Young M.A. said, “Free That Guy,” and didn’t flinch—highlighting the female rappers who will always support Tory Lanez, regardless of the cost

The rap artist from Brooklyn put Tory Lanez on her new record KWEEN and made her choice very clear. She has company, though: these are all the female rappers who have openly supported the killer.

The music business has mostly stayed away from Tory Lanez since his arrest in 2022, but Young M.A. isn’t changing her mind about where she stands. After putting Lanez on her brand-new record “KWEEN,” the Brooklyn rapper went on HOT 97’s Mornings With Mero to talk about why she did it. Don’t hedge or use PR talk. Being honest.

“I back him up.” “Set that guy free.” — Young M.A., HOT 97 Mornings With Mero

Just that sentence set the internet into overdrive. It turns out that Young M.A. is not the only one. More and more women in and around hip-hop have shown their love for Lanez in public, whether it’s on social media, on TV, or in letters to the judge. Here is the whole story.

HOT 97 (@HOT97) May 29, 2026: Young M.A. talks about her new record “Kween” and a song with Tory Lanez. 💿 pic.twitter.com/4SAGkKWYXx
As promised, Young M.A. has broken down the “KWEEN” collaboration and will not be taking it back.

Toy Lanez was hired by Young M.A. to sing on the dancehall-influenced track “Gyal Dem Ryte” from her new album “KWEEN.” People were surprised by the cooperation, but she didn’t blink. During her interview on HOT 97, she said the choice was all about sound and loyalty.

Toy and I f**k. “That’s folks,” she said. Tory and I have known each other for a few years, and I’ve always liked his work.

The Brooklyn MC made it clear that Lanez’s ability to use a sound with Caribbean influences was just what the record needed.

She said, “Everyone knows: we put on Tory and bam, we go up.” “He sounds good, and I thought he would be great for the job because I know he can get in that bag.”

Then when asked what was going on? Not a single word was softer from her.

“And you know what? I back him up.” “Set that guy free.”

What took place the night Megan Thee Stallion was shot is the crime that started it all.

Megan Thee Stallion was shot in the foot on July 12, 2020, after getting out of an SUV after a fight at Kylie Jenner’s Hollywood Hills home for a party. Tory Lanez, whose real name is Daystar Peterson, was in the car. He said he didn’t pull the gun.

In December 2022, the case went to court. The jury found Lanez guilty of three felonies: assault with a semiautomatic firearm, having a loaded unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and firing a firearm with great carelessness. He was given a 10-year jail sentence in August 2023. He is in California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo doing time for a crime. He will be able to get out of jail in August 2029.

Megan didn’t hold back in her victim impact statement: “Since the defendant viciously shot me, I have not experienced a single day of peace.” There will be times when I’m not the same, but I will slowly get better.

Someone else in jail stabbed Lanez 14 times in May 2025. After that, his lawyers gave a press conference and said they had new evidence, including what they said was a confession from Megan’s old best friend Kelsey Harris, who was there that night. Alex Spiro, Megan’s lawyer, said the claims were false and that Lanez’s team “can’t keep a story straight.” He also said it was a “sad attempt” to bring up old proof and change people’s minds. Because of the news conference, over 250,000 people signed a Change.org petition asking California Governor Gavin Newsom to forgive Lanez.

Amber Rose is the most well-known woman in the “Free Tory” movement.

Amber Rose has been the biggest and most persistent of all the women who have spoken out in support of Tory Lanez. She talked about the case on national TV and on Chris Cuomo’s NewsNation show. She also shared the Change.org petition on Instagram and personally linked Florida Congresswoman Rep. Anna Paulina Luna to it.

It was clear what Rose thought on Instagram: “FREE TORY!!! He’s not guilty because his DNA WASN’T ON THE GUN AT ALL!!! Sign right now!” She also said that her stand was about more than just fans: “This isn’t about music, gender, or popularity; it’s about justice.” @torylanez has a child, he is a father. If he really was wrongfully guilty, he should be released right away.

As she talked to NewsNation, Rose said Lanez called her from prison and told her his story of what happened:

I’m speaking out for Tory Lanez because the proof points to him not being guilty. He should be forgiven by Governor Gavin Newsom. For that reason alone, he should be at home with his family since he has no connection to the gun. — News Nation’s Amber Rose

Rose also said that Lanez’s famous text message explanation to Kelsey Harris, which was a key piece of evidence in the trial, was not for what people thought it was for. She also said that she “now understands” what the message was really about after hearing Lanez’s whole story.

Toy Lanez called Amber Rose a year after she was locked up, and she helped put together the group that is fighting for his release on Sneako’s Stream. #AmberRose #ToryLanez #Sneako pic.twitter.com/KtUSK5G7R2 — Real1Of1TV (@Real1of1TV) June 10, 2025 Iggy Azalea wrote the judge a letter, then tried to take it back.

More than 70 people wrote letters of support to Judge David Herriford before Lanez was jailed in August 2023. Iggy Azalea is an Australian rapper. Azalea went on X to publicly distance herself from the situation after the letter was read out loud in court. She said she “never intended to publicly comment” and that she had been told the letter was only for the judge to see.

“I don’t back anyone up.” There are many strange things in this. Nothing about what happened that night was mentioned in my letter. This is Iggy Azalea, via X

But the judge said that her letter asked for a punishment that was “transformational, not life-destroying.” Those words were clear enough without any further explanation.

Why are women in hip-hop going to bat for Tory?

It’s hard to miss the trend here. Most of the mainstream talk has been led by men—Drake hinted at doubt on “Circo Loco,” Kodak Black, Chris Brown, and Ye all pushed the petition—but it’s the women who have made the most noise in this latest chapter.

Young M.A. isn’t just posting on social media that Lanez is great. He was recorded by her. As she spoke into a HOT 97 mic, she said the words out loud. That’s a different message, and it costs something.

Amber Rose may have gone further than anyone else in the “Free Tory” movement. She has used her fame, her personal connections with politicians, and her national TV shows to actively push for a pardon.

Also, Iggy Azalea asked the judge for leniency in her sentencing, no matter how she tried to spin her message afterward.

All of this adds up to a broken bone that doesn’t seem to be getting better. Megan Thee Stallion is still building her business after her trial, and the talks about her case keep starting up again, and more and more women are starting these new conversations.

In August 2029, Tory Lanez will be able to get freedom. There are many more parts to this story.