Bobby Shmurda Says He’d Rather Be Bleaching In Jamaica Than Go Back To Prison
Brooklyn rapper Bobby Shmurda has sworn that he isn’t returning to jail, even if it means fleeing to Jamaica and becoming light-skinned by taking up skin bleaching which is popular among some Dancehall artists. The 26-year-old was released from federal prison on Tuesday, February 23.
The rapper’s Jamaican father, Gervase Johnson, has been serving a life sentence since 1995 for attempted murder, while his mother, Leslie Pollard, is an African-American. Shmurda, whose real name is Ackquille Jean Pollard, made the joke when describing how committed he was in not returning to the upstate New York prison, where he spent the last six years, while being interviewed by GQ Magazine about reintegrating into society.
One part of the interview revealed Bobby’s epiphany about his career, how he now sees himself as a role model, and the shame and regret he felt about being away, which Shmurda expressed to rapper Meek Mill while on a FaceTime call.
“It was 2016, I was in the box. A six-year-old girl wrote to me; she said I was her favorite rapper… That just let me know the kids are watching me, and I have to be a role model.” Suddenly, being familiar enough with jail to rise above it didn’t mean so much…”
“…Bobby decided then to take rapping and his music career seriously: “I didn’t really care too much for it until I went to jail and I seen how the fans were loyal,” he tells me.”
“While we’re talking, Bobby pauses to take a FaceTime call from Meek Mill, and the two commiserate over the unfamiliar emotion that Bobby experienced after reading this letter: shame. “Hell, yeah,” Meek empathizes over the phone, “I was embarrassed every time.” “I’m done with that [jail] sh*t,” Bobby vows to Meek, cracking, “I’ll be light-skinned in Jamaica before I go back.”
“I left my godkids. They were four or five when I used to take them all to the store,” he told GQ. “Now it’s been seven years. I used to lie to them, say I was on tour, but kids are smart. I missed out. Even that little half decade of their lives, that’s important to me.”
Fans were quick to notice his phrasing about how serious he was about avoiding any further jail time. Many found it funny and took it in stride, with one saying it was Bobby’s version of “it’ll be a cold day in hell”.
Others predicted that there would be backlash for the comments which implied that he would rather leave US jurisdiction to avoid prison and flee to Jamaica where he would start bleaching his skin like popular Dancehall artists. Skin bleaching among deejays was first popularized by now incarcerated artist Vybz Kartel, followed by Alkaline, both of whom have stopped and have returned to their natural skin tones. However, the practice continues today with some, including Jahvillani, Intence, and other upcoming deejays looking to make a name for themselves.
“Bobby this ain’t 2014 society sensitve af now,” one commenter said, while another added, “Don’t cancel him remember he just came home 😭😭”.
When one user pointed to the “massive amount of bleaching” in Jamaica, another responded saying, “there are millions of us and maybe a few hundred who bleach”.
Humor aside, the Brooklyn-based rapper has a long road ahead of him, something he acknowledged during the very revealing interview.
At one point he asked someone in the room how long he had to take a shower, a sign that he’s definitely been institutionalized and that it will take some deprogramming before he can return to normal.
His close friend, Quavo of the Migos ensured that his first day out was like a dream birthday and he also shared how he did his best to support Shmurda when he was behind bars. “He was always getting in trouble and stayed in the hole. He would just tell me how crazy it was in there. I’d say, ‘Keep your head up, stay down, because we’re all Black, we’ve all been in tough situations.’ But I ain’t never had to do years like that,” he said.
He added: “But you just say, ‘Keep God first, stay loyal to what [you] stand on.’ At the end of the day, [if you do that] it’s an easy road to success when you come home. Be ready to get out, have some goals, have some plans, some money plans.”
Shmurda is hoping that his life takes a new direction now and revealed that he intends to get rich legitimately after spending years learning about real estate.
It seems he’s determined to turn a new leaf and stick to the straight and narrow.
“I know what y’all like. I know what y’all don’t like. Y’all don’t like to see young, Black rich nig-as. So I’m going to get real rich on y’all. I’m going to make it legit, though. They want to see you nig-as back selling crack. You know what I mean? Going to jail and shit. And I’m going to make it legit now.”