at age 22, mack was at a nightclub when gunfire broke out. 19-year-old baron victor jr.a gun on him but says he didn't fire his weapon. >> the weird thing is they used lyrics from two different songs, spliced them together to try and make it seem like one statement. >> think back to when you were making those song is. what did those lyrics mean to you back then, in what way do they reflect your rereality? >> oh, man. it was fire to me. i was a battle rapper. that was my way of telling every other emcee, i would kill you on this microphone. >> reporter: last year louisiana governor john bel edwards granted him clemency. despite what he's been through, mack is still invested in the future of the music industry. volunteering here at this after-school program. >> kids is going to blurt out whatever. i love to see them learn. i love to see the look in their eyes when they learn something new. you know, it kind of almost makes me relive my youth in that split-second again. >> reporter: while mack empathizes with thug and gunna, he has a warning to young rappers out there who m