Texas Rapper Twisted Black Sentenced to Life in Prison for Drug Conspiracy

Forth Worth, Texas-based rapper Twisted Black was recently sentenced to life in prison, according to a statement on the artist’s webpage. The 35-year-old rapper, whose real name is Tommy Burns, was found guilty of conspiracy to sell crack cocaine in a US District court after being arrested by DEA authorities back in July of this year. According to the Midland Reporter-Telegram, the government’s case was built on the testimony of Courtney Iglehart, who claimed that he met Black at a Fort Worth recording studio and paid him $4,500 for a quarter kilogram of powder cocaine in February 2005. Iglehart is already serving a 10-year sentence for selling crack, and much of the defense’s strategy related to questioning the credibility of the trial's key witnesses.

Shortly after Black’s initial arrest, it was announced that he had signed a new solo deal with indie powerhouse label TVT Records. Black first gained fame as a member of ’90s rap duo One Gud Cid, releasing two independent albums to moderate regional success and even briefly signing a deal with Suave House/Universal. Black’s solo debut Late Bloomer was released in 2003 and his latest, The Life Of Tommy Burns, was released last year.