Rapper Who Joined Trump Onstage Jailed for Attempted Murder

A New York rapper who once stood beside Donald Trump on a Bronx stage is now heading to prison. Michael Williams, better known by his stage name Sheff G, has been sentenced to five years behind bars after pleading guilty to attempted murder and admitting ties to a violent Brooklyn street gang.

The 26-year-old drill artist, whose gritty tracks racked up millions of streams on Spotify and YouTube, was a rising star in the rap world. But prosecutors say his fame fueled something far darker: a campaign of street warfare funded by his music earnings.

Williams was one of 30 alleged members of the 8 Trey Crips named in a sweeping gang indictment by Brooklyn prosecutors. According to the charges, he helped bankroll assaults on rival crews, rewarded shooters with jewelry and cash, and even played the role of getaway driver in a 2021 shooting that left three innocent bystanders wounded.

“He thought the money and notoriety could make him untouchable,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. “But in Brooklyn, we don’t turn a blind eye to violence just because someone’s famous.”

Investigators say Williams didn’t just finance the gang—he promoted its actions in his lyrics. Some of the verses, they allege, boasted about real-life attacks and killings, blurring the line between music and confession.

His guilty plea is part of a broader crackdown on gang violence in New York City, where drill rap and gang culture have collided in ways that police say are fueling real-world bloodshed. NYPD officials have previously warned that viral music videos can escalate tensions on the streets, often turning online beef into deadly encounters.

Ironically, it was just last May that Williams appeared at a Trump campaign rally in the Bronx, where the former president sought to court Black voters in traditionally blue New York. “One thing I want to say: They are always going to whisper your accomplishments and shout your failures,” Williams told the crowd. “Trump is going to shout the wins for all of us.”

His co-defendant, rapper Tegan Chambers—known as Sleepy Hallow—was also swept up in the gang probe. Both artists had gained notoriety for voicing support for Trump, an unlikely alliance that drew headlines during the 2024 campaign season.

Now, instead of studio time or campaign stages, Williams will be spending his prime years in a prison cell.

“He had a choice,” said DA Gonzalez. “He could have used his platform to uplift his community. Instead, he chose to terrorize it.”

The case has reignited debate over the role of art in criminal cases, with some free speech advocates raising concerns about prosecutors using lyrics as evidence. But for many in Brooklyn, the priority is safety.

One local resident, who asked not to be named, put it bluntly: “If you’re using your fame to put kids in danger, I don’t care how many songs you have. You belong in jail.”