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Rapper YFN Lucci is reportedly set to be released from prison tomorrow, Friday, January 31st, after spending nearly four years behind bars. Lucci has been incarcerated since 2021, fighting serious RICO charges related to alleged gang involvement. His case has kept fans and the hip-hop community on edge, with his legal battle being one of the many high-profile cases surrounding Atlanta rap in recent years.
Lucci’s release comes at a time when there has been growing attention on redemption stories in hip-hop, particularly in the wake of Young Thug’s recent release from prison. Thug, who faced similar legal battles, has been making strides toward a more positive future since being freed earlier this year. His story of overcoming adversity has inspired many, and now fans are hoping YFN Lucci will take a similar path. Despite a long-standing feud between the two rappers, which seemed to have cooled off in recent years, the hope is that Lucci, like Thug, can focus on his music and personal growth moving forward
As Lucci steps back into the world, fans are eager to see what his next move will be. Will he use his time behind bars as fuel for his comeback? Only time will tell, but many are optimistic that this could mark the beginning of a new chapter in his career—one focused on redemption, growth, and fresh music. Fans are already anticipating his next steps, hoping he’ll rise from this challenge and return stronger than ever.
More news to come as the story develops.
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Source: Paras Griffin / Getty
Rapper YFN Lucci is reportedly set to be released from prison tomorrow, Friday, January 31st, after spending nearly four years behind bars. Lucci has been incarcerated since 2021, fighting serious RICO charges related to alleged gang involvement. His case has kept fans and the hip-hop community on edge, with his legal battle being one of the many high-profile cases surrounding Atlanta rap in recent years.
Lucci’s release comes at a time when there has been growing attention on redemption stories in hip-hop, particularly in the wake of Young Thug’s recent release from prison. Thug, who faced similar legal battles, has been making strides toward a more positive future since being freed earlier this year. His story of overcoming adversity has inspired many, and now fans are hoping YFN Lucci will take a similar path. Despite a long-standing feud between the two rappers, which seemed to have cooled off in recent years, the hope is that Lucci, like Thug, can focus on his music and personal growth moving forward
As Lucci steps back into the world, fans are eager to see what his next move will be. Will he use his time behind bars as fuel for his comeback? Only time will tell, but many are optimistic that this could mark the beginning of a new chapter in his career—one focused on redemption, growth, and fresh music. Fans are already anticipating his next steps, hoping he’ll rise from this challenge and return stronger than ever.
More news to come as the story develops.
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Young Thug just confirmed he’s got a joint album coming with Lil Baby, and fans are hyped. Both of them are from Atlanta, so you know it’s about to be huge. The two have always been tight, and even when Thug was locked up, Lil Baby held him down, always saying “free Thug” and showing mad love. As soon as Thug got out, he tweeted, “whatever Wham says goes,” basically saying he’s 100% behind Lil Baby, no matter what.
This collab is a big deal because they’ve been rocking with each other for years, and their energy together is unmatched. ATL has been waiting for these two to drop something together, and now it’s finally happening. The chemistry they share is crazy, and fans can expect some real heat. If the album is anything like the vibes they’ve given on past tracks like ‘Dum, Dumb, & Dumber’, this could be one of the biggest rap projects of the year. Fans are ready to see what happens when two of Atlanta’s biggest stars link up and drop something crazy.
On the other hand, Young Thug’s friendship with Gunna has been strained ever since the court case that led to Gunna taking a plea deal. Fans and industry insiders have speculated that their bond may never be the same again, especially after Gunna’s decision to plead guilty in the YSL RICO case. It is unknown how Thug feels about Gunna now, but the situation has sparked debate, with many wondering if they will ever collaborate again. As of now, it’s unclear whether their relationship and music career will fully recover from the fallout.
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Young Thug ain’t been home but a minute and already the OG ATLien is back in the studio looking to give the streets what they’ve been missing since he was taken into custody in 2022.
