The Rap Up

Tory Lanez proves prison can’t silence creativity 

For many artists, prison brings careers to a halt. Tory Lanez seems determined to prove otherwise.

The Canadian rapper has released ‘Made You Think I Was Gone … But’, his 10th studio album and remarkably his fourth project recorded and released while behind bars. Arriving with little warning, the double album is split into two distinct halves: ‘Fargo’s Revenge’, showcasing the rapid-fire flows and technical lyricism that made Tory one of hip-hop’s most versatile voices, and ‘Fargo’s Heartbreak’, a smoother R&B collection that reminds listeners why he has always been as comfortable singing as he is rapping.

The timing gives the album added weight. Last year, Lanez survived a violent prison attack in which he was stabbed 14 times. Yet rather than disappearing from the conversation, he has returned with nearly two albums’ worth of new music, demonstrating a determination that few artists could match.

This isn’t the first time Lanez has challenged the music industry. In 2021 he bypassed traditional streaming platforms by releasing ‘When It’s Dark’ exclusively as an NFT (non-fungible token). One million digital copies were sold for $1 (75p) each, reportedly selling out in under a minute and generating around $1 million (£750,000).

Whether viewed as a marketing gamble or a glimpse into music’s future, it showed Lanez’s willingness to experiment long before many of his peers.

Lanez is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence after being convicted in connection with the 2020 shooting of rapper Megan Thee Stallion. He has consistently denied wrongdoing and continues to pursue legal appeals.

‘Made You Think I Was Gone … But’ is another reminder that creativity doesn’t stop at the prison gate, and that even in confinement there is still room to create and tell your story. 

Giggs invests in the next generation

Giggs, the UK rap pioneer and ‘godfather of road rap’, has announced plans to open a specialist school and assessment centre for neurodivergent children in Gravesend, Kent. The facility will support young people aged 11 to 18 with autism, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and other neurodiverse needs, providing education alongside clinical assessment and therapeutic support.

The project is deeply personal for the ‘Talkin’ the Hardest’ star, who has spoken openly about receiving an autism diagnosis later in life, after his son was diagnosed. 

Having experienced the difficulties of navigating the education system and lengthy assessment processes, he says he wants to create the kind of environment where young people are understood and encouraged to thrive.

The assessment centre is expected to open next month, with the school welcoming its first students in January 2027. Plans include specialist classrooms, sensory spaces, a music recording studio, a gym and innovation hubs designed to nurture creativity alongside learning.

To help bring the vision to life, Giggs launched a campaign to raise £930,000, attracting support from high-profile names including Stephen Fry, Robbie Williams and Damien Hirst.

Describing the school as a real-life version of Professor Xavier’s academy for gifted youngsters in the X-Men films, Giggs hopes to unlock what he calls the “superpowers” of neurodivergent minds.

It just goes to show: success isn’t only measured in records sold or sell-out shows. Sometimes it’s measured by the lives you’re able to help change.