Meek Mill’s Free Meek is an indictment of US judicial system

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 01: 76ers stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are among celebrities to support Meek Mill's fight for freedom with Free Meek Mill hoodies at Jay-Z's 4:44 tour stop in Philadelphia. Rapper Yo Gotti and R&b singer Trey Songz supported as well at Wells Fargo Center on December 1, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lisa Lake/Getty Images for Roc Nation)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 01: 76ers stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are among celebrities to support Meek Mill's fight for freedom with Free Meek Mill hoodies at Jay-Z's 4:44 tour stop in Philadelphia. Rapper Yo Gotti and R&b singer Trey Songz supported as well at Wells Fargo Center on December 1, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Lisa Lake/Getty Images for Roc Nation)

Meek Mill’s docuseries, Free Meek, is an entertaining, candid and emotional indictment of an American superstar rapper unfairly trapped in the judicial system.

Meek Mill is an international celebrity. A huge, quality rapper; someone influential and rich. Therefore it may seem strange to hear that he has been on probation for charges – seemingly trumped-up horrifically in some cases – that should have seen him freed earlier or off probation by now. But that is exactly what Amazon Prime’s Free Meek divulges, with its unassuming focus at the heart.

11-years-ago the Philadelphia native caught criminal cases for some serious charges including: having a gun – something he didn’t deny; carried due to fears for his own safety in a hostile Philly ghetto. Then there are the heavily disputed, alleged crimes of selling crack cocaine and pointing said pistol at arresting officers.

Of course, if the latter was true, we know the many tactical policemen on sight would’ve had to open fire on the artist, lawfully – and most likely would’ve killed him. Since this time, Meek and his family have strenuously denied many of the heavily dubious charges against their loved one. A congenial family whose matriarch, Meek’s grandmother, deserves her own reality show or podcast. His devout uncles and cousins often carry the show.

More from Show Snob

Free Meek makes a case for reform

Presiding judge Genece E. Brinkley was Mill’s magistrate in the Philadelphia County Court; until a new overseer was righteously appointed. That was following allegations she crazily attempted to bribe the defendant into recording a song which would name drop her. To mishandling his case, being obsessed with Mill and providing biased justice. Her portrayed input is worth Amazon Prime’s admission fee on its own.

In the case of the 13th Amendment – as raised by the subject in Free Meek – there are still civil rights injustices prevailing in the US. Particularly in the case of criminal justice.

The Amendment in question partly reads: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” Per History Channel.

That basically means enslavement in the benefit of the nation is cool – if you’ve done wrong. Since minorities suffer under the law more acutely, this is distasteful at least – destructive and racist at worst.

Outcome

Unsurprisingly, video cameras are not allowed in Philadelphia courtrooms; maybe judge Brinkley has a lawsuit against that happening too, to add to her growing catalog!? I’d have to wholeheartedly agree with Pitchfork, whom judge that:

"Free Meek Makes a Compelling Case for Probation Reform"

Regardless of what the judge in this case states further, she seemed to revel in the fact that her decisions effected a famous person. And that Brinkley attempted to reestablish his reputation as infamous. Advertently, she has shone a flashlight on the entire system.

On Jan. 23, 2019, Meek launched the Reform Alliance Foundation: hopefully, this will lead to reassessment and eventually amendment.

This is a no-spoilers article so I’m not going to ruin the program for you if you are yet to view it. Though we can state that there is a form of closure in this instance, unlike many other informative shows.

This is also always a bonus: as a hip-hop connoisseur, I admittedly wasn’t a fan of Meek’s flow or delivery as a rapper. Yet it’s obvious he had decent rhymes and a well-liked style. But hearing some of his evocatively motivational anthems as part of this docuseries’ score – made me a fan as well.

If you just like “hood things” or rap in general, this docuseries also provides a keenly observed biographical element. Celebrities of all types and sports teams are also involved in standing for Meek.

Most noteworthy is that this series revealed a rapper – a career often maligned and criticized for being generally poor role models – who is a humble man. A thoughtful family man, softly spoken away from the microphone. One who “feeds his whole family tree”; his words, not mine. And a man who rose from the depths of social deprivation, hopelessness and violent surroundings – to be a ‘boss’.