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Tay
Tay

Read 17-Year-Old Rapper Tay-K's Letter From Jail

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Instagram

The teenage rapper Tay-K, who's facing a capital murder charge, penned a letter from jail detailing why he should be chosen to be a 2018 XXL Freshman.

While awaiting trial for murder and robbery charges, 17-year-old rapper Tay-K has written a letter to let the world know why he deserves to be on this year’s XXL Freshman list.

The letter was posted to the rapper's Instagram page on his behalf by a team representative Monday with the caption, "NO MATTER IF TAY MAKES THE LIST OR NOT HE WANTED ME TO SHARE HIS LETTER HE WROTE."

In the letter, he writes, "I've been dreaming of being a “XXL Freshman” longer than I can remember... I'm 17 y/o and I have your audience." He continues, "I was one of the “soundcloud artist” to make the Billboard Hot 100 charts on top of that. I have 100 million views on my hit song “The Race.’ Being a kid that came from nothing, I feel like that says a lot and motivates other unfortunate kids to dream big and reach for the stars, making your challenges temporary and your vision permanent."

Tay-K, born Taymor Travon McIntyre, is currently serving time in prison for his alleged involvement in multiple murder cases. The Houston rapper was arrested in June after he removed his ankle monitor and fled Texas. On the day of the escape, he recorded his viral track, “The Race"— which debuted at No. 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In the letter, he wrote, "I occupy myself writing music and educating myself," adding, "I don't look to glorify none of this stuff."

READRapper Tay-K Denied Bond In Murder Case, Judge Alludes To "The Race" Lyrics

A judge denied Tay-K bond in his murder case. From behind bars, last month he released the track, "Hard" with "Look Alive" rapper BlocBoy JB.

In an interview with The New Yorker, Donald Glover commented on his use of Tay-K's song "The Race" during an opening scene in season 2 of his FX series, "Atlanta." “Tay-K was sixteen and on the run for murder when he made this song. It’s a real Jesse James story,“ Glover told The New Yorker. “He’s a baby! He never had a chance! Ya’ll are forgetting what rap is. Rap is ‘I don’t care what you think in society, wagging your finger at me for calling women ‘bitches’ when, for you to have two cars, I have to live in the projects.’… Young black kid in Texas with a murder on him. He’s definitely going to die, and it’s sad.”

For more information about Tay-K and his case head here.