The 20 Best “First Day Out” Songs

20.Dave Blunts, "First Day Out The Hospital" (2025)

Producer: Sheffmade, Quadwoofer & ​filthygenes

Dave Blunts is either a very silly person trying to be a serious rapper or a serious person playing the role of a silly rapper. We suspect the latter, which is why it makes perfect sense that he would have his own “First Day Out” song.

For Dave, though, it isn’t his first day out of jail but his first day out of the hospital—a comedic response to general concern around him, ranging from jokes about his love of the cup to worries about his weight.

The track features all the shock-jock Dave Blunts antics we’ve grown accustomed to over the years—including transphobic lines—but, like most of his songs, it also highlights his knack for infectious melodies and a serviceable rap voice. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

19.HoodRich Pablo Juan, "First Day Out" (2025)

Producer: DJ Champ

In 2020, just two days before his 31st birthday, Atlanta cult rap legend HoodRich Pablo Juan was arrested on RICO charges. He would spend the next five years behind bars, finally coming home in October 2025.

Unsurprisingly, Juan isn’t very introspective on his First Day Out. Instead, he slips right back into the high-level trap talk that made him a beloved figure on Gucci Mane’s label. If anything, the video is the more compelling document, capturing the rapper on his literal first day free as he rides through his old Atlanta stomping grounds. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

18.YungManny and Xanman, “First Day Out” (2019)

Producer: khroam

In 2018, Xanman was arrested for reasons that still remain unknown, causing his already dedicated fans to obsessively post #FreeXanman until he was freed six months later.

Upon his release, he called on YungManny for a new track. Xanman’s “First Day Out” is filled with off-beat punchlines that ride over a looping piano chord progression and staticky 808s. The song will spark your attention with oddities like Squidward ad-libs and unique flows, making for a worthwhile listen from a couple of exciting artists. —Kemet High

17.Wizz Havinn, "1st Day Out" (2025)

Producer: Bekal Beats & Rajon Brown

When Tallahassee, Florida native Wizz Havinn was arrested on a gun charge, the case was so underreported that most people didn’t even realize he was sitting until he dropped his "First Day Out" track in early 2025.

With a laid-back flow that makes Luh Tyler sound caffeinated, Wizz blends wit with blunt trap talk that reminds people why he's been one of the buzziest young street rappers to come out of Florida. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

16.YNW Melly, "Gang (First Day Out)" (2019)

Producer: Z3N

The often-embattled YNW Melly actually has multiple first-day-out songs: one released before the infamous "Murder on My Mind" was released and one after.

The second is the stronger track, with the rapper fully embracing his syrupy, melodic style. The video also stands out, featuring appearances from some of the biggest rappers of the last decade, including Lil Uzi Vert, Swae Lee, Lil Durk, Trippie Redd, King Von, and more.

This one might have been a bit premature—about a month after the video dropped, he turned himself in on two counts of premeditated first-degree murder. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

15.Ralo, "First Day Out" (2023)

Producer: Kaz Miller

Most "First Day Out" songs tend to be celebratory, capturing the moments right after an artist gets home from prison. But when Ralo was released in 2023, his "First Day Out" track carried an unmistakably melancholic vibe. Not only did he rap about his mindset at the time, but he also addressed rumors swirling around him.

Around the time of the song's release, he talked to Complex about how recording it on BandLab lead to song's sound. He told us:

"...with the BandLab [app], I can hear the clarity in my voice. I can hear the pain. I can hear the rawness. I can hear the passion in my voice with the BandLab app." —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

14.Quando Rondo, “First Day Out” (2018)

Producer: Lando

Quando Rondo was first exposed to music in the church around the age of nine.

But his past? Not so holy.

Serving time in and out of juvenile detention centers for robbery and drug-related charges, Quando Rondo delicately crafted his melodic approach to rap, making a name for himself in the studio and on the internet.

In 2018, fresh from serving a sentence, he dropped his “First Day Out” song, which interestingly starts off with him saying, “Murder on my mind,” eliminating any questions about whether or not his street mentality was the real deal. —Kemet High

13.Skippa Da Flippa, “First Day Out” (2015)

Producer: N/A

If Skippa Da Flippa never fell out with Quality Control, some believe he could have had songs as big as Migos.

After they got arrested together as a unit in 2015 for drug and gun possession, Skippa got out of jail and used this song to both tell his story and call for the release of his friends.