In a blurry photo that made social media rounds Monday night (Nov. 11), Young Thug was spotted in a studio session with the likes of Future, Lil Baby and the one and only, Travis Scott. While it can be assumed that the foursome was simply kicking it and making up for lost time, many social media users are hoping that this particular session would lead to a “damn banger” as this is a collaboration of mammoth proportions.
Not-so-conspicuously-missing is the likes of Young Thug’s protege, Gunna, who many felt threw Young Thug and YSL under the bus in order to get himself a reduced sentence and out of prison while Thugger remained behind bars to fight the RICO charges against him. Thug even posted a tweet disavowing any connections to Gunna after he was released from prison but ultimately took it down.
While we don’t know if these men actually laid down a track on the night they all linked up in the studio, it will be interesting to see what kind of bars Thugger dropped as part of his release conditions include him refraining from dropping any gangsta music. So it seems like he’ll be walking a tight rope when it comes to his music going forward.
Are y’all looking forward to this possible collaboration? What kind of music are you expecting from Young Thug now that he’s home? Let us know in the comments section below.
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As tensions between Young Thug and Gunna seem to have been renewed, DJ Akademiks shares details that potentially explain the situation better.
Since his release, Young Thug has made it clear to former collaborator and Atlanta rapper Gunna that the two aren’t cool, and DJ Akademiks has shed some light on what’s going on behind the scenes. The rapper shared his thoughts on Gunna in a post on X, formerly Twitter, writing: “Gunna stop acting like we friends on the internet. I don’t know you, my guy.” The post has since been deleted.
Akademiks took to X to share his perspective on Young Thug’s post in a thread. “I been told y’all.. Thug told Durk, Baby and a few other rappers that Gunna was no good while he was incarcerated… meaning.. it ain’t no way he can come back out and justify rockin’ wit Gunna when he told n—s not to rock wit Gunna when he was locked,” he wrote.
I been told yall.. Thug told durk baby and a few other rappers that Gunna was no good while he was incarcerated… meaning.. it aint no way he can come back out and justify rockin wit gunna when he told niggas not to rock wit gunna when he was locked.
— DJ Akademiks (@Akademiks) November 9, 2024
“Thug originally wanted to Drop on Gunna release date and was gonna have Baby and Durk as features,” DJ Akademiks continued. “Those features didn’t end up on his project but he literally sent the message to them saying ‘I Don’t Fk w that f–k n—a.. and I wanna drop on his date’ … he also didn’t drop on his date.”
Thug originally wanted to Drop on Gunna release date and was gonna have Baby and Durk as features. Those features didn’t end up on his project but he literally sent the message to them saying ‘I Don’t F*ck w that f*ck nigga.. and I wanna drop on his date’ … he also didn’t drop…
— DJ Akademiks (@Akademiks) November 9, 2024
Lastly, the media personality closed out with this thought: “Thug had to carve out communicating w/ Gunna in the plea deal because there is biz still to be done. He has Gunna in contracts that aren’t completed. If he was barred from having any communication with Gunna.. that would have gave Gunna a legal out in trying to get out the deal.”
Thug had to carve out communicating w/ Gunna in the plea deal because there is biz still to be done. He has Gunna in contracts that aren’t completed. If he was barred from having any communication with Gunna.. that would have gave Gunna a legal out in trying to get out the deal.
— DJ Akademiks (@Akademiks) November 9, 2024
Gunna hasn’t publicly made any comment on the now-deleted post by Young Thug. The explanation could make a lot of sense to those who’ve noted how Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Future, and 21 Savage have kept their distance from him. Young Thug is currently serving a lengthy probationary sentence after being released by Fulton County days ago. He’s been busy working on the community service element, speaking to Emory University students along with his lawyer, Brian Steel, recently.
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It’s been a few days since Young Thug was finally granted his freedom and allowed to go home. With many in the Hip-Hop culture celebrating his return to the streets, Lil Baby took a moment to welcome home the OG ATLien with an IG post of his own.
Tagging Young Thug on his Instagram Stories, the “In A Minute” rapper expressed his excitement at Thugger’s release and wrote, “I missed you mf!! Welcome home my brudda! Thank God you able to get back to the fam in good health and spirits! Wish ya none but billions jack!”
