Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
Jelly Roll released the official music video for his latest single on Friday, July 17.
Jelly Roll has unveiled a deeply emotional music video for his latest track.
Released on Friday, July 17, the visual for “Hands Up” features the 41-year-old country singer, whose real name is Jason DeFord, performing at California’s San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. The autobiographical song is brought to life through scenes of the artist connecting with incarcerated individuals inside the facility.
The video opens with Jelly Roll arriving at the prison in San Francisco as a heartfelt prayer plays in the background. He later joins a group of inmates holding musical instruments before making his way into the prison’s dining hall, where he greets and shakes hands with hundreds of inmates. The performance continues with several incarcerated musicians joining his band on stage.
In a post shared on Instagram, Jelly Roll emphasized that the people featured in the video were actual inmates rather than actors. In a follow-up message, he described the experience as one of the most meaningful moments of his career.
“This was truly one of the most special opportunities I’ve ever experienced,” the Grammy-winning artist wrote. “The moment my life truly changed was when I threw my hands up. I know many people will hear this song and remember their own ‘hands up’ moment, and that makes it even more meaningful to me.”
Reflecting on his own past, he added that he once found himself in circumstances similar to those faced by the incarcerated men in the video. He expressed gratitude for being able to share the experience with them, thanking everyone involved, including the inmates, the San Quentin staff, and everyone who helped make the project possible. Jelly Roll also joked that it might be the best music video of his career, though he admitted his excitement could simply be “recency bias.”
With the release, Jelly Roll joins a long list of legendary performers who have appeared at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, including Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, Carlos Santana, and Metallica.