young thug
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Young Thug and his associates will finally have their chance in court. The opening statements for the YSL RICO trial began today.
Raw Story is reporting that the much anticipated federal trial regarding Young Thug allegedly running an organized criminal empire commenced today. According to CNN the prosecutor immediately came out swinging and portrayed YSL as a miniature mafia. “YSL operated as a pact,” said Fulton County Chief Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love, and claimed Young Thug was “King Slime.” She went on to further detail their supposed operation. “They created a crater in the middle of Fulton County’s Cleveland Avenue community that sucked in the youth, the innocence and even the lives of some of its youngest members,” she added. The prosecutor also says the “Ski” rapper made sure to not have direct dealings with his team when it came to executing his criminal requests saying Thug “knew that he needed to have distance between himself and the crimes members and associates of YSL were committing on behalf of the gang.”
The road to get this case in front of a judge has been a long one. The man born Jeffery Williams and several members of his team were booked by federal authorities on varying charges related to racketeering, theft, distribution of narcotics and criminal conspiracy to name a few. On May 9, 20222 Young Thug and Gunna were among the 28 members of Young Stoner Life who were in a 56-count Georgia RICO. Since then bringing it to trial has been marred by a host of problems including a jury selection that almost took 10 months and a co-defendant who allegedly tried to pass Young Thug a pill of Percocet.
If found guilty Young Thug could face five to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
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Source: Fulton County PD / Fulton County Sheriff’s Department
In a blow to Hip-Hop artists, an Atlanta judge has ruled that lyrics by Young Thug and other of his YSL associates can be used at his RICO trial.
“They’re not prosecuting your clients because of the songs they wrote,” Judge Ural Glanville said after a November 8 hearing, denying free-speech concerns raised by Brian Steel, an attorney representing Thug (born Jeffrey Williams).
According to Vulture, “These are party admissions,” said Michael Carson, a prosecutor, during the hearing. “They just happen to come in the form of lyrics.”
The issue of using rap lyrics in court is one that has been pressing to the hip-hop community. In November of 2022, more than 100 rap artists including Drake and Megan Thee Stallion signed a letter to protest the use of lyrics in court. As previously reported by HipHopWired, artists, industry leaders, and legal experts have joined together in a call to “Protect Black Art,” publishing an open letter in The New York Times and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution urging legislators across America to limit how creative expression can be used against defendants on trial. Specifically, it calls for an end to the racially discriminatory practice of treating rap lyrics as confessions.
The letter reads, in part, “Beyond the obvious disregard for free speech and creative expression protected by the First Amendment, this racially targeted practice punishes already marginalized communities and their stories of family, struggle, survival, and triumph.”
It was published by Warner Music Group.
The letter was released just months after one success when the state of California put forward a bill banning lyrics from being used in court–it passed both the State Senate and State Assembly. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bill in October of last year.
Earlier last year, on Wednesday (July 27th), the RAP Act was introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives by Democratic Representatives Hank Johnson (GA-04) and Jamaal Bowman (NY-16). The Restoring Artistic Protection Act looks to protect artists from the wrongful usage of their lyrics against them in civil and criminal court cases.
“Rap, hip-hop, and every lyrical musical piece is a beautiful form of art and expression that must be protected,” Representative Bowman said in a statement.
Despite the blow, there is no doubt that the battle will continue. Because hip-hop doesn’t give up and we don’t back down.
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Source: Paras Griffin / Getty / Young Thug
While Gunna has shed all his pounds, his mentor, Young Thug, apparently has gained weight while in prison.
The jury has finally been chosen for Young Thug’s YSL RICO trial, but that’s not the only thing fans of the rapper are talking about.
A new photo of the rapper has hit timelines, showing a much heavier-looking Young Thug. The “Barter 6” rapper is well known for his slender build, but now he’s looking like he isn’t skipping any meals while being locked up as he awaits his trial to begin.
“Gunna came out like Thug, Thug came out looking like Gunna,” one person hilariously wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
“WTH…How you gain so much weight in jail,” another X user wrote.
“He is big thug now,” another person jokingly said in an X post.
Other users attributed Thugger’s apparent weight game to him being drug-free while locked up.
“That drug free weight,” one person wrote in the comment section of a post of the photo on The Neighborhood Talk’s Instagram account.
“That’s Sober Weight 😂 no more drugs and liq will do that,” another commenter wrote.
Another comment read, “that’s what happens when you no longer on drugs and lean and all the bad shit!”
Young Thug Has Bigger Things To Worry About
Well, Thugger’s weight is the least of his current worries. The Hip-Hop star is looking at life in prison if he is found guilty on all of the charges in his RICO indictment.
Per Fox 5 Atlanta:
The RICO indictment was filed on May 9, 2022. Initially, Williams was only named in counts one (conspiracy to violate RICO) and 56 (participation in criminal street gang activity). Count 56 alleges that he was in a position of leadership within YSL and was either directly or indirectly involved in acts of murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery, theft, sale of drugs, and other criminal acts.
