Troy Ave Drops 'Free Troy Ave' Mixtape

As he awaits trial, Troy Ave breaks his silence from behind bars on his new mixtape, Free Troy Ave. Throughout the 12 tracks, which include the previously-released single “Chuck Norris (Hoes & Gangstas),” the Brooklyn rapper addresses last month’s deadly shooting, which occurred at T.I.’s concert at Irving Plaza.

Ave, who is being charged with attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon, proclaims his innocence on the intro. “I’m innocent,” he says. “It ain’t the end of Troy Ave, not at all. This is just the beginning.”

Three, including Ave, were injured in the shooting, while his bodyguard, Ronald McPhatter, was killed. On “Banga (RIP)” and “Intermission,” he pays homage to his late friend. “I lost my best friend and the sad part about it is I ain’t realize he was my best friend until I lost him,” explains an emotional Ave. “And that shit hurts worse than these bullets when I got shot.”

Hear him speak out on Free Troy Ave.