Vinnie Shesty didn’t give up on his second chance. The 26-year-old Memphis rapper spent 1,580 days in jail, never knowing if he would ever be free again. He enrolled at age 22, the same month he was named the 2021 XXL Freshman Class. After pleading guilty in 2022, he was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for conspiracy to possess a firearm to commit violent and drug trafficking crimes in connection with a robbery and shooting incident in July 2020. On October 6, 2025, he was released from prison after serving three years. Now Pooh is back out there, changing certain people, places, and things for a better life.
On December 5, XXL traveled to Dallas, where Pooh Shiesty currently lives, to sit down with him for one of his most honest interviews since his release from prison. The rhyme begins with a very candid conversation about his inner life and his plans for new music. Although he was forced to sit still for long periods of time, these moments served him lyrically, mentally, and spiritually. Vinnie reexamined his life, wrote more lyrics, filled his mind with books, and developed a stronger relationship with God. He was determined not to go to jail again.
He’s also dedicated to sharpening his pen, which can be heard on his new single “FDO,” which was produced by his longtime producer TP 808. The track dropped on Friday (December 12) and proves that Vinny hasn’t missed a beat.
“‘FDO,’ I had to choose this particular song because it was like the message,” Vinnie told XXL. “It fit my typical vibe back. The thought process about it, I was really putting it together while doing my time in there. But I couldn’t finish it because I was having new experiences, I was going through new things. So, like the first day I finished it in the studio, everything, the whole experience of coming home. I can’t rap in a song about the welcome I got when I got home… I did it when I got home and everything hit me and it turned out perfect.”
Life behind bars wasn’t easy, but Vinnie Shesti made the most of the time he spent sitting in his cell. He took some good habits home with him and has implemented them into his daily work. “Exercise is one of them,” he shared. : I have never practiced before. no way. Reading, I’m not too keen on picking up books. But I will read all day long. I worked on my reading game there. Knowing how to like, choose between rational and irrational decisions, you know, just thinking before making decisions and acting. Trying to control my temper. Know how to communicate better. I learned how to communicate better. That’s a lot of good stuff. “
Nearly four years have passed, which means there is no more Mr. Pooh music on the streets. His Shiesty Season album, the hit album Back in Blood, which just went eight platinum, and other albums like Day One and Federal Contraband 2 have all satisfied his supporters, but there’s nothing like hearing the new and improved Pooh on the mic. He is also sober. “A cleaner version,” Pooh shared of the new version of himself that fans can now get used to. “Pooh Shiesty is more focused. The vision is clearer, I see better now. I get it. This is my second run. It’s like a second chance, really”
See Pooh Shiesty discuss his expectations for his next album, the rappers who reached out to him in prison, mentorship from Gucci Mane, the lyrical routine he perfected, and more.