If the whole “jack!” thing threw you off, Lil Baby was responding to a tweet that Thugger sent out following his release after taking a plea in which he wrote, “Real plea deal jack!”
Real plea deal jack!
— Young Thug ひ (@youngthug) November 3, 2024
But Thugger wasn’t done tweeting. The Slime Season rapper had an interesting message for nobody in particular.
Wham let’s drop one on these rats peter
— Young Thug ひ (@youngthug) November 3, 2024
Yeah, who knows what he’s referring to with this one.
Regardless, Thugger is home and we’re sure he can’t wait to get back into the studio and start cooking to get some bread.
Are y’all looking forward to hearing some new material from Young Thug? Who should he collaborate with? Should he address the whole Gunna situation sooner or later? Let us know in the comments section below.
Kevin Liles, the co-founder and CEO of 300 Entertainment, has issued a statement in the wake of news that Atlanta rapper Young Thug is to be released from prison following a guilty plea on Thursday (Oct. 31).
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Liles, who co-founded 300 Entertainment in 2012 and signed Thug (real name Jeffery Williams) to the label in 2014, issued his statement late on Thursday following the completion of Georgia’s longest-running criminal trial.
“Words can’t express the incredible happiness and relief I feel to learn of Jeffery’s freedom,” Liles stated. “There will be a time to discuss the criminalization of hip-hop lyrics and the use of bond denial as a weapon against defendants, but in this moment everyone should feel nothing but joy that this amazing artist and even better man can hug his children, parents, siblings, and other loved ones tonight.
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“We must always remember artists aren’t fictional characters,” he concluded. “They’re human beings first. God bless Jeffery and his family.”
Thug, 33, has spent the past two years in custody, following his arrest in May 2022 with 27 others from his YSL Records label as part of a 56-count indictment for violations of Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) law. The trial, which began in November 2023, was built around claims that YSL had committed murders, carjackings, drug dealing and many other crimes.
Following days of closed-door negotiations with Fulton County prosecutors, Thug refused to take a plea deal that would have resulted in his immediate release, ultimately opting for a non-negotiated guilty plea. Late on Thursday, Judge Paige Reese Whitaker sentenced Thug to 15 years probation with no time to be served.
Ahead of his sentencing, Thug noted the power and influence he holds in his community, telling the court he takes “full responsibility for my crimes and for my charges”.
“I know what I bring to the table and I know what I am,” he added. “I know the heights I’ve reached and I know the impact I’ve got on people in the community.”
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Young Thug has taken a plea deal in the YSL (Young Slime Life) case that has lasted nearly a year. The Atlanta rapper now awaits his sentence with his plea signaling the inevitable conclusion of reportedly the longest trial in Georgia’s history.
The New York Times reports that on Thursday (Oct. 31), Young Thug aka Jeffery Lamar Williams pleaded guilty to six counts that included possession of drugs and firearms, conspiracy to violate the RICO act and leading a criminal street gang.
Thugger took a non-negotiated plea deal, which means it will be up to Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker to decide his sentence. Apparently, this option was presented after Thug’s lawyers and the prosecution were unable to come to terms on a plea. Reportedly, the option to plead out and leave court a free man the same day was presented, but Thug didn’t agree to conditions that included 15 years of probation.
Young Thug was near a plea deal that would have released him from jail today on 15 years probation.
But they couldn’t agree on his release conditions, and now prosecutors are recommending 25 years in prison. pic.twitter.com/PiKidTckzM
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) October 31, 2024
It seems that Thug’s hand essentially was forced since last week three of his co-defendants took plea deals.
Now his fate is in the judge’s hands, with prosecutors reportedly recommending the 33-year-old get 45 years with 25 served in prison and another 20 years of probation
Prosecutors characterized the rapper as the ringleader of a YSL gang that loomed over the streets of Atlanta, dabbling in robbery and drug dealing, among other crimes. And then, his music career happened to flourish, too.
