Carlos Coy was on top of the world. Or at least, he was on top of the Houston rap scene, which felt like the center of the universe in the late 90s. Known to everyone as South Park Mexican, or simply SPM, he wasn’t just a guy with a microphone. He was a mogul in the making. He built Dope House Records from the ground up, selling tapes out of his trunk before moving millions of units and signing a massive distribution deal with Universal.
Then it all stopped.
Actually, the music didn't stop, but the man disappeared behind concrete walls. In 2002, a Harris County jury handed down a sentence that essentially ended his career as a public figure. Forty-five years. Since then, his name has become a flashpoint for debate. To some, he’s a pioneer of Chicano rap who was unfairly targeted. To others, the legal facts of his case are too dark to ignore.
The Rise of South Park Mexican and Dope House Records
Carlos Coy didn't have a silver spoon. He grew up in the South Park neighborhood of Houston, a place he’d later immortalize in his lyrics. Before the fame, he was hustling. He's been open about his past, including dealing drugs and getting expelled from school. But in 1994, something shifted. He bought some blank cassette tapes and started recording.
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He and his brother, Arthur Coy Jr., founded Dope House Records in 1995. It was a family business. They released Hillwood that same year, and the local buzz was immediate. SPM had this laid-back, conversational flow that felt authentic to the streets of Texas. He wasn't trying to sound like he was from New York or L.A. He sounded like Houston.
By the time 2000 rolled around, the industry couldn't ignore him anymore. Universal Records stepped in with a distribution deal that reportedly included a $500,000 advance. This was huge for a Chicano artist. He was putting out hits like "You Know My Name" and "Wiggy," and he was collaborating with guys like Baby Bash (then known as Baby Beesh) and members of the Screwed Up Click.
Honestly, he was the face of a movement. He proved that an independent Latin rapper could go national without losing his soul. But while the money was pouring in, a legal storm was brewing.
The 2002 Conviction: What the Records Say
The fall of South Park Mexican wasn't a slow fade. It was a crash. In September 2001, Coy was arrested on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child. The victim was a nine-year-old girl who had been at a sleepover with Coy’s own daughter.
The details of the trial were harrowing. According to court records and testimony, the assault happened at Coy’s home. The victim testified that while she and Coy’s daughter were watching TV, he touched her inappropriately and eventually performed oral sex on her.
The jury didn't take long. After a ten-day trial in May 2002, they found him guilty. The sentence was 45 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The Controversy and the Fans
If you go into any comment section on an SPM video today, you'll see a war. His fans are incredibly loyal. Many believe he was set up—a "falsely accused" narrative that usually involves claims of extortion by the victim's mother. They point to a lack of physical DNA evidence in the primary case.
However, the legal system saw it differently. Beyond the 2001 case, other allegations surfaced. There was a lawsuit involving a woman who claimed Coy had impregnated her in 1993 when she was only 13 years old. A DNA test later confirmed he was the biological father of her son. The state used these secondary incidents to paint a pattern of behavior during his legal proceedings.
Life Behind Bars: Recording Through a Phone
Most rappers would have been forgotten after two decades in prison. Not SPM. He has managed to release a staggering amount of music while incarcerated. If you’ve ever wondered why his "prison albums" like When Devils Strike (2006) or The Last Chair Violinist (2008) sound so decent, the answer is a mix of ingenuity and legendary audio engineering.
Basically, he records his verses over the prison phone.
It sounds impossible. But his team at Dope House Records has perfected the art of cleaning up those lo-fi recordings. Reports suggest he uses makeshift "studios" made of wool blankets in the prison to dampen noise while he raps into the receiver. His engineers then take that scratchy, compressed audio and layer it over high-quality professional beats.
It’s a bizarre legacy. He's still a top-selling independent artist, even though he hasn't seen the sun as a free man in over twenty years. His daughter, Carley Coy, has also taken up the mantle, frequently updating fans on his status and releasing her own music.
Where is SPM Now? 2026 Status and Parole
As of early 2026, Carlos Coy remains incarcerated. For years, his fans circled October 2024 on their calendars. That was his first real date for parole eligibility.
The news wasn't what his supporters hoped for. In January 2025, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles denied his request for release. The board cited the nature of the offense, specifically noting "elements of brutality" and a "conscious selection of a victim's vulnerability." They've set his next review for January 2028.
Currently, he is held at the Ramsey Unit in Rosharon, Texas.
His projected release date—if he never gets parole—is April 8, 2047. He would be nearly 80 years old.
The Complicated Legacy of a Chicano Icon
You can't talk about the history of Texas hip-hop without mentioning South Park Mexican. You just can't. He paved the way for artists like That Mexican OT and Kap G. He showed that you could build an empire without a major label's permission.
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But you also can't talk about him without acknowledging the victims and the crimes he was convicted of. It’s a messy, uncomfortable reality. Some people can separate the art from the artist; others find his music unlistenable because of his history.
What you can do next to understand the full scope of this story:
- Review the Legal Documents: If you're skeptical of the "set up" theories or the conviction, you can read the public appellate court opinions (such as Coy v. State, 2003) which detail the testimony and evidence presented to the jury.
- Explore the Dope House Catalog: To understand his musical impact, listen to The 3rd Wish or Never Change. These albums define the "Houston sound" of that era.
- Follow Official Channels: For updates on his 2028 parole hearing, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) inmate search is the only source for factual, real-time data on his location and status.
The story of the South Park Mexican rapper isn't over, but it's currently written in the quiet halls of a state penitentiary, a far cry from the neon lights of the Houston stages he once owned.