He owned a 20 fleet limousine service, hair salons, an exotic car dealership and a construction company. Harris attorneys had asked for a compassionate release from the prison -- which is rampant in coronavirus cases -- as they argued that his autoimmune disease would put him at a high risk for contracting the virus. 'I've been through storms, but I was able to not give up,' he said. The former drug kingpin spent over 30 years in prison for convictions related to murder and racketeering. Harris' desire to help the less fortunate may stem from his hard-knock childhood, growing up in South Central Los Angeles during the 60s in the 'low bottoms' neighborhood and spending his school years shining shoes for 'high-rollers and players'. Now he wants to give back. However, over the years I have repeatedly proven myself to be part of the solution. His sentence was due to last until 2028. Death Row Records helped to popularize the West Coast rap sound with artists such as Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, Nate Dogg, and Tupac Shakur. Harris' initial investment was reported at $1.5 million. AHH yes Ron Chepesiuk, wonderful human being, however his investigative methods leave a lot of the people e gets his info from angry. During the last three decades in prison he has participated in a number of self help and rehabilitation programs, some of which he co-founded and co-facilitated. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Per The Daily Mail, Harris co-founded Death Row Records in 1992 by giving Suge Knight a $1.5 million investment. Real Stuff 2PacLegacy-March 15, 2021. Kodak Black tweeted that he would donate $1million to charity if Trump pardoned him, but has since deleted the post. . First member of Congress to endorse Trump, California Republican congressman who looted his own campaign funds for his, his wife's and his mistress' lifestyles. Look where I ended up.'. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Charlamagne questioned where the rumor came from, and Prince explained that Harry-O told a fellow friend that same information as well as authorities back in the day which ended up bringing the feds to sniff around the Houston CEOs compound. Copyright 2022 Rolling Out. Michaels father, who he described as a wealthy businessman with three families, left when the he was just five years old. Harris, who was originally staring at a 2028 release, is now a free man thanks to a president who during protests this past summer repeatedly emphasized the need for law and order. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. for being a snitch and calls his son King ugly, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid, Vanessa Bryant reaches settlement in lawsuit against LA County, Star UGA player issued arrest warrant before NFL Combine interviews. Harris had heard about Knight, a former college football player (and briefly an NFL scab) and bodyguard who had moved into the music industry. 2023 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. I have to take responsibility for my part, he said. This, combined with the coronavirus outbreak, adds up to an imminent threat to Harris health if he is not released, his attorneys argued. Through a mutual acquaintance, attorney David Kenner, Harris came to learn of the enterprising young Knight and an agreement was made. Knight is currently serving 28 years in prison after he pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter after driving his truck into two men, killing one, Terry Carter, following a row in Compton, California. Id like to congratulate the homey and anybody that come [sic] out of that hog pen.. In 2005, Knight was ordered to pay Lydia Harris $107 million for her 50% stake in Death Row and in unpaid royalties. Justin Tinsley is a senior culture writer for Andscape. Its number of confirmed cases has grown exponentially, nearly doubling from May 11 to May 17, according to published reports. Ex-sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona. In the 1980s, Michael "Harry-O" Harris was known as the Godfather on the streets of South Central Los Angeles. It is a prison complex that has gained national notoriety for its failure to contain COVID-19; with more than 1,700 cases and two fatalities, the prison was recently sued by the ACLU over its handling of the pandemic. But unlike many in his situation, Harris has the backing not just of justice reform advocates, but law enforcement members and elected officials, who have lobbied for his freedom in recent years. On the last day of his presidency, Donald Trump has reportedly pardoned Michael "Harry-O" Harris, the co-founder of Death Row Records. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Never. Harris, 59, is set to be released from a California federal prison Tuesday after 32 years behind bars for attempted murder and cocaine trafficking. After 30 years, Harry O is now free, a survivor of both prison and a label whose name foretold its future. Navy submariner. Verified. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Stunning 1928 waterfront estate The Fountains - with 18 bedrooms and an interior fit for Vegas - lists for a huge $45 million in Long Island town that inspired F Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, Holocaust survivor, 87, who's widow of Chanel exec, sues 'philanthropist' sexpert son claiming he secretly tried to sell her $2.4m California mansion and $2.2m San Diego condo. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. He ran the theatre company which first scouted Denzel Washington's talent. About the Authors: Ron Chepesiuk (www.ronchepesiuk.com) is award winning freelance investigative journalist, documentary producer and Executive Producer and co-host of the Crime Beat radio show www.artistfirst.com/crimebeat.htm/. Harris was convicted of attempted murder and kidnapping in 1988 but has since reinvented himself as an activist while inside, campaigning for prison reform. Meanwhile, the company he helped start in Death Row was forced into bankruptcy and is now owned by Hasbro (of My Little Pony fame). The 58-year-old Harris has been incarcerated in a. Download it here. One night in 1992, Knight found two rappers using the phone. Contempt of court. 'I had strong relationships with both the Bloods and the Crips. In the late 1980s, Harris was convicted of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder in state court. At FCI Lompoc, where Harris stays, roughly 80 percent of the 1,162 inmates have tested positive for the virus. The label helped launch the careers of legendary hip-hop artists such as Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Tupac Shakur. Attack of the Eraser. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. And I think that's what's important. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Learn More. That lie needs [sic] to be cleaned up. Michael Harris was born on September 20th, 1960, on West 46th Street in South Central Los Angeles. Josh Boswell For Dailymail.com He helped to run the company as it became the largest and most feared record label in the early 1990s from his jail cell. Who is Michael "Harry-O" Harris? Period.. Interestingly, though, Harris is just the latest connection between hip-hop and Trump. By Josh Boswell In Lompoc, California For Dailymail.Com, Published: 16:47 EST, 19 January 2021 | Updated: 02:27 EST, 20 January 2021. Special to Gangsters Inc. ', The comments below have not been moderated, By Pardoned December 23, 2020, Veteran GOP dirty trickster and on-off adviser to Trump. He not only created mentorship programs for fellow inmates, but he also helped build one of the most prolific music labels in the world. He began selling cocaine with his younger brother David. Denzel Washington. He is an American author who has written over 100 books for children and young adults. The erstwhile drug king helped run a multi-million dollar rap music empire from his cell after founding the parent company for Death Row Records with a $1.5 million investment. You dont even know how it feels right now, he told DailyMail.com. Harris and Wasserman . 'I told him, ''I know you was a drug lord, I know you was a kingpin. Play it now! Throughout his incarceration, Harris maintained his innocence. In Donald Trumps final act as commander in chief, the now-former president unleashed a flurry of pardons and commutations. Harris, however, is full of remorse for his crimes, and believes he is ready to rejoin society a changed man. , updated He set up his brother-in-law with a prostitute in retaliation for him cooperating in a federal probe, and committed tax fraud. One nearly made it. The civil rights movement was well underway, with the black power movement soon to follow. Gave a young Denzel Washington a platform to showcase his talent. That caused me a lot of problems when a man made that statement. Michael 'Harry-O' Harris spent over 30 years in prison for attempted murder and drug crimes Harris was convicted of attempted murder and kidnapping from cases dating back to 1988. Harris gave other arising performers their chance at potential stardom when he funded the opening of a theater company. But by the time of Knight's visit, Harris was in the early stages of a lengthy sentence for attempted murder and drug trafficking. While many thought Death Row Records had shut down permanently, Harris went right back to work once freed, partnering with Snoop Dogg as the COO of the all-new Death Row Records. Attorneys with the Central District of California wrote in a response motion. Being a drug dealer is what Michael Harris did, not who he is, his attorneys wrote in the compassionate release motion, later adding: During his time as a drug dealer, he has said, he had grown physically as a male, but he acted in immature boyish ways, to the detriment of himself, his family, and countless others. Harris says he tried to do right by his community by using the money to invest in local businesses. Federal. Working with gangs like the Bloods and Crips, plus the Colombian cartel, Harris was in charge of a nationwide drug trafficking operation that brought in nearly $2 million daily. 