McKinley “Mac” Phipps, Jr. is a New Orleans-born hip hop artist, producer and advocate whose life embodies truth, creativity, and redemption. Once a rising star on No Limit Records, Mac gained national attention in the late 1990s with acclaimed albums like Shell Shocked and World War III, and through his lyrical contributions to the platinum-selling group 504 Boyz.

At the height of his career, he was wrongfully convicted for a crime he did not commit and spent 21 years in prison before being granted clemency in 2021. Since his release, Mac has reclaimed his legacy through music and advocacy, using his platform to challenge the criminalization of rap lyrics and to inspire criminal justice reform.

In 2023, Mac released his long-awaited album Son of the City, a deeply personal project that reflects on family, faith, and perseverance while honoring his New Orleans roots. That same year, he earned an Emmy for his role in Hulu’s The Rap Trap: Hip Hop on Trial, a groundbreaking documentary examining how prosecutors weaponize rap lyrics in court.

Mac was also featured in As We Speak, an Emmy-nominated Paramount+ documentary that continues this critical conversation, posing urgent questions about free speech, artistic expression, and the limits of the First Amendment.

Today, Mac performs, speaks, and mentors across the country, reminding audiences that purpose can rise from pain and that every story, when told with truth, has the power to transform.