He was later indicted on six additional counts after searches of his home. If Williams is found guilty on all counts, he could face life in prison.
Yikes.
You can see more reactions to Young Thug putting on some pounds in the gallery below.
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Photo: Paras Griffin / Getty
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Source: Fulton County PD / Fulton County Sheriff’s Department
The moment of truth for Young Thug and his YSL associates is drawing near. A judge will commence seating the jury for the YSL RICO trial this week.
11Alive has exclusively confirmed that a County Clark magistrate will begin assigning jury seats Wednesday, (Nov. 1.) Even though this process was originally scheduled for later this month, Judge Ural Glanville has moved it up in alignment with the Georgia Speedy Trial law. According to Reuters, the legislation says, “Criminal defendants in Georgia can request that their trial begin in the weeks after they are indicted, as long as jurors are available to hear the case.”
It is no surprise that the “Lifestyle” rapper is eagerly awaiting the chance to defend his name. The jury selection process has been time consuming to say the least. It originally started in January and took the majority of this year to finalize. All the while Young Thug has remained behind bars as he awaits trial; he was originally arrested in May 2022.
He has been denied bond several times with his last attempt being in June. His legal team claims the time behind bars has had a glaring effect on his health. “This lifestyle has caused physically harm to Mr. Williams,” his lawyer stated during a hearing in June, according to 11Alive.
Georgia prosecutors allege that YSL is a gang with Young Thug serving as its leader. Young Thug has plead not guilty to the charges.
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Prosecutors in the YSL racketeering trial have dropped charges against one defendant who was recently convicted of murder for the second time.
On Tuesday (September 12th), Fulton County prosecutor Adriane Love informed the judge that the office would “nolle pros” the two RICO charges in their case against Cordarius Dorsey, also known as YSL Polo. This was prompted by his conviction by a jury for the murder of Xavier Turner last week. It marks the second time Polo has been convicted of murder in less than a year. He was sentenced to life in prison on the first conviction.
The murder of the 44-year-old Turner took place at the Old National Village Discount Mall in College Park, Georgia. Video evidence showing the incident was used in this case to convict Dorsey. Video evidence also played a role in the conviction for the 2019 armed robbery and murder of Sulaiman Jalloh, a 39-year-old husband and father of six at a gas station in October 2019.
Young Thug had petitioned the court to sever his case from YSL Polo’s. “Jeffery Williams, by and through undersigned counsel, hereby files this motion to sever parties in the above-referenced case,” wrote his attorney Brian Steel in a motion. “In support of this Motion, Mr. Williams shows as follows. Mr. Williams is innocent of all charges in the above-referenced indictment. Mr. Dorsey, a co-indictee, has displayed unprofessional and unacceptable conduct in Court, in the presence of this Honorable Court, as announced on the Record on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023.”
The move now leaves seven defendants in the sweeping racketeering trial including Young Thug. The case originally involved 28 people who were indicted in what Fulton County District Attorney Dani Willis called “havoc” caused in the city of Atlanta dating back to 2015. Since then, most including Gunna have accepted plea deals or have had their cases severed from the main case. There is no date set for opening statements in the RICO trial, as jury selection – which started in January – is still ongoing.
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Gunna has been dealing with detractors since his release from jail, but that didn’t stop him from getting major love in the form of a sold-out New York City concert.
The Atlanta rapper performed at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday (Sept. 9) at a headlining concert, The Gift, named partly for his latest album, a Gift & a Curse. The arena was packed with a sold-out crowd eager to hear Gunna, who was performing live after being incarcerated due to the RICO indictment involving him and other YSL label mates including Young Thug. Part of the proceeds from the ticket sales went to The Goodr Foundation, a nonprofit group that “strives to end world hunger by cultivating countless resources.”
Gunna had been dealing with a barrage of comments from people who felt he snitched on Young Thug to be in a position to get a deal with Fulton County, Georgia prosecutors earlier this year. He received a four-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to one racketeering conspiracy charge last December.
The “Drip or Drown” rapper has vehemently denied doing anything of that nature and has expressed his support for Young Thug since being released. Another example occurred at the concert, with one of the stage monitors displaying a “Free Jeffrey” message on the screen. Gunna also included a video interlude which showed a montage of clips showing him in various moments of reflection and despair interspersed with snippets of conversations with his mother and others.
The concert featured a bevy of his greatest hits from his Billboard No.1 album DS4Ever such as “Poochie Gown” and “South To West,” all with Greek-inspired imagery throughout. Gunna also stimulated the crowd by performing tracks from his new album, ending with “Fukumean,” which made the crowd explode, capping off his first major show in two years. “I love the f— out of y’all, I swear to God,” he said to the audience. “This s— is crazy.” He’s set to do another headlining concert in Los Angeles in the coming weeks.
