Pooh Shiesty: From Prison to CEO – The Takeover in 2026

The Takeover

Pooh Shiesty is moving with a recent level of focus and purpose since being released from prison five months ago. Armed with his forthcoming album, the rapper’s CEO state of mind is shaping his next run.

Words: Georgette Cline

For Pooh Shiesty, freedom isn’t something abstract or philosophical. It’s tangible. Waking up early, opening his own refrigerator, lying in his own bed, and sitting in the quiet without interruption. After spending over four years behind bars, the Memphis rapper has a newfound appreciation for his daily routine. His days are structured around reflection, discipline and creating the music that will carry him through the next chapter of his life.

“Sometimes I just be laying here in the dark,” Pooh Shiesty tells XXL last November via Zoom, during his very first interview since being released from prison on Oct. 6, 2025. “No phone, no nothing, you know? Just freedom, just space and privacy.”

The 26-year-old rapper, born Lontrell Denell Williams Jr. On November 8, 1999, feels blessed that he’s able to get back in the booth and move at his own pace instead of one directed by correctional officers. He pleaded guilty in 2022 to conspiring to possess firearms in furtherance of violent and drug trafficking crimes related to a robbery and shooting that occurred in July of 2020, and was sentenced to five years and three months in prison. He was released early, on October 6, 2025, after a combination of time served and good behavior, according to his attorney Bradford Cohen. He now resides in Texas.

Before his incarceration, Pooh Shiesty relied heavily on punching in when making music. His 2021 mixtape, Shiesty Season, and the Lil Durk-assisted, eight-times platinum hit “Back in Blood” highlight that approach.

A Shift in Creative Process

Pooh Shiesty’s time in prison dramatically altered his approach to songwriting. “Before I went to jail, I wasn’t writing at all,” he admits. “I was just punching in and just going to the microphone.” That changed dramatically once he was inside. “But when I went in, I just been writing, writing, writing, writing, like, whatever free time I get to the point to where, you know, I got raps that’s taller than me, that’s up to my hips.”

However, the restrictions of prison life meant he frequently lost his work. “I was being moved so much that I had so much property that wasn’t allowed, like, I was exceeding the limit,” he explains. “So, a lot of my property ended up getting took.” This setback forced him to abandon a plan to record his lyrics sequentially, taking them down from a wall as he finished each song.

Now, he’s focused on writing from scratch. “So, now I’m going extra hard,” he insists. “I ain’t going to sleep unless I make like three songs, even if it ain’t fully verses on there or it just a hook or whatever, but I gotta have, like, three different type of songs and flows and styles.”

He showcased this new approach on “FDO,” released on Dec. 12, 2025, and produced by TP 808s. The track reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has garnered over 34 million Spotify streams and 45 million YouTube views.

Building a Brand and Looking Ahead

Pooh Shiesty’s mission isn’t just releasing music—it’s restoring a certain feeling to the genre. “I wish that assertiveness, the aggressiveness,” he maintains. “It’s like music was getting a little too passive for me. I need to be in that mode to where you feeling what I’m saying, and if even you don’t understand what I’m saying, you can feel it because you know my situation.”

He is preparing to release his debut album through 1017 Global Music/Atlantic Records later this year. He’s also expanding his ambitions beyond music with his CMO brand, which stands for “Can’t Miss Opportunities” or “Chasing More Opportunities” and “Certified Members Only.” He plans to launch a nonprofit organization and a record label.

“That’s what we’re on right now,” he divulges. “We trying to help these kids and better their future and clean up the community.” He also plans to sign artists, including some he met while incarcerated. “I got a couple artists that I met incarcerated,” Pooh details. “The best talents be in there.”

Faith, Family and Sobriety

During his time in prison, Pooh Shiesty leaned heavily on faith, family and music. He became more spiritual, reading the Bible and praying regularly. His grandmother, a devout Christian, provided strength and guidance. He also found motivation in watching his family grow while he was away.

Pooh Shiesty has also embraced sobriety. “My appetite got way better,” he admits. “I used to be tore up to the point where I barely can eat nothing or I’ll go all day without eating.” He reports feeling clearer-minded and healthier.

Looking ahead, Pooh Shiesty’s goals are simple: elevation. “Man, long-term goals is just elevating, period,” Pooh expresses. “Being able to go tour, being able to drop this music, being able to just perform and pop out and, you know, just take back over.” He doesn’t hesitate when talking about what’s to approach. “2026 is the takeover year.”

He also offered a message to those still incarcerated: “Everybody still locked up, incarcerated, you know, y’all ain’t missing nothing out here, but a new iPhone. Keep y’all head up. Stay out the way. Stay away from the 4Gs. Get through that time, keep y’all chin up. Free everybody locked down doing calendars. Big Blrrrd.”

Listen to Pooh Shiesty’s Shiesty Season Album

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