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The artist, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, also received five years of probation and must pay a $200,000 fine as part of an agreement that settles multiple federal and state cases, court documents show. He has been detained in Utah since May, reducing his remaining time behind bars to about one year.
Before U.S. District Judge Howard Nielson handed down the sentence, Gaulden, 25, apologized to the court and his family, saying, “I let my situation get the best of me. I take full responsibility.”
Nielson told Gaulden he hoped the rapper would remain “totally unfettered” by substances in the future, emphasizing the importance of “walk[ing] the straight and narrow” under court-ordered treatment and evaluations.
The sentencing stems from a 2020 incident in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where Gaulden and several others were detained during the filming of a music video. Authorities seized multiple firearms at the scene. As part of the plea deal, Gaulden agreed to relinquish the guns and plead guilty to several state charges.
“This has been a long road that involved extensive litigation and ultimately extensive negotiation,” Atlanta attorney Drew Findling, who represented Gaulden, said in a statement Wednesday. “Kentrell’s defense team is very happy for Kentrell, and we look forward to his many future successes.”
While Gaulden’s legal troubles have often overshadowed his music career, he has remained a prominent name on the charts, recently signing with Motown after fulfilling his Atlantic Records contract. Over the past several years, he has tallied multiple top 10 Billboard 200 entries, including the 2022 album “The Last Slimeto,” which peaked at No. 2.