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As Young Thug continues to await his day in court from behind bars, the man is keeping his music legacy out on these streets going and with the release of his latest LP, Business is Business, Thugga proves that he isn’t letting a little thing like prison slow up his rap career.
Today, the incarcerated rapper got a big assist from his homie from up north, Drake, as Drizzy took it upon himself to make a new visuals for Young Thug’s Drake assisted “Oh U Went,” in which Drizzy traveled to the South to shoot the clip. Using his own personal family reunion as the backdrop for the video, Drake has multiple people spit Thugga’s verse before he himself takes center stage at the reunion and gets in on the bar dropping bonanza in front of his friends and family.
Everyone must’ve been excited to be a part of the video, especially the kids. Just sayin’.
Check out the visuals to “Oh U Went,” and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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FN DaDealer, a young rapper signed to Young Thug‘s Young Stoner Life recording label, was arrested and charged with murder. FN DaDealer is currently being held without bond in Fulton County, Georgia.
As reported by local news outlet WSB-TV, FN DaDealer, 20, was arrested in late June after he was connected to a fatal shooting at an apartment complex in Mechanicsville.
FN DaDealer, real name Jakobe Moody, was arrested on June 29 and charged in the shooting death of Tremaine Glasper, 28. The outlet adds that Moody is currently behind bars at Fulton County Jail facing charges of murder along with possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
According to details provided by the outlet, Glasper was shot on June 5 while sitting inside a vehicle, prompting officials to respond to calls regarding the shooting. The investigation revealed that Moody was one of three gunmen.
The outlet spoke with Moody’s mother, who claims her son was not involved in any street activity and that he was primarily focused on his burgeoning music career.
Police did not reveal details about the other two suspects.
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Young Thug is calling out a police officer’s claim that he’s a snitch, as his lawyers try to get the testimony thrown out before his trial.
Attorneys for the “Metro Spider” rapper filed two motions Thursday (June 29) and Friday (June 23) with the former arguing that a witness in the case who is a police detective is falsely claiming that Jeffrey Williams, aka Young Thug, confessed details of an unrelated homicide case to that detective.
In the motion, lead attorney Brian Steel argues that Judge Ural Glanville should throw out the testimony of Detective Quinn stating that it is “not accurate, places Mr. Williams’ character at issue, and is irrelevant to the trial of the above-referenced case.” Steel also states that Young Thug’s “right to a fair trial” needs to be preserved by the court and that Judge Glanville should also toss out any records of 911 calls allegedly made by the rapper in relation to this unrelated homicide.
Steel’s previous motion June 23, asked Judge Glanville to dismiss the RICO charges brought against Young Thug and his YSL co-defendants, citing the statute of limitations for the state in RICO cases has been exceeded. “In order to satisfy the crime of RICO conspiracy, the prosecution must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that at least one (1) overt act was committed in furtherance of the conspiracy within the Statute of Limitations,” the motion says. “To satisfy the Statute of Limitations, the overt act must have occurred within five (5) years of the filing of the Bill of Indictment with the Clerk of Court.”
That motion continues: “Approximately overt act numbers 62 through 191 are alleged to have occurred on a date within five (5) years of May 9, 2022, the date of the original Bill of Indictment as well as the re-Indictment. The re-indictment was filed with the Fulton County Clerk of Court on August 5, 2022.”
The motions come as jury selection in the trial has been halted and scheduled to resume July 10. The high-profile case has run into several stumbling blocks from Young Thug’s brother having his probation revoked and going to prison to a Fulton County deputy being arrested on charges of inappropriate contact with one of the defendants. Young Thug also underwent a medical evaluation in May over concerns about his well-being while in custody.
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Young Thug is currently fighting for his freedom as the YSL RICO court case is still pending, but that hasn’t stopped him from flooding streets with new music. A new album from the Atlanta star dropped on Friday (June 23) titled BUSINESS IS BUSINESS, and Twitter largely says Young Thug hasn’t lost a step.
Young Thug, real name Jeffrey Williams, released his last full-length Punk back in 2021 to critical acclaim and BUSINESS IS BUSINESS looks to continue that good favor. The album is a star-studded affair with two Drake features, two Travis Scott features, and pair of features from 21 Savage, along with an appearance from Future and others.
The release of the album was unexpected as Thugger has been behind bars since May of 2022. Thug’s work ethic is the stuff of legend so many of these songs were probably vaulted for some time yet still retain the current sound.
Metro Boomin produced the bulk of the album with Wheezy, Aviator Keyz, Dr. Luke, and other notables lending the production touch. We’ve only gone through an initial first listen of the album so we weren’t able to determine if any lyrics were aimed at Young Thug’s former ally, Gunna, but he does address his current legal predicament in passing. Largely, it’s just Young Thug showing off the many styles he can employ from rapping, singing, and his knack for melody.
On Twitter, the reactions are still bubbling up for BUSINESS IS BUSINESS, and we’ve got them listed below.
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