When reading statistics such as the U.S. Census citing that 4% of all African-American males are currently incarcerated, some people may feel unaffected. To many, however, that statistic cuts painfully close to home. ATL-based DJ/artist Genius and Cleveland-based rapper Ray Jr have both dealt with the pain and heartache of having loved ones locked up or deported and thus decided to create the song, “Free All My N*ggas,” to humanize those statistics.

“Free All My N*ggas” is a heartfelt trap ballad with strong verses and a melodic hook from producer, Matt Steez, who co-penned the hook with Genius. The song deftly explains one of the most prominent examples of inequality in our country and instills a message of hope to those behind bars.

Genius, a noted tastemaker and DJ in the Atlanta area, decided to create the song after he learned that his cousin and close friend got locked up and was going to be deported back to Jamaica.

Explains Genius, “I wanted to create a record that reflected the emotions I had. So with my approach to creating records, it all starts with the production. I listen to the track, start writing, and think, ‘Who could capture the feel and emotion of the track?’ I saw Ray Jr. perform in Cleveland and I knew he could capture that mood. Ray has good energy. He’s a great storyteller, and his rhymes come from a very real place.”