Nelson Mandela returns to his maker at the age of 95.  Mandela spent 27 years as a prisoner in South Africa for fighting against apartheid, only to later emerge as the first black president of the nation.  Imprisoned for nearly three decades for apposing white minority rule, Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993, an honor he shared with F.W. de Klerk, the white Afrikaner leader who freed him from prison three years earlier and negotiated the end of apartheid.  Mandela will forever live in the mind and hearts of all.

Nelson Mandela’s time in prison was marked by various campaigns from support groups for his freedom and musicians all over the world from U2 to 50-cent have traveled across the world and written songs in his support.  Check out some of the HipHop artists who’ve spent time with Mandela.

Check out his speech when freed in 1990: