By: Tadi Abedje

In Lil Nas X’s new video, it explores the criminal justice system and the clichés of incarceration. Lil Nas X produced the video with fellow rapper Jack Harlow, and it features a link for The Bail Project.  

According to The Bail Project’s website, it “combats mass incarceration by disrupting the money bail system one person at a time.” Also, it repairs the assumption of innocence, bringing families back together and confronts a system that punishes race and poverty. 

Lil Nas X has connected with The Bail Project to end cash bail. According to the Center of American Progress by ending cash bail, “jurisdictions would redesign their pretrial systems with the goal of reducing the overuse and misuse of jails.” Not only does he use his music gifts to express himself freely but utilizes his platform to do good. 

“This isn’t just theoretical for me. It’s personal. I know the pain that incarceration brings to a family. And I know the disproportionate impact that cash bail has on Black Americans,” the rapper said in a statement on The Bail Project website. “Ending cash bail is one of the most important civil rights issues of our time.” 

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Mass incarceration is one of the biggest issues facing America today, with overcrowding and false imprisonments of people of color. According to the World Population Review website, the United States has around 25%of the world’s prison population and in Lil Nas X’s home state of Georgia, the total prison population is 54,113. Georgia’s total population in 2021 is 10,830,007, according to World Population Review. 

One hundred percent of the money that goes to The Bail Project will be used to pay the bail of people who are behind bars.