'The show focuses on those in need of organ transplants, stem cell therapy treatments, child and foster care services, disease prevention, drug and rehab help, homelessness, those who are in need of employment or who are struggling with their finances,' Nutall said. He has received parole and is currently awaiting release. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? Dogg and others were able to sway Donald Trump to giving Harris a pardon due to Harris reinventing himself as an activist while jailed. Nicholas Castel Vanderburgh, Zachary Bloch, Tajja Isen, Siera Florindo. Its difficult to think of a label with more of a public downfall than Death Row which is why a quarter century after its peak it remains as fascinating as ever to examine. Denzel Washington, of course, is now one of the most popular and respected actors in cinema history. As a result Harris and ex-wife Lydia filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit and were awarded a $107million judgment against the record label and Knight. I want to be the person that they say, 'It's a better place since he was here.'". According to court filings by Harris legal team, Harris is afflicted with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a disease where the bodys immune system attacks the nerves, which can lead to full-blown paralysis. Harris had a musical upbringing - he was classically trained by his next-door neighbor, Mrs Payne, as a pianist and joined his school band playing the Trombone and Drums. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? Please check your browser settings or contact your system administrator. Shakur was killed less than a year after agreeing to sign on. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, Camilla will officially be known as the QUEEN rather than 'Queen Consort' after King Charles' coronation, PICTURED: Pitbull owner, 31, arrested after his bloodthirsty dogs mauled man, 81, to death and injured victim's wife, 74, on Texas street as they visited friends' home, Amanda Knox plays the victim: Cleared murder suspect posts bizarre Twitter thread pondering what would have happened if she'd been killed in Italy not Meredith Kercher, What REALLY happens if you don't get enough sleep? Harry O was the first African American to produce a Broadway play. Watch "LA Stories with Giselle Fernandez" at 9 p.m. every Monday on Spectrum News 1. Dr. Dre Spotted With Death Row Records Founder Harry-O. After more than three decades in prison, when he leaves, he will be a senior citizen, but also he will leave as a morally mature man.. Pardoned August 28, 2020, Life sentence for money laundering and involvement in drug trafficking. For Harris, 58, this is only the latest attempt for a release. Oct 11, 2018 #1 Michael Harris was born on September 20th, 1960, on West 46th Street in South Central Los Angeles. He also produced a Broadway play called Checkmates, which featured Ruby Dee, Paul Winnfield and an up and coming star named Denzel Washington. But I've strived and struggled so hard to go on to do great things. He was able to get San Quentin News back up and running, with him as the Editor-In-Chief. Out of all this drama going on with the White House, something good has come out of this.. Scott Adams faces 'consequence culture' as U.S. newspapers drop Dilbert, Tom Cruise's 'ditching' of Suri showcased by Judd Apatow's 'co-parenting' joke, ex-Scientology exec says. While some do this simply as a money laundering front, others do so with the hopes of finally and completely transitioning over into the straight world. [CDATA[ I hope someday he will clear it up because I think itd be better for his resume., J. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". He has made a career of roles that present positive and powerful images of black manhood (his Oscar-winning turn in Training Day being a rare exception to that rule). Harris was convicted in 1988 for attempted murder and kidnapping charges. 21:54 GMT 16 Aug 2019. South Central was ground zero for the crack explosion, and Michael Harris was in a position to capitalize. Related: Did Lisa Left Eye Lopes Date Death Row Records Owner Suge Knight? She helped to send him to West Los Angeles community college. Harris was serving a prison sentence over drug trafficking and attempted murder charges at the Federal Correctional Institution Lompoc in California. Harris lorded over a drug empire that supplied cocaine to many states across the U.S., including Los Angeles, Texas and New York. Knight is currently serving 28 years in prison after he pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter after driving his truck into two men, killing one, Terry Carter, following a row in Compton, California. