Casanova is looking to incarcerated peer Tory Lanez as inspiration as he continues his own bid after being convicted as part of a gang investigation.
Behind bars since 2020, Cas recently spoke with XXL for his first full interview since going in. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to racketeering and drug charges in 2022, but continues to fight for his freedom.
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The publication noted that he brought up Lanez unsolicited as he said: “Tory Lanez is my inspiration because he’s not giving up the fight. They say in all the important books, ‘The only thing worth fighting for is your freedom.’ Speaking of Tory Lanez in jail, he’s so strong yet so little. He’s really strong on his innocence. He’s saying that he didn’t do it. And sometime people believe him and sometime people don’t.
“But, you know, I went through a whole force full of, ‘You still saying this? You still innocent?’ and I had no choice but to say, ‘You know what, I think he’s innocent.’ I wish him the best and I hope he didn’t do it,” Cas adds. “It would break my heart if he did it. Maybe he’s a good liar, I don’t know.”
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Tory was featured on Casanova’s 2019 song “2 AM” with Davido, and has even sent Cas money for his books while being behind bars himself.
In a message posted on his Instagram last September, the Brooklyn rapper thanked Tory for holding him down.
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He wrote: “@torylanez you one of the realest n-ggas I ever met. How you in jail looking out for a n-gga in jail? Sent me enough money to last me for a whole year lol. I love ya heart, I love ya soul. Free us til you see us!”
Tory Lanez has also, he claims, been helping other inmates at the California Correctional Institution, where he’s serving a 10-year sentence for shooting Megan Thee Stallion.
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After his recording equipment was confiscated during a raid of his cell block in the fall, putting an end to his series of Prison Tapes releases, the Alone at Prom rapper blamed the move on him helping to fund his fellow inmates’ fight for freedom.
In an Instagram message, he wrote: “The rumors are true. The Prison Tapes will be discontinued until further notice. However, I think it’s important that my fans know the truth about the crooked ass shit that’s really going on here.
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“My cell was not raided and trashed because I learned how to record myself in prison or because I created The Prison Tapes. I was shut down because the ‘HIGHER UPS’ figured out what I was really doing with The Prison Tapes, and how many inmates were being helped in a life-changing way because of them.”
He added: “Since the first day I was incarcerated, all I’ve seen is blacks and other minorities receive the most cruel, illegal, and unfair punishment/treatment. For so many nights, I asked God to reveal his purpose in making me go through the ills of the prison system.
“I was later shown that purpose. I was placed in jail to suffer, to feel, and to witness firsthand the pain and oppression being inflicted upon the young black and brown men and women of my generation. I knew I had to change this injustice.”
Lanez continued: “So, I made a plan that when I got to prison, I would figure out a way to record music and put all the proceeds towards the legal representation of my fellow inmates, giving them a once in a lifetime chance to go home to their families on appeal and resentencing.
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“Although the ‘HIGHER UPS’ have stopped The Prison Tapes temporarily, they were too late to stop my overall plan. Since the month of July, I’ve afforded legal representation for 472 inmates and actively reopened 476 cases.”
