The rapper Loon once sang, “I done sold numerous drugs.” Little surprise, then, when he was arrested and sentenced to 14 years in prison for doing just that. But now, a letter signed by more than a dozen celebrities is asking President Trump to free the musician.

The push is being coordinated as part of an effort to build bridges between Trump and the entertainment industry on clemency and criminal justice reform efforts, despite significant industry opposition to the president on other issues.

Chauncey Hawkins, 43, rose to fame as “Loon,” an associate of Sean "P. Diddy" Combs at Bad Boy Records. After initial success, he abandoned rapping in 2008 and converted to Islam. In a 2010 speech in Australia, the Harlem-born artist called his past a “lifestyle I endured by default.”

But the lifestyle and the law caught up to Hawkins three years after his conversion. He was charged in 2011 with conspiracy with intent to traffic one or more kilos of heroin, dating to between 2006 and 2008. Many documents from the case are sealed, but supporters say Hawkins' involvement was minor, and that he had to plead guilty to avoid a longer sentence due to a prior drug offense.

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His celebrity backers argue to Trump that Hawkins, who also uses the Islamic name Amir Junaid Muhadith, "is deserving of your mercy and will be a better asset to the community as a free man where he intends to serve his community through the development of effective re-entry programs.”

Hawkins “can use his talents to benefit others rather than simply being warehoused,” they argue. "He has already served 7 years of his sentence. This should be enough."

Hawkins, scheduled for release in November 2021, appeared in the 2002 hit song “I Need a Girl (Part One)” with Usher and P. Diddy. He released the song "How You Want That” as part of his own 2003 album "Loon," which featured Missy Elliot and “Milkshake” singer Kelis.

“His case is like a bridge builder. Now we can bring entertainers to the White House who would disagree with Trump otherwise,” said Weldon Angelos, a former music producer released from prison in 2016 after serving 13 years of a 55-year sentence for selling $300 of marijuana.

Angelos, whose case attracted national attention to added punishments for firearms possession during the commission of a crime, which were recently curbed by the First Step Act, is making Loon’s freedom the first cause of the Weldon Project, a non-profit he founded. A second project, Mission Green, will seek release of inmates convicted of marijuana offenses.

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Angelos said he intends to deliver the letter to the White House within three weeks, in support of a formal clemency petition for Hawkins filed by University of St. Thomas law professor Mark Osler. He hopes publicity in advance of the delivery will encourage more people to sign.

In a statement supplied by Angelos, Hawkins said, "This administration's commitment to criminal justice reform has given me hope that I might see justice in my case." Authorities at his South Carolina prison did not immediately grant an interview request.

Current signers of the letter to Trump include two Grammy Award winners, R&B musician Faith Evans and producer Stevie J.

“Suga Suga” rapper Baby Bash, Tupac bandmate Mutah “Napoleon” Beale, “What We Do” rapper Freeway, record producers Kevin McCall and Michael Goldstein, Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder Damon “Dame” Dash, artist manager Steve Lobel, “Empire” actress and musician Bre-Z, VH1 reality star Benzino, and “Miss California” singer Dante Thomas signed the letter.

The list of signers also includes four-time Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and producer Marc Levin; “Hangover” producer Scott Budnick; former Minnesota Timberwolves basketball player Kevin Garnett; Jason Flom, the CEO of Lava Records and former CEO of Virgin Records, Atlantic Records, and Capitol Music Group; and Jeremy Meeks, a model who became a viral sensation for a “handsome” prison mug shot.

The letter also is endorsed by prominent criminal justice reform advocates, including CAN-DO Foundation founder Amy Povah, #cut50 national director Jessica Jackson, and Alice Johnson, whom Trump released from prison last year at Kim Kardashian West’s request.

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