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". and He was there to see Michael Harris, better known on the streets as "Harry O." Harris was a Bounty Hunter Blood who had amassed a fortune in the 1980s' most lucrative and dangerous industry: cocaine. Harris' desire to help the less fortunate may stem from his hard-knock childhood, growing up in South Central Los Angeles in the 'low bottoms' neighborhood and spending his school years shining shoes for 'high-rollers and players'. Unfortunately, her vision was not to be. Godfather Entertainment became known as Death Row Records. Prince appears no longer fazed by the issue, but still feels its something Harris needs to clean up personally. But living on the wrong side of the track meant the lure of the criminal underworld was ever present. 41.6k Followers, 151 Following, 22 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Michael "Harry-O" Harris (@theofficialharryo) theofficialharryo. Founder of Godfather Entertainment, GF Music & Death Row Records. MICHEAL HARRIS (HARRY O) GAVE DENZEL HIS START. But instead of going home a free man, Harris was transferred to a federal prison to begin serving a 253-month sentence for drug crimes. While under that banner, they identified with their neighborhood of origin, splitting into various sets or factions. Michael Harris became affiliated with a Blood set known as the Bounty Hunters. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Prince, owner and founder of the historic southern label, put rumors of Harris involvement to rest and shed more light on the situation. Though now defunct, in its heyday Death Row Records was one of Harris' most successful ventures, selling 18 million albums and earning more than $325 million in its first four years alone, launching to stardom west coast rap legends including Dr. Dre, NWA, Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur, and was widely credited with changing the face of 90s hip hop. Powered by. Harris, 59, is set to be released from a California federal prison Tuesday after 32 years behind bars for attempted murder and cocaine trafficking. Pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about talks with Russia's ambassador and tried to reverse his plea while represented by 'Kraken' attorney Sidney Powell. Michael "Harry-O" Harris and others in Los Angeles Federal Court. Sha Be Allah. There was a specific phone in Death Row Records office dedicated to taking Harris calls. Perhaps there would have been more productions starring Mr. Washington. Ryan Parry, West Coast Editor For Dailymail.com 5 Soon, pretty much every black gang in L.A. claimed affiliation with either the Bloods or the Crips. Harry O was awarded a $107million dollars by the Court. While in prison, he collaborated with Suge Knight to create Death Row Records in 1991, the label that launched the careers of Dr Dre, Tupac Shakur, and Snoop Dogg. On top of that, Harris motion argues that the U.S. Bush authorized legislation that imposed draconian penalties for drug offenses, which primarily and adversely affected young African American men living in the inner-city, such as Mr. Harris, Zucker said. However, over the years I have repeatedly proven myself to be part of the solution. DailyMail.com understands White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows advised Trump against signing the pardon, but the 45th president was swayed by his family. Former cocaine kingpin Michael 'Harry O' Harris, who helped found Death Row Records, the label behind music legends Dr Dre, Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, is set to be released from prison. Student debt cancellation program in jeopardy as Supreme Court justices heararguments, Social media star Kai Cenat ends February by making Black history, YouTube star taunts T.I. She had two . At age 26, Michael Harry-O Harris was a millionaire. Later the victim recanted, and the attempted murder charges were dropped, but Harris continued to spend time behind bars for the drug charge for a total of 33 years. He is a freelance journalist who has done work for publications such as Don Diva Magazine and Hip-Hop Weekly. At 20 Harris started selling crack cocaine, making close connections with both the infamous Bloods and Rolling 60s Crips gangs, The label Death Row Records is behind music legends Dr Dre, Tupac Shakur (right) and Snoop Dogg (left,)Harris' successful pardon campaign started on December 26, when Snoop asked for help from former music producer and federal prisoner Weldon Angelos, who was also pardoned by Trump last month, Alongside his dealings with drug cartels, Harris ran a string of successful legitimate businesses, including a theatre company that gave actor Denzel Washington his first break. 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