Kodak Black has entered a not guilty plea in response to a drug trafficking charge filed against him in Florida, setting the stage for what could be a closely watched legal battle. The rapper, whose legal name is Bill Kapri, appeared at a court hearing Thursday afternoon after the Orange County Sheriff’s Office brought forward the charge connected to an incident last year.
At the hearing, Kapri submitted a written not guilty plea and formally requested a jury trial. He also waived his requirement to appear in person at a future arraignment hearing in state court, a procedural move that keeps the case moving without requiring his continued physical presence at every step.
What happened before Kodak’s court appearance
The charge stems from a November 2025 police response in Orlando, Florida. Officers arrived at the scene following a 911 call reporting gunshots and proceeded to search vehicles in the surrounding area. During that search, Kapri reportedly approached the officers and observed them as they worked through the vehicles nearby.
According to a police report, officers discovered a bag containing 56 grams of cannabis, a metal container holding a pink pill that tested positive for MDMA, and a separate bag that held Kapri’s identification and an amount of cash. Everyone present at the scene was asked whether the bag or its contents belonged to them, and each person, including Kapri, denied ownership.
The situation took a notable turn when Kapri was informed that cash had been found inside the bag. He reportedly made repeated attempts to have the money returned to him, stating it belonged to his business. Despite those efforts, he continued to deny any connection to the bag itself or anything else found inside it.
Bond set amid Kodak’s lengthy criminal history
At the conclusion of the hearing, the judge set Kapri’s bond at $75,000. In doing so, the court pointed to a significant prior record that included 12 felony convictions, two misdemeanor convictions and one previous failure to appear. The judge also made clear that Kapri’s status as a prominent recording artist carried no weight in the bond determination, treating the case on its legal merits alone.
The decision to pursue a jury trial signals that Kapri and his legal team intend to mount a full defense against the charge rather than seek any kind of early resolution. With the not guilty plea now on record, the case moves into a more formal phase that will likely draw continued public attention given Kodak’s profile in the music world.
A pattern that keeps resurfacing
For Kapri, this latest legal development adds another chapter to a career that has long been shadowed by run-ins with the law. Despite those challenges, Kodak has remained one of the more commercially recognized voices in rap, with a fan base that has followed him through multiple legal setbacks over the years.
The Orlando incident, with its unusual circumstances around the discovered bag and the disputed cash, is likely to be a central point of contention as the case progresses. Whether the jury ultimately connects Kapri to the contents of that bag will determine the outcome of a charge that carries serious legal consequences in the state of Florida.
For now, Kapri has made his position clear. He is not guilty, and he wants twelve people to hear why.
