Inspired by fellow Philadelphia hip-hop artists Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff, Meek Mill cut his teeth as a battle rapper, collaborating with Rick Ross on "Tupac Back" and "Ima Boss." In 2012, Meek released his first album, "Dreams and Nightmares," which debuted in the No. 2 spot on Billboard's Hot Rap Songs chart. With the 2015 follow-up, "Dreams Worth More Than Money," the rapper scored his first chart-topping album.

In 2008, Meek was found guilty of a drug and firearm charge, but instead of the expected misdemeanor "illegal carry" offense, which typically involves a fine and house arrest, the rapper was sentenced to two years in prison and eight more in probation, per Rolling Stone. In 2018, a judge piled on a sentence of up to four more years behind bars for minor probation violations. Per NPR, Meek served five months of his sentence before Pennsylvania's Supreme Court ordered him to be released on bail.

After his legal nightmare, Meek returned to the studio, releasing "Championships" in 2018, which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Album. His hit single off the album, "Going Bad" featuring Drake, spent 37 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100. In 2023, the rapper made an ambitious New Year's resolution. "This year a album every quarter!," he tweeted. Drake, who made a special appearance at Meek's 2019 Motivation Tour in Los Angeles, told his friend, "You definitely had the best comeback of all time."

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7XCpKCsr5mbwW%2BvzqZmampibIZzfI6cnKWdkqh6uLTOZq6eqpViv6a4xJqqnpxdm7%2BwuYyjmKKkXZa7pXnMmpueZZFisLC5xJuYnKNf