In South Central Los Angeles in the 1980s, Michael "Harry-O" Harris was called the Godfather.
Harris was in control of a national drug trafficking operation that took in close to $2 million per day while collaborating with gangs like the Bloods and Crips and the Colombian cartel.
Harris claims he sought to do the right thing for his community by utilizing the funds to support local companies. Despite his best efforts, he was jailed for drug trafficking and attempted murder, a crime he claims he didn't commit.
Eventually, the victim changed their story, and the attempted murder charges were withdrawn. Nevertheless, Harris was imprisoned for 33 years for the narcotics offense.
Harry-O was quoted as saying.
"I have to take responsibility for my part," he said. "The day that you take responsibility for what you do is the day your life starts to change immediately."
Suge Knight and Harris collaborated to create Death Row Records. Legendary hip-hop musicians including Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Tupac Shakur all got their start on the label.
Harris spent 33 years in prison until receiving a surprising pardon from then-President Donald Trump in 2021. While many believed Death Row Records had permanently closed, Harris returned to work as soon as he was set free, collaborating with Snoop Dogg to lead the brand-new Death Row Records as COO.
They intend to recreate Death Row as an NFT label that operates in the metaverse. Harris wants to emphasize the stories of young people from communities of color and provide them with a forum for sharing their experiences.
To highlight the incredible tales of people who give back, Harris is establishing a network called Philanthropy TV. For Harris, this is a chance at redemption and to make up for his past wrongs.
You can watch the full interview with Harry-O and Spectrum News One correspondent Giselle Fernandez here.
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