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We've always known Meek Mill was a champion of hip-hop but over the past five years it's sometimes been difficult to see. Meme-generating beefs, high-profile relationships and prison stints don't often lead to the biggest hits of your career but it's happening for Meek Mill after some of the most positive few months of his life. What's even more unexpected is that it features the man that almost tore it all down for him - Drake.

The song in question is Going Bad off Championships, his first album since being released from prison. The album debuted at number one in the US and Going Bad has been the runaway success from it peaking at number six in the US. Not only is it his first top 10 but it's also his first top 20 hit. The stats go even deeper when we're talking about Australia. It's Meek's first ever song to crack the top 50 here. 

To truly understand why this is a triumph we have to go way back though. Back to 2015. Meek had just released his second album Dreams Worth More Than Money and was in the midst of a very public relationship with Nicki Minaj. Minaj featured twice on that record alongside a host of heavy hitters including Future and Drake. The record went number one in the US but things went south quickly when Meek accused Drake of using a ghostwriter for their 2015 collaboration R.I.C.O.

The beef wasn't unusual for Drake. He'd taken on many in the past but there was something different about this one. It moved in real time, the first streaming-driven beef and what's more it was incredibly close to comfort. Drake's label mate and friend Nicki sat on Meek's side out of loyalty while Drizzy quickly got the upper-hand. In response to the accusations Drake dropped Charged Up and Back To Back with the latter going on to chart all around the world. Meek responded with Wanna Know but ultimately it was too weak to dispel Drake's global impact and the memes spreading like wildfire. Minaj stayed strangely quiet through the whole thing and reunited with Drake after the pair broke-up in early 2017. 

Meek's accusations may have been relevant but he'd been steam-rolled by the Drake machine. Following the beef, he released a mixtape and an album Wins & Losses which both did well but seemed to show that the impact he had on Dreams Worth More Than Money had slipped. 

Shortly after the release of that album, in November 2017, Meek was sentenced to two to four years in prison for violating his probation. The incarceration came as a shock to many. Meek has been on probation since he was charged with drug-related offences at the age of 21. The majority of the case has been overseen by judge Genece Brinkley. He had reportedly violated his probation a number of times since then with one of the final straws being a 2015 violation where he travelled outside Philadelphia without permission and submitted water instead of a urine sample. He was given six to 12 months of house arrest with a further six years of probation. He appealed but it was denied. 

In 2017, he reportedly violated probation again with the judge saying he had failed drug tests and been involved in traffic altercations. It was at this point he was sentenced to prison. Almost immediately his sentence sparked outrage. #FreeMeek spread quickly with heavyweights like Colin Kaepernick and Rick Ross coming out in support of the rapper. As Pitchfork report, Meek's lawyers filed for Brinkley to be removed from the case. Meek's legal team stated that she, "repeatedly offered inappropriate personal and professional advice." 

It sparked a far larger conversation though about judicial reform in the US with Meek since becoming a powerful spokesperson for the issue following his release in April 2018. The decision for release was made because there were concerns about the credibility of a police officer who witnessed events that led to gun and drug charges. Meek told NBC Nightly News that he was dedicating himself to "helping minorities" in situations like his and has done exactly that.

Earlier this year, JAY-Z and Meek Mill formed the REFORM Alliance aiming to bring changes to the criminal justice system in the US. Meek believes that there is not enough support given to those on parole of probation. There are four million people who fit under that category and this alliance aims to provide support to those people so that they don't continue to end up in prison. 

Just this week, the Pennsylvania Senate passed a bill to cap the length of probation at five years for felonies and three for misdemeanors. This was inspired by Meek's case. Meek has called the development "great news."

"I’ve been on probation 11 years and sent to prison 3 times without committing crime," he said.

"This will directly effect people growing up in bad environments going in and out of prison for minor mistakes 'not crime.'"

All this is important when considering Meek's current success because it's no lucky strike. Meek's a better artist than he's ever been. Championships shows Meek at his lyrical peak. He's never been more potent or open about his experiences but he's not only considering himself, he's considering those that are in positions similar to his. "Tryna impress them people in power when power abusin' us/For 44 dollars a hour, you coward they using ya," he raps on opener Trauma, just one of the songs on the record that documents his experiences and calls for reform. 

Going Bad is one of the least political songs on the record but it's triumphant for a number of reasons. For one, it's the very unlikely reunion of Drake and Mill, one that feels natural and right. Drizzy is obviously a chart king right now but it's Meek who brings the lines on this cut. "Me and Drizzy back-to-back, it's gettin' scary (Back-to-back)" is a line that was just too good to leave off and also shows Meek's openness to poke fun at the beef situation. 

Ultimately, despite everything, Meek has returned stronger than ever. His voice has never been louder and he's experiencing a victorious return similar to what Gucci Mane did in 2016. If we're considering Dreams Worth More Than Money as Meek's previous commercial peak, he's gone bigger with Championships. Going Bad is still steaming ahead but there's at least three or four more records on the album ready to pop. Meek season is long overdue but it's in full bloom.