Fetty Wap Says He Has a ‘Clear Mindset’ After His Prison Release: ‘I Feel New’

Fetty Wap is home and feeling focused. 

In a new interview with Rolling Stone published Friday, Jan. 23, the “Trap Queen” rapper discussed his look on life just weeks after being released from prison after serving approximately four years behind bars. 

“I could say that whatever I lost when I went in, it was meant to be lost, and when I came out, I left it there. You know what I’m saying? I just feel different,” the New Jersey native, 34, told the publication.

“I feel new. I feel rehabilitated, in a sense. I just have this clear mindset where it’s like nothing’s really that important,” he added.

The platinum-selling artist, born Willie Junior Maxwell II, was arrested in October 2021 at Rolling Loud music festival in New York and charged with federal drug trafficking. He was sentenced to six years, but was released from a low-security facility in Sandstone, Minn., on Jan. 8

Now that he’s out, Fetty Wap is quite clear on how he feels, which is “free.”

When asked what the first thing he did that was genuinely for himself after his release, he replied, “Take a shower with my shoes off.”

“I know it probably sounds crazy, but you have shower shoes when you’re in prison. It’s like stuff like that … but things that you wouldn’t normally think are … you know what I’m saying?” he added of not taking anything for granted.

Part of that is not rushing through life, similar to how things were for him when he became almost an overnight celebrity in 2015 with his debut hit being the launchpad for singles like “679,” “My Way” and “Mine Again.”

“It’s like when you’re driving, or you’re speeding to get somewhere, you’re trying to race against time. I promised myself one thing this time: I’m just going to take my time through life now. Just really enjoy life,” Fetty Wap said.

This time around, slowing down means he’ll take time out to “take some pictures. Make some memories and just really enjoy what I was blessed with. There’s a lot of people that haven’t had this opportunity that I have. I just want to enjoy it this time.”

In his interview, he shared that his faith had a lot to do with pushing him forward. He focused on self-improvement, even spent some time working out and gaining muscle. 

“I went to prison at like 140 pounds. I came home at like 225. It was a discipline for me to get there. I had it in my head like, ‘I want to see what I look like, like this,'” he said.

The father of six is also looking forward to seeing his children grow, noting that he would love to see his kids go to college or explore their interests in music. But for now he’s content with learning their “new favorite colors, little things.”

“Roblox is crazy. They have a whole group chat [about] Roblox. I just sit back and watch,” he added.

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Fetty Wap also shared that he absolutely plans to release new music soon, but it won’t include him speaking on the struggles of his life. 

“We’re going to have fun. It’s going to make you feel good. It’s going to make you want to get dressed and go outside. Or if you’re already outside, it’s going to make you want to stay outside. We’re going to vibe,” the artist said.