Death Row Records co-founder Michael “Harry-O” Harris Jr. has officially endorsed Donald Trump, speaking at his New York City rally over the weekend where he thanked the former president for commuting his prison sentence in 2021.
On Sunday (October 28), Harry-O took the stage at Madison Square Garden, and though he struggled with the teleprompter, eventually told the crowd that God “spoke to” Trump’s heart.
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“If it wasn’t for Donald Trump, I wouldn’t be standing here today,” he said. “So I wanna thank President Donald Trump for allowing me for stand here in front of you today. It’s a bigger story — gotta let you know about it!
“God spoke to his heart and Donald Trump signed with his heart my release after 33 years. God spoke to his heart.”
Michael ‘Harry-O’ Harris, the founder of Death Row Records, speaks at Trump rally.
“If it wasn’t for Donald Trump, I wouldn’t be standing here today.” pic.twitter.com/CDac0tORaL
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) October 29, 2024
During Trump commuted Harry-O’s sentence during his last full day in the Oval Office in January 2021.
Harris learned he was granted clemency while he was at Lompoc Federal Correctional Institution in California, where he was serving time for attempted murder and cocaine trafficking. Snoop Dogg producer Weldon Angelos, who received his own Trump pardon in December 2019, revealed the news via Instagram.
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“Happy to announce that Harry O, co-founder of @deathrowrecords is coming home today thanks to myself, @snoopdogg, @alicemariefree (the 3 amigos),” he captioned the post. “Harry O is coming home. A big win for hip hop. Other supporters include @vanjones68 @mchammer and many more.”
Angelos said Harris sent him an email that read, “Thank God. God is great. It feels like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders.”
The commutation arrived hours after the Daily Beast reported Snoop had been quietly working with activist Alice Johnson and Angelos as part of a “last-ditch effort” to convince Trump to commute Harris’ sentence. Despite Snoop and Trump’s historically contentious relationship, the West Coast gangsta rap legend was reportedly “appreciative” of Trump’s efforts.
Angelos credited Ivanka Trump for Harris’ impending release, saying, “The credit on this one goes to Ivanka Trump because Ivanka Trump was not going to take no for an answer. [She] did this for Alice Johnson and this is a huge win for Hip Hop.”
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Harris, who helped found the iconic Hip Hop label alongside Suge Knight, was convicted of attempted murder and kidnapping in 1988.
Meanwhile, Knight continues to sit behind bars of Wasco State Prison where he’s been since 2015 for the hit-and-run death of Terry Carter. The embattled record executive was sentenced to 28 years and will be eligible for parole in 2037.
