Leaf Ward’s story is a wild ride that kicks off with his escape from the streets of Philly to Atlanta, only to find himself caught up in a tangled web of legal troubles back in his hometown. In August 2023, what began as a typical night at Bahama Breeze restaurant in Philly quickly spiraled into chaos for the up-and-coming rapper.
While Leaf Ward and his girlfriend were enjoying their meal, someone recognized the stolen car they arrived in and called the cops. As a tow truck began hauling away the vehicle, Leaf rushed outside and was met by police. He attempted to flee through the back door, but the authorities were hot on his heels. Compounding his problems, a witness claimed Leaf tossed a gun into a trash can outside, which the cops later retrieved.
The situation worsened when Leaf gave a fake name to the police, leading to additional charges. To top it off, they found pills in the stolen car. Given his status as a felon, possessing a firearm alone was disastrous, but rumors suggested that the Feds got involved because the gun had a switch, converting it into a machine gun. If convicted, this could add over 20 years to his sentence.
Leaf’s legal troubles aren’t new. In 2021, he faced charges of making false statements to buy a gun, selling guns, and conspiracy. The resolution of that case remains unclear, but if still pending, it could be lumped with his new charges, spelling further trouble.
Leaf’s upbringing paints a picture of a young man shaped by a harsh environment. His father was jailed for 15 years, leaving his mother to raise him on Philly’s West Side. Despite early attempts to stay out of trouble and a brief stint in college, he couldn’t escape the pull of the streets. An interview revealed that distractions and drama led to his dropping out and pursuing a rap career instead.
Back in Philly, Leaf’s music thrived, but so did his drug addiction. Between 2012 and 2017, he spent over $100,000 on Percocets, even resorting to stealing from his mother. Encouragement from his neighborhood OGs and the support of his longtime friend-turned-girlfriend eventually helped him kick the habit and refocus on his music.
Still, Leaf’s street ties proved hard to break. In 2018, after a stint in jail, where Philly legend PnB Rock bailed him out, he narrowly survived a shooting. Despite his hand being grazed by a bullet, he kept pushing forward, turning the incident into lyrical fodder. His survival only deepened his involvement in Philly’s violent beefs, notably taking shots at rival Chino Glizzy on social media and through music.
The beefs in Philly are deeply entrenched, with bodies dropping on both sides. One such feud involved Leaf’s new rival Chino Glizzy, who was eventually gunned down in 2020. Although this removed one adversary, it didn’t end the ongoing cycles of retaliation and violence in the city.
In an attempt to escape the escalating violence, Leaf moved to Atlanta with his family. Yet, the pull of Philly was strong, and he found himself back in his old neighborhood. Before his latest arrest, Leaf had endured the loss of his manager Rondo to violence in Puerto Rico, a blow to both his personal life and career.
Leaf’s trajectory seemed destined for a better path after moving out of Philly, but the allure of his hometown and the weight of his past actions caught up to him. Now, with the possibility of decades behind bars looming, Leaf Ward’s journey serves as a stark reminder of how difficult it can be to escape one’s roots and the life they lead you into.
Leaf Ward’s story is one of potential and peril, a young rapper with talent who couldn’t quite shake the shadow of his past. As he faces serious legal battles, his future hangs in the balance, marked by the relentless grip of the streets he once tried to leave behind.
