In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, Donald Trump granted clemency to Lil Wayne and Kodak Black.

In a surprising act that’s sure to stun many across the nation, Donald Trump pardoned Lil Wayne and Kodak Black hours ahead of Joe Biden’s inauguration. 

Lil Wayne and Kodak Black were granted clemency alongside 143 others in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. In recent months Wayne has publicly endorsed Trump’s “Platinum Plan,” prior to being prosecuted on federal weapons charges. The rapper whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. pled guilty to felony gun possession before the holidays. He was facing up to 10 years in prison. 

A statement released by White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany read: 

"President Trump granted a full pardon to Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., also known as 'Lil Wayne. Mr. Carter pled guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, owing to a conviction over 10 years ago. Brett Berish of Sovereign Brands, who supports a pardon for Mr. Carter, describes him as 'trustworthy, kind-hearted and generous.'” 

It also read, “Mr. Carter has exhibited this generosity through commitment to a variety of charities, including donations to research hospitals and a host of foodbanks. Deion Sanders, who also wrote in support of this pardon, calls Mr. Wayne 'a provider for his family, a friend to many, a man of faith, a natural giver to the less fortunate, a waymaker, [and] a game changer.'"

Kodak Black whose real name is Bill Kahan Kapri was sentenced to more than three years in prison on weapons charges in November 2019. The charges stemmed from an arrest ahead of a concert performance. Additionally, in August 2019, Kapri plead guilty to "knowingly making false written statements when attempting to acquire firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer," per CNN. He was sentenced to 46 months in prison which is to be followed by three years of supervised release. 

According to USA Today, the White House stated Kapri was noted for his “numerous philanthropic efforts… such as providing educational resources to students and families of fallen law enforcement officers and the underprivileged.” The statement also read, “In addition to these efforts, he has paid for the notebooks of school children, provided funding and supplies to daycare centers, provided food for the hungry, and annually provides for underprivileged children during Christmas."