Most likely you are familiar with the statement, “Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover”. It means you should not decide upon something based just on outward appearances. I found an interesting fact about the statement. The origin of the idiom ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ is fairly recent. The phrase is attributed to a 1944 edition of the African journal American Speech: “You can’t judge a book by its binding.” It was popularized even more when it appeared in the 1946 murder mystery Murder in the Glass Room by Lester Fuller and Edwin Rolfe: “You can never tell a book by its cover.”
Now we move ahead to the year 2019, and rap music is now in the world mainstream. The lyrics from rap songs tend to be quite frank and sometimes crude, but extremely honest. However, the rap artist tends to be an enigma. Even though much of their music is filled with profanity and violent word pictures, the rapper might articulate thoughts rather eloquently in interviews. They also might be very altruistic aside from on stage and recording personas.
This brings us to our featured artist this week, American rapper, songwriter, and activist Meek Mill.
There are music fans and others who follow news stories about Meek Mill, that will point out his many arrests and brushes with law enforcement as evidence of his art imitating his life. Is it fair to assume Meek Mill is only another violent criminal? Not at all. Again, it might be good to examine his early life, legal problems, and his music.
Meek Mill was born Robert Rihmeek Williams on May 6, 1987, in South Philadelphia, the son of Kathy Williams. He has an older sister, Nasheema Williams. Kathy grew up in poverty and her mother died when she was young. Meek’s father was killed when Meek was five years old, apparently during an attempted robbery. His uncle, Robert, described Meek Mill’s father as a “black sheep of the family”. After her husband’s death, Kathy moved with Meek and his sister to North Philadelphia, where they lived in a three-bedroom apartment on Berks Street.
When anyone mentions North Philadelphia, or North Philly, what comes to mind are several racially diverse neighborhoods. Like many metropolitan working-class areas, a large race riot, withering manufacturing sector has led to decline and eventual urban blight in much of the area.
Meek Mill’s mother was poor and she started cutting hair, doing other jobs, and shoplifting in order to support her family. This was the reality that Meek Mill saw and lived throughout his young life.
I understand Meek Mill’s poor upbringing. Born and raised in Chicago’s South Side I can readily attest to many of the things Meek Mill experienced as a youth. Much like Chicago, that North Philly area has given us a long list of great entertainment and sports figures, and they are still developing and coming from both areas.
At home, Meek was shy and rarely spoke. As a kid, he became acquainted with another of his father’s brothers, who under the MC name Grandmaster Nell was a pioneering disc jockey (DJ) in the late-1980s Philadelphia hip-hop scene and influenced rap artists Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff. Meek’s interest in hip-hop grew as a result of these early influences. He was also influenced by the independent hip-hop artists Chic Raw and Vodka, whom he learned to emulate by watching their DVDs.
During his early teenage years, Meek often took part in rap battles under the pseudonym Meek Millz. He often stayed up well past midnight filling notebooks with phrases and verses that he later drew on. Later he and three friends formed the rap group The Bloodhoundz. They bought blank CDs and jewel cases at Kinkos, encouraging friends to burn them with the group’s songs and distribute them.
Following his stint with The Bloodhoundz, Meek Mill started to work on his solo mix tapes. In 2008, Mill released his fourth solo mixtape, Flamers 2: Hottest in tha City, which spawned the promotional singles “I’m So Fly,” “Prolli,” and “Hottest in the City.” Flamers 2 caught the attention of Charlie Mack, founder and President of 215 Aphillyated Records. Mack was so impressed with Mill that he immediately signed him to his management company. During that same year, Meek Mill also met the founder and owner of Grand Hustle Records, Atlanta-based rapper and record executive T.I. T.I. was also impressed by Mill and offered him an opportunity to travel, to meet with him and Warner Bros. Records; within a week both record companies offered him a deal. Although he was offered other record deals, Mill felt collaborating with T.I. was “an opportunity of a lifetime” and thus chose his label. However, a setback occurred: Mill was arrested, charged with gun and drug possession, and ordered to serve seven months in prison. He was released in early 2009.
At the same time Meek Mill got his big musical break, his major legal troubles also began. He would never record an album with Grand Hustle Records because of more legal issues, but his music career would still take off.
In February 2011, Rick Ross announced the signing of Mill along with fellow American rapper Wale to his Maybach Music Group (MMG) label. In March 2011, Mill was included in XXL’s “Freshman Class of 2011”. Later that year, he released his debut single, “Tupac Back”, featuring Rick Ross, from his label’s compilation album Self Made Vol. 1 (2011). That same year he released his second single, “Ima Boss”, also take from the compilation and featuring Ross. The song was later remixed, featuring T.I., Birdman, Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled, Swizz Beatz and Rick Ross. The remix charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at #51, becoming Mill’s most successful single at that time. In August 2011, Mill released Dreamchasers, a well received mixtape featuring his urban hit “House Party” and guest appearances from Rick Ross, Yo Gotti and Beanie Siegel among others.
After a rough start, Meek Mill has enjoyed a very successful career, including his fourth studio album released last year titled Championships. I listened in preparation for this week with open ears and mind. The album is quite impressive. The album received positive reviews from critics and debuted atop the US Billboard 200, selling 229,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. Writing for Billboard, Sowmya Krishnamurthy stated, “Meek raps with the same fervor he’s always had, but there’s a discernable focus on Championships. He’s bridled his high-octane flow and is more clear-eyed. Incarceration has sparked a new purpose in him, as an activist and also as a man coming into his own.”
Activist? Yes. On November 6, 2017, Meek Mill was sentenced to two to four years in state prison for violating parole and served five months at the State Correctional Institution – Chester in Chester, Pennsylvania. On April 24, 2018, Mill was released pending the outcome of the appeal to the Pennsylvania supreme court. The Philadelphia district attorney had petitioned Judge Genece Brinkley for his release, citing credibility issues with the arresting officer in his initial 2008 conviction. Brinkley had declined and instead scheduled the case for a hearing. Hours after his release from prison, Michael G. Rubin, a minority owner of the Philadelphia 76ers and long-time supporter of Mill, flew Mill in by helicopter to a 76ers basketball game to perform a ceremonial bell-ringing on the court before the start of the game. Garnering support from other public figures such as Jay-Z and Kevin Hart, Mill stated that he would like to use his situation to “shine a light” on the criminal justice system.
Following his release from state custody, Mill co-founded the REFORM Alliance with fellow recording artist Jay-Z. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to reform the criminal justice system by lobbying for change in its laws and policies, beginning with probation and parole. Patriots owner Robert Kraft, 76ers owner Michael G. Rubin, as well as other leaders in business, law and politics have contributed over $50 million to the organization.
Contrary to the title of this post, Meek Mill has been judged. The judging continues as he awaits the results of the appeals. The judging also continues in the court of public opinion, although a little more forgiving. During this time of court activity, Meek Mill continues to create and craft fine music. If fans are judging Meek Mill, it appears to be in the musical arena, with a favorable verdict for each song.
Perhaps one day the legal issues will end for Meek Mill. At that point we will just have his music to judge. Even then, we should never judge this book by its cover.