American rapper Meek Mill, known for his chart-topping albums and advocacy for criminal justice reform in the United States, recently dropped his fifth album, Expensive Pain, on October 1, 2021.
Born Robert Rihmeek Williams, Meek Mill has amassed an estimated net worth of $20 million, according to Forbes.
In 2019, Forbes ranked him as the 15th highest-paid hip-hop act, although Meek Mill contested the accuracy of their figures. He took to Twitter to express his disagreement with the reported $21 million in pre-tax earnings, joining others like Cardi B in questioning Forbes’ calculations.
Meek Mill hails from South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and has spoken about his humble beginnings in a 2015 Time op-ed. Raised by his mother and older sister after his father’s tragic death in an attempted robbery when he was five years old, Meek Mill emphasized the sacrifices his mother made to provide for their family.
In 2017, Meek Mill faced a highly publicized arrest that led to a controversial two to four-year prison sentence. Despite serving five months in prison, he was eventually granted bail in April 2018.
One year later, the 12-year case was dropped, with Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner acknowledging the unfair treatment Meek Mill had endured during the legal proceedings.
Meek Mill’s personal life also drew attention when he dated fellow rapper Nicki Minaj from 2015 to 2017. The former couple openly displayed their affection on social media and collaborated professionally during Minaj’s world tour in 2015.
Through his music and advocacy work, Meek Mill continues to inspire and provoke important conversations around criminal justice reform and social justice issues in the United States.
