Prison rap

Prison rap: A phenomenon where inmates create rap music while serving time. Using smartphones, WhatsApp, or voicemail, prisoners record their lyrics, making bars behind bars. Sometimes they film short videos on their phones, but often they send voice notes to people outside, who professionally produce the tracks, add beats, and turn them into real records—uploading them to social media or YouTube, letting the music be heard—and sometimes monetized—outside prison.

Lee: Bruv, Did you see that YouTube video about that UK rapper Mazza_L20 in it?. He said he made a whole rap record just by leaving voicemail to to his girlfriend while in jail. He pointed to it hung on his wall LOL.
Frank: That’s sick, bruv real prison rap.
Lee: Init bruv LOL.
Frank: LOL.

by Jamie Cheese January 27, 2026