Even though he spent some time in solitary confinement, his arrest barely hindered his success. In “First Day Out,” he confidently raps that despite the cuffs, his wrists and neck were covered with material that’s worth way more once he got out. —Kemet High

12.EBK Jaaybo, "The Biggest G (First Day Out)"

Producer: Yvnng Ecko

"Boogieman" was one of the biggest street hits of 2024, but controversial rapper EBK Jaaybo wasn’t around to celebrate. He was behind bars, fighting a case. This has been a pattern for Jaaybo: just as he gains momentum, he finds himself in trouble with the law. (As of this publication, he's incarcerated for another charge.)

His first major release after "Boogieman" took off was "The Biggest G (First Day Out)," featuring that high-energy, muscular Stockton production he sounds perfect on, now infused with steel drums." —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

11.Jimmy Wopo, “First Day Out” (2017)

Producer: Stevie B

Jimmy Wopo showed a lot of promise in the late 2010s, becoming a World Star fan-favorite.

As an 18-year-old at the time, he was arrested during a traffic stop and booked on charges of drug possession and underage drinking. He got out soon after, but was arrested again for a probation violation from the previous case. On the day of his release in 2017, he recorded this song to accompany a full-length project titled Back Against The Wall. The Stevie B-produced beat sounds like a Gameboy instrumental that you would hear while playing Pokémon.

With a few drums, Jimmy Wopo turned the song into a memorable hit. His energy is infectious, as is the chorus, where he raps, “I'm startin’ out my day, with a chopper/Then pick up my daughter from my baby mama’s/Then I shrimp and steak, Benihana’s/Like my birthday, I want cake and a box of condoms.”

Jimmy Wopo was unfortunately killed in a double shooting in 2018, but this is one of the many instances in which his music will live on. —Kemet High

10.Rio Da Young OG, "Rio Free" (2024)

Producer: Wayne616 & BlueStrip

This isn’t titled “First Day Out,” but it has all the elements of a great "First Day Out" track: it was recorded within the first 24 hours of Rio being released from federal prison, it has a triumphant buildup reminiscent of the Tee Grizzly classic, and on the track he explicitly says, “this is my first day out.” So, yeah, this counts and the song is an incredible example of Rio's rapping ability.

Funny enough, it’s also the sequel to “Last Day Out,” a track he recorded just before turning himself in for a five year charge. "First Day Out" is energetic, while "Last Day Out" is more mournful and introspective. Both are well worth your time. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

9.City Girls, "JT First Day Out" (2019)

Producer: Flaw Da God & Twysted Genius

The City Girls movement was inescapable in 2019.

If you were at any brunch, club, or party, and heard “Act Up,” you know exactly what we're talking about. The group was missing JT for a majority of the evolution, though.

On the same day that Drake dropped “In My Feelings” featuring City Girls, JT was locked up and sentenced to a year-long bid for credit card fraud. Her “First Day Out” song begins with a recorded conversation between JT and Quality Control founder Pee, who expresses that he was ready for JT to come home. We all felt that, and seconds later, you can hear why.

JT rips into the track immediately, and once the beat starts booming, her bars hit even harder. —Kemet High

8.Chief Keef, “First Day Out” (2013)

Producer: Frencizzle

Nearly a year after Chief Keef’s “Don’t Like” broke the internet (and more than a few speakers), he was arrested in 2013 for violating his 18-month probation sentence for pointing a gun at a cop.

His 60-day stint was short, but considering the career elevation that came the year before, his absence was noticeable.

Sampling Gucci Mane’s original “First Day Out,” Chief Keef’s version is surely reflective of his artistry. While it didn’t end up making the same impact as other hits like “Love Sosa,” it’s a great entry in Keef’s catalog. —Kemet High

7.Pooh Shiesty, "FDO" (2025)

Producer: TP808

Pooh Shiesty was released from prison in October 2025. He didn’t drop his first song until December, so this isn’t technically a “First Day Out” track. But it has all the energy of one: Pooh absolutely goes crazy on it, rapping non-stop for five minutes.

In fact, when it's all said it might be the most well-rapped "First Day Out" song, with lines like, “My grandma told me to keep my grass low the whole time I’m the snake” and “Reorganize my whole gang on Sundays, we work on our aim.”

Gucci Mane should be proud. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

6.Offset, “First Day Out” (2015)

Producer: Murda Beatz

Following Quality Control’s group arrest at Georgia Southern University in 2015, Offset remained jailed from the incident.

