating for his father, Larry Hoover’s, freedom.
The elder Hoover had his federal life sentence commuted by President Donald Trump on Wednesday (May 28). TheGangster Disciples’ founder has been locked up since 1973.
“It started a long time ago with Kanye. Kanye put us on the platform,” he told TMZ. “[Ye] had a very big part because he started it all off. He put us on the platform. He took us to the White House on his platform when he didn’t have to do that.”
Hoover Jr. continued, “[Ye] stuck his neck out there. 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.”
Yeezy — who has been facing backlash for his hate speech — brought Larry Hoover’s situation to the White House during a visit to Trump in the Oval Office in 2018. He headlined the Free Larry Hoover Benefit Concert at the Coliseum with Drake in late 2021, and even gave Larry Hoover Jr. a platform during his Drink Champs interview.
Larry Hoover Jr. also made an appearance on Ye’s Donda album, and the former Chicago gang leader was spotlighted on West tracks such as “Jesus Lord” and Vultures 2‘s “River.”
Ye was hyped to learn that Hoover received federal clemency. “WORDS CAN’T EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE FOR OUR DEVOTED ENDURING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FOR FREEING LARRY HOOVER,” he wrote to X on Wednesday.
While the 74-year-old convicted felon had his federal sentence commuted by Trump, it doesn’t mean he’s going to be home free just yet. He’s still dealing with a 200-year sentence in Illinois for the 1973 murder of drug dealer William “Pooky” Young.
In addition to commuting Larry Hoover’s sentence, Trump has granted a series of pardons this week, including to YoungBoy Never Broke Again and reality stars Todd and Julie Chrisley.
