On this day in hip-hop history…

2014: Boosie Badazz was released from Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola today, March 5, 2014 after serving nearly five years in prison for multiple drug convictions and a first-degree murder rap that he beat. Hours before his release a tweet from Boosie’s official account was posted, reading “….” Additionally, an Instagram post with the hashtag “#TheReturnOfBoosieBadazz” was posted earlier today, foreshadowing his release, and a post minutes ago of Boosie’s daughter was also just published with the caption, “Boosie’s daughter wanted to tell y’all something!”

Lil Boosie's (born Torrence Hatch) was one of the South’s best and most promising rappers—landing on XXL's inaugural Freshmen List in 2008—before he got locked up. While he was in jail, he was charged and went on trial for murder, accused of hiring a hit man to kill another rapper. He was found innocent of the charge in 2012. A couple of days after he was released from prison, the Trill Ent. artist was down in New Orleans at the W for a press conference where he addressed a myriad of topics and questions. The moderator was Power 105.1′s The Breakfast Club very own Angela Yee. Boosie Boo also has dropped a slew of featured verses, but his long-awaited comeback album, Touch Down 2 Cause Hell, has been pushed back repeatedly since its initial July release date. He officially changed his name from Lil Boosie to Boosie Badazz and released his mixtape,  Life After Death Row.

XXL were there to speak to Boosie first when he was released, telling us about how his popularity skyrocketed while he was behind bars. “I’d heard my buzz had grown, but there’s a difference between hearing it and seeing these Instagrams and Free Boosie tattoos,” Boosie said. “I feel like 2Pac because when he came home, it was his time. I feel like it’s my time now.”

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