Tory Lanez’s Recording Equipment Seized In Raid Following ‘Prison Tapes’ Release

Update: 1:54 PM EST (Sept. 10, 2024) – Tory Lanez has released a statement regarding his prison cell getting raided and his audio recording equipment confiscated. Lanez says although his cell was raided and trashed, it was not because he learned how to record his music from behind bars, but because he’s helping other inmates receive legal assistance from his musical proceeds.

Read his statement in its entirety below:

“The rumors are true. ‘The Prison Tapes’ will be discontinued until further notice,” he stated via Instagram. “However, I think it’s important that my fans know the truth about the crooked a** sh*t that’s REALLY going on here. My cell was not raided and trashed because I learned how to record myself in prison or because I created ‘The Prison Tapes. I was shut down because the ‘HIGHER UPS’ figured out what I was really doing with ‘The Prison Tapes’ and how many inmates were being helped in a life changing way because of them.”

He continued, “Since the first day I-was incarcerated, all I’ve seen is blacks and other minorities receive the most cruel, illegal, and unfair punishment/treatment. For so many nights, I asked God to reveal his purpose in making me go through the ills of the prison system. I was later shown that purpose. I was placed in jail to suffer, to feel, and to witness firsthand the pain and oppression being inflicted upon the young black and brown men and women of my generation. I knew I had to change this injustice. So, I made a plan that when I got to prison, I would figure out a way to record music and put all the proceeds towards the legal representation of my fellow inmates, giving them a once in a lifetime chance to go home to their families on appeal and resentencing.”

“Although the ‘HIGHER UPS’ have stopped ‘The Prison Tapes’ temporarily, they were too late to stop my overall plan,” he added. “Since the month of July, l’ve afforded legal representation for 472 inmates and actively reopened 476 cases. With the help of legal firm ‘UNITE THE PEOPLE, so many inmates will be returned to their families and loved ones. I’m naming this ‘The Hands of God Project. Lastly, they know I’m a threat and they don’t want me saying or doing this so if ANYTHING happens to me, just know I went out in the blaze of glory trying to revolutionize the end of a mass incarceration era on our people.”

Original story below…

Tory Lanez’s prison cell was recently raided, and in the midst of it all, any equipment that could be used to record audio was confiscated, according to TMZ.

Per the outlet, Ceasar McDowell, chief deputy on the Canadian star’s legal team, stated that his client’s recording tools were seized as part of a routine raid by prison guards. He also shared that the California Correctional Institution, where Lanez resides, has strict rules on inmates possessing recording devices.

Lanez has yet to address the matter via his legal team or Instagram.

In July, the 32-year-old rapper/singer had an epiphany as he “cracked the code” on recording music from behind bars. With an exciting announcement for his “Umbrellas” fanbase, he promised to drop weekly music for as long as he could.

“After about 20-something to 30-something f**k-ups and mistakes, me and my engineer have finally figure out how to record music over the jail phone and still keep the quality as professional as I had it on the street,” he explained to his “Umbrellas” fanbase in an audio message posted to his Instagram.

“It’s over. I done cracked the f**king code, man,” he continued. “This means that not even these prison walls can stop me from dropping new music. It’s crazy! That being said, man, I’m about to start dropping hot heaps of coal on ya’ll headtop.”

Since his announcement, he’s released singles “580 Benz,” “F&V,” “Featherweight,” “Know What You Need,” “Cell 245,” “Wish I Never Met You” and “Shots Come For Free.”

Listen to the latest single below.

Lanez seems to be using his time away wisely, as he also announced in August that he’d earned his G.E.D. and enrolled in college.

Via Adin Ross’ Kick stream, he told listeners, “A ni**a just graduated high school, enrolled in college. Never thought I’d do that. But I’m taking this moment and I’m taking advantage over everything that’s good. I’m a f**king high school drop out that just graduated high school. That sh*t matters to me. So, it’s the small things that just have me feeling good about life right now.”

The Chixtape artist is currently serving 10 years in prison for his involvement in the 2020 shooting of Megan Thee Stallion.

Lanez was found guilty on three charges in Dec. 2022, which included assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a concealed and loaded firearm in a vehicle and discharge of a firearm with gross negligence.

He’s also requested a new trial recently amid an affidavit submitted from his driver, Jauquan Smith, detailing the night of the shooting. However, Prosecutors refused the document saying that Lanez’s former attorney refused to call Smith as a witness in court.

According to Smith, he said he witnessed Kelsey Harris (Meg’s ex-bestfriend) holding a gun during the altercation and Lanez attempting to “disarm” her. Unfortunately, he said he did not see who exactly pulled the trigger.

More from VIBE.com

• Tory Lanez To Release “Free Tory Playlist” Updated Weekly From Prison

• Tory Lanez Claims He's Earned His G.E.D., Enrolling In College Amid Incarceration

• Kelsey Harris Speaks Out After Joe Budden Insinuates Tory Lanez Was Set Up In Shooting Case

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