Rapper Lil Boosie is a free man. The 31-year-old was released from a Louisiana State Penitentiary on Mar. 5 after serving five years of a 12 year-sentence. Boosie, whose real name is Torrence Hatch, was charged with third degree possession of marijuana back in 2009 and was sentenced to four years behind-bars.

According to TMZ, shortly after entering jail he was caught trying to smuggle drugs into the prison and the judged added another eight years to his sentence. At the time his team was ready to fight the new charges saying that a drug ring had set him up.

In 2010, Boosie was accused of murdering rapper Terry Boyd but he pleaded not guilty. In 2012, he was found innocent. TMZ reports that Boosie caught a break and was allowed to leave jail early. Upon hearing the news of his release fans took to Twitter to welcome him back home hoping that he will be putting out new music soon.

According to a 2013 interview (via email) he did with Spin magazine, fans might not have to wait too much longer for the rapper to release new tracks. He told Spin that while he was locked up, he had written about 500 songs.

"I have about 500 songs at the moment. I'm ready to get in the studio with the best producers. I feel that I'm making the best music I've ever made," he said. "The more I go through in life the better my music gets and it's been crazy the last three years. I keep my music heartfelt and stick to making real music. I wouldn't even say it's hip-hop music. My music is 'reality rap.' Hip-hop music can make you dance and bob your head, but it can't make you cry or touch your heart like reality rap."

He also opened up about how he was coping while in prison.

"I've coped by knowing in my heart that I'm someone special who many people love," Boosie said. "If you lose hope in yourself, you'll make your time hard. I always felt that my mission wasn't complete. I feel I haven't reached the star power that was destined from me. That makes me keep writing and thinking of ways to better myself as a man and artist. When it feels like the world is on my shoulders, I look at my pictures from when I was free and it gives hope and determination to keep pushing."

Are you glad Lil Boosie was released from prison?