Trump Gets Unlikely Props For Freeing Death Row Records Cofounder

LOS ANGELES, CA — A co-founder of Death Row Records walked out of federal prison this week thanks to a last-minute commutation by former President Donald Trump, earning him some praise from unexpected sources.

Snoop Dogg praised the former president this week for commuting the drug trafficking sentence of Michael "Harry-O" Harris, who helped form Death Row Records. The commutation was among a handful of pardons or commutations Trump gave to prominent figures in rap including an executive from Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and rappers Lil Wayne, who faced 10 years in prison for felony gun possession and Kodak Black, who faced 30 years in prison if convicted for sexual assault. The pardons stand out from the bulk of Trump's 173 last-minute pardons and commutations, which largely benefited his allies and donors.

“I love what they did,” Snoop Dogg told the New York Post regarding Harris' clemency. “That’s great work for the president and his team on the way out... They did some great work while they was in there and they did some great work on their way out. Let them know that I love what they did.”

Harris, 59, was released from custody at Federal Correctional Institution Lompoc after serving more than three decades behind bars for attempted murder and drug trafficking.

"Mr. Harris' federal prison sentence for involvement with drugs was unduly harsh," his attorney Bruce Zucker said. "I believe Mr. Harris should have been released from prison years ago, like other similarly situated folks were.

"This commutation is more than equitable, and it is long overdue."

According to court filings, Harris was convicted in 1988 of the attempted murder of a Cook County, Illinois Department of Corrections police officer in October 1987.

The filings stated the officer was shot in the face, hit on the head and robbed at gunpoint of her shoulder bag, two rings and her badge.

The victim later identified Harris from a lineup as the person who attacked her.

Harris was released from state custody in October 2011 after the officer recanted and Harris was transferred to federal prison to begin serving a nearly 20-year federal sentence for a November 1990 drug trafficking conviction.

According to the website of the defunct Death Row Records, Solar Records CEO Dick Griffey and Harris "helped provide support and guidance as the label transitioned from Future Shock to Death Row Records."

Harris was among 70 people to have their sentences commuted by Trump, who also pardoned 73 other people, according to a statement issued early Wednesday Washington time by the Office of the Press Secretary.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.