While Young Thug has taken a plea, his remained co-defendants—Deamonte Kendrick aka Yak Gotti, and Shannon Stillwell aka SB—who are charged with a murder in 2015, amongst other counts.
YSL was originally indicted on RICO charges and its alleged members were arrested in 2022, and jury selection took nearly a year. The trial, which has been streamed online, has featured dramatic turns of botched plea deals, witnesses refusing to testify, rap lyrics being read in court and more dramatics straight out of a TV crime drama.
However, the players are very real. Thug’s lawyer, Brian Steel, who at one point was threatened with contempt charges, is making the case that his client has been denied justice. See social media’s response to the latest YSL trial antics in the gallery.
YOUNG THUG’S LAWYER SAYS THE PROSECUTION HAS MIS-STATED AND MISREPRESENTED THE EVIDENCE
HE IS NOW GOING THROUGH ALL THE ALLEGATIONS IN THE INDICTMENT 1 BY 1 AND EXPLAINING THE EVIDENCE THAT THE STATE LEFT OUT pic.twitter.com/yUx0GeMNai
— THUGGERDAILY ひ (@ThuggerDaily) October 31, 2024
This story is developing.
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Young Thug will remain behind bars along with his co-defendants after the new judge overseeing the YSL RICO trial has denied the group bond. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker also denied requests by prosecutors to place gag orders on attorneys from speaking to the media.
As reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Young Thug attorney Brian Steel stated to the court that his client has been living under poor conditions at Cobb County and asked that the rapper be released and placed on house arrest during an argument for bond.
In response, Judge Whitaker said to Young Thug and his co-defendants’ defense team, “I’m not going to reconsider any bond issues that have already been considered and ruled upon by another court absent legitimate changed circumstances.”
Whitaker came into view after Chief Judge Ural Glanville recused himself due to an ex-parte meeting held in secret in June with prosecutors and a state’s witness. Running for 19th months now, the trial remains the longest Georgia court history but Whittaker promises to move things along.
“It should not take another seven months,” Whitaker said to attorneys during a motion hearing on Tuesday (July 30).
State prosecutors said to the court that they will aim efforts at calling 105 witnesses to the stand. Whitaker is ordering the state to compile a list of evidence in connection to the next 30 witnesses they plan to call.
Further, AJC added in its reporting that the judge is looking over the case to decide whether or not to proceed with the case against Young Thug and his five co-defendants. Four attorneys from the defense have filed mistrial motions with two being denied by Whitaker thus far.
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Photo: Getty
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Young Thug’s trial continues to get even more bizarre. The judge who has been overseeing the case since it started has just been removed.
The New York Times is reporting that Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause filed a written order on Monday, July 15 requesting that Judge Ural Glanville be removed from the case.
For the last 18 months, Glanville has supervised the very chaotic proceedings which have included some very intense witness questioning, an alleged attempt to hand Young Thug drugs in court, and a witness admitting he was high under oath. Things got even more interesting for all parties involved when Judge Ural hosted a private meeting on June 10 with both prosecutors from the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office and state witness Kenneth Copeland.
Under a legal lens, this session is deemed as an “ex parte” meeting which is Latin for “by or for one party”. In essence, the defendant’s legal representation was not involved in the discussion thus the move can be viewed as unfair or as that the magistrate is not impartial.
In her request for recusal Judge Rachel Krause made it clear that she doesn’t disapprove of his decision to hold the private assembly but understands how poorly this might be perceived by the public.
“This Court has no doubt that Judge Glanville can and would continue presiding fairly over this matter if the recusal motions were denied, but the ‘necessity of preserving the public’s confidence in the judicial system’ weighs in favor of excusing Judge Glanville from further handling of this case,” Krause wrote.
In a statement to The Washington Post Young Thug’s lawyer Brian Steel (pictured above) said, “We look forward to proceeding with a trial judge who will fairly and faithfully follow the law.”
It is unclear who will take over as the judge or when the trial will recommence. You can read the order to recuse Judge Glanville here.
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