Meek Mill to be released from prison

Meek Mill will soon be released from prison after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered his immediate release. The state's highest court on Tuesday directed the judge who jailed him to release the rapper on "unsecured bail." His lawyer, Brian McMonagle, told CBS News his client would be released Tuesday.

The 30-year-old rapper, whose real name is Robert Williams, tweeted thanking his family and public advocates -- who included Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft -- and said he looks forward to returning to his music career.

Michael Rubin, co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team and the New Jersey Devils hockey team, will reportedly pick up Mill from prison. Rubin has been one of Mill's many supporters and visited him several times in jail.

Mill said his time in jail has "been a nightmare" and that he will work with his legal team overturn his "unwarranted conviction."

Meek Mill

✔@MeekMill

I’d like to thank God, my family, and all my public advocates for their love, support and encouragement during this difficult time. While the past five months have been a nightmare, the prayers, visits, calls, letters and rallies have helped me stay positive.

9:05 PM - Apr 24, 2018

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Meek Mill

✔@MeekMill

To the Philly District Attorney’s office, I’m grateful for your commitment to justice. I understand that many people of color across the country don’t have that luxury and I plan to use my platform to shine a light on those issues.

9:05 PM - Apr 24, 2018

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Meek Mill

✔@MeekMill

In the meantime, I plan to work closely with my legal team to overturn this unwarranted conviction and look forward to reuniting with my family and resuming my music career.

9:06 PM - Apr 24, 2018

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Statement from Meek Mill's attorney Joe Tacopina:

"We are thrilled that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has directed Judge Brinkley to immediately issue an order releasing Meek on bail. As we have said all along, Meek was unjustly convicted and should not have spent a single day in jail. We are also pleased that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has noted that Judge Brinkley may opt to remove herself from presiding over any further proceedings in Meek's case in the interests of justice. Meek is excited to be reunited with his family, and we, along with Meek, intend to continue to shine the light on a justice system in need of reform to prevent any other citizen from being put through what Meek has endured."

Why was Meek Mill in jail?

Mill was sentenced in November to two to four years in prison for violating probation on a nearly decade-old gun and drug case.

Judge Genece Brinkley, who sentenced Mill for the probation violation, said he had wasted several chances to clean up his act after a 2009 gun and drug case. The sentence came against the recommendation of the prosecutor, who said Mill had matured since his original crime. Brinkley said the prosecutor did not know the case as well as she did and that Mill just "does what he wants." Demonstrators took to the streets at the time in protest.

Mill was arrested twice -- once in St. Louis for an alleged altercation in the airport and another time for alleged reckless driving in New York City involving a dirt bike.