Not long ago, Tory Lanez revealed a new “Free Tory Playlist” with fresh tracks recorded from prison—first drop already arrived and was named Cell 245. This new track, “Cell 245,” shocked everyone with its astonishing sound quality while being entirely recorded over a jail phone—the very thing infamous for its less-than-perfect audio fidelity.
Although Lanez is currently serving a 10-year sentence for the shooting of fellow artist Megan Thee Stallion, he has not strayed away from his music career. He has recently been able to find ways of being involved with his fans and carrying on the production of his music. This new release is just another example of his restless pursuit of this craft.
“Prison Tapes” boasts vocals recorded from a jail phone. Many fans and people within the music industry have showed disbelief at how good the quality of the tracks actually sound. Ordinarily, the picked-up recordings from a jail phone are linked with a lot of static, and the acoustics are bad, but this did not apply to Lanez’s album. Advanced post-production techniques have played a big part in making his vocals sound clear and accurate, much like a professional album would.
Of course, Lanez perseveres in making music from behind bars. He updates his fans that his prison cell is now his new office and that he is still rehabilitating his mind, body, and soul in increments. Personal growth and betterment from this period of incarceration are at the helm of what he shares with fans. He has shared he is still in good spirits, trying to become a better version of himself.
The release has elicited variations in reaction to “Prison Tapes”. Many fans shouldn’t but go on to appreciate the resilience and dedication Lanez puts into his music.
“It’s unreal how he’s been able to keep his career in music alive with everything going on,”
one such fan said. Great sound quality considering the circumstances, really.
However, some critical opinions over the ethics and logistics of making music from jail were voiced.
“That’s worrying, how someone can continue to wield that kind of influence from inside a prison,”
said one critic.
“It opens questions about the prison system and what its purpose is in terms of rehabilitation.”
Other industry experts also commented, with some of them even raising technical issues with making music and recording under that kind of environment.
“Honestly, the ability of Lanez’s team to improve the audio this much is breathtaking,”
an audio engineer commented.
“It shows just how far we are in post-production tech.
Lanez’s case and his new album represent the intricate play of personal circumstances with professional pursuits. On the one hand, the very fact that he can work on music from the other side of the prison walls reinforces the positivity it has on his career: it just shows how much resiliency and commitment he has. Yet, it also poses a lot of broader questions for the culture and the music industry around how artists work under different conditions.
As Lanez trudges through the remaining portions of his incarceration, “Prison Tapes” will be a testament that he hasn’t forgotten about the passion he has for music, or the connection he wishes to retain with his fan base.