While he was locked up, Quavo and Takeoff held it down, going on a run that broke Migos into the mainstream. With the group’s new elevation, Offset didn’t have anything to prove, but right after his release, he dropped a Murda Beatz-produced statement that gave the world a vivid glimpse at Migos’ missing link.

A few years down the line, in early 2019, he finally dropped the video. Some fans were confused as to why he was dropping a music video for a song he released four years prior, but looking back, he was clearly proud to highlight the legal battles he overcame. What a moment. —Kemet High

5.Young Nudy, “First Day Out” (2016)

Producer: Pi’erre Bourne

“First Day Out” is a blunt retelling of the incident that put Young Nudy behind bars. He recounts the altercation with pinpoint detail, even naming the Texaco gas station where it went down: “Caught his ass down bad right on Gresham Road / Did his ass real bad right at the Texaco / Then I split that shit off right on Bouldercrest Road.”

Musically, the track marks one of Nudy’s earliest collaborations with his longtime producer, Pi’erre Bourne, who lays down one of his zaniest beats—built around atonal flute leads layered over gunshot sound effects and bouncy 808s.

Across four minutes, Nudy delivers a confessional performance, venting about fake friends, snitches, and wannabe gangstas, punctuated by eyebrow-raising lines like, “Motherfucker, do I look like a dildo? I ain’t no toy." —Antonio Johri

4.Kodak Black, “First Day Out” (2017)

Producer: Dyryk

After serving a three month sentence for violating his probation, Kodak Black dropped one of the coldest “First Day Out” songs to date in 2017.

The song’s celebratory lyrics highlight how Kodak prevailed past the restraints of the justice system for a twelfth time. This was far from his first bid, so he raps about smoking weed in his cell and knowing that once he was released, he had canary yellow diamonds waiting for him at home.

The music video starts with what seems to be live footage of Kodak seeing his family for the first time after his release. As you could imagine, they’re ecstatic. His flow is on point, too. You can try all you want to stay still, but you’ll be hitting that Kodak bop by the end of the first verse. —Kemet High

3.Gucci Mane, “First Day Out” (2009)

Producer: Zaytoven

Gucci Mane is, of course, the pioneer of the “First Day Out” song.

Back in 2009, he was jailed for only completing 25 out of 600 hours of community service, stemming from an aggravated assault case. This was certainly one of Gucci’s shorter bids, but it came at a time when he was becoming an indisputable Atlanta rap legend.

In addition to starting a movement that rappers would continue to follow over the next decade, this song contained several influential moments, from Gucci’s slurred flow to long-time collaborator Zaytoven’s production. —Kemet High

2.Gucci Mane, “First Day Out Da Feds” (2016)

Producer: Pluss & Mike WiLL Made-It

Gucci Mane’s 2016 release from prison changed his career forever.

In 2014, he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, landing him behind bars until 2016. Two years later, his flow was significantly polished and he lost so much weight that people theorized he had a clone.

Gucci played with that narrative in the music video for “First Day Out Da Feds,” but once you hear him start rapping, it’s clear he didn’t lose any of the sauce that makes him so great. What was different this time around, though, was that Gucci looked and sounded like his head was in a better space. More focused. More motivated. Shirtless in retro Jordan 5’s and an ankle bracelet, he looks rejuvenated. “First Day Out Da Feds” is a master class from the man credited with creating the “First Day Out” tradition in the first place. As a seasoned vet, he renovated his 2009 version as a reminder of how it’s really done. In our minds, this is a tie with the original, but the music video slightly pushes it over the edge. —Kemet High

1.Tee Grizzley, “First Day Out” (2016)

Producer: Helluva

The impact of Tee Grizzley’s “First Day Out” is one of the biggest music success stories of the 2010s.

After an attempted jewelry store robbery, Grizzley was sent to prison and obligated to serve additional time for robberies he was involved with at Michigan State.

In “First Day Out,” he discusses all of this in depth, filling out the song with more words than a court document. It was here that many were introduced to Grizzley’s storytelling ability, as he dropped bars like, “Kilroy, ’member when I used to use your L’s/To hit the road, hit the O and make them big boy sales?/Moo, ’member when you had them green things mailed/With vacuum seals tryin’ not to have them green things smelled?” 

The song became a viral hit after LeBron James recorded himself getting fueled up to it during the NBA offseason. Right there, Tee Grizzley’s price went up. The track not only helped launch his career, it ended up becoming a “First Day Out” rap classic. —Kemet High