Jussie Smollett has dropped a new song three weeks after he was released from Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois, pending an appeal of his conviction after allegedly faking a hate crime.
The Empire star, 39, took to Instagram on Friday and posted a lyric video set to his new tune, Thank You God, where he touches on his recent legal troubles.
‘Some people searching for fame / Some people chasing that clout / Just remember this … this ain’t that situation / You think I’m stupid enough to kill my reputation?’ he sings.
Musician: Jussie Smollett, 39, has dropped a new song three weeks after he was released from Cook County Jail in Chicago, Illinois, after being sentenced for faking a hate crime; Pictured March 10 at his sentencing hearing
‘Just simply to look like a victim / Like it’s something fun / Y’all better look at someone else / You got the wrong one,’ he goes on.
The actor notes that ‘100% of the profits’ from the song will be donated to Rainbow Push Coalition, the Illinois Innocence Project and Secure the Bag Safety.
The one-minute clip starts out with a message that reads: ‘Channeling these thoughts the best way I know how. Love You… – JUSSIE.’
Addressing his legal woes: The Empire star took to Instagram on Friday and posted a lyric video set to his new tune, Thank You God, where he touches on his recent legal troubles
Reputation: ‘Some people searching for fame / Some people chasing that clout / Just remember this … this ain’t that situation / You think I’m stupid enough to kill my reputation?’ he sings
He then goes on to sing: ‘It’s like they’re hell-bent on not solving the crime / Taking out the elements of race and trans and homophobia that’s straight taking lives / But turn around and act like I’m the one that killed the strides.’
The star continues, singing, ‘Maybe we stick together / Maybe we read more / Instead of saying that ‘It’s above me now’ / Brother you sure?’
Elsewhere in the song he speaks of betraying others. ‘Let me rephrase that / Cuz the narrative they played / I really over-stand the reason why y’all felt betrayed.’
A victim? ‘Just simply to look like a victim / Like it’s something fun,’ he goes on
The wrong one: ‘Y’all better look at someone else / You got the wrong one,’ the artist states
‘They had my own people / Thoughts going off the wall / That’s why from L.D. to Don I still got love for y’all / I know we’ll meet again / Talk like real men / Instead of sharing shade in rooms and up on CNN.’
Towards the end of the song he appears to have a positive outlook, speaking about pushing through the clouds.
‘Thunder’s mad loud / Still I’m pushing through the clouds / All I’ve ever really wanted to do was make my people proud,’ he sings.
Smollett finishes the song by revealing his thoughts on fame, singing: ‘Fame is nothing real / It’s how you make them feel / Celebrity is for the birds / I ain’t no man of steel.’
New passion: The one-minute clip starts out with a message that reads: ‘Channeling these thoughts the best way I know how. Love You… – JUSSIE’
Charitable: The actor notes that ‘100% of the profits will be donated’ to Rainbow Push Coalition, the Illinois Innocence Project and Secure the Bag Safety
The actor was released from jail on March 16 pending his appeal, after being sentenced to five months in jail.
He was convicted of five counts of felony disorderly conduct after a jury found he did lie to police in January 2019, and repeatedly since then, by claiming he was attacked up by two white, homophobic Trump supporters.
In reality, the men were two black brothers who say Smollett paid them to carry it out in an attempt to raise his celerity profile.
Thoughts on fame: Towards the end of the song, Smollett reveals his thoughts on fame, singing: ‘Fame is nothing real / It’s how you make them feel’
For the birds: ‘Celebrity is for the birds / I ain’t no man of steel,’ he adds
The end: The song ends with the title, Thank You God, and Smollett’s signature
Smollett’s claims unleashed a media frenzy when he filed a report with Chicago police on January 29, 2019.
Sympathy for the ‘battered’ actor poured in from the entertainment industry and fans alike, and police launched a manhunt for his alleged attackers on taxpayers’ dime.
He was convicted in December 2021, sentenced last month and released six days later.
Legal trouble: The actor was convicted of five counts of felony disorderly conduct in December 2021, sentenced to five months, and released six days later; Pictured being led out of the courtroom after being sentenced