Young Thug, Mr. Jeffery Lamar Williams, Spider, whatever you may know him as you most certainly know him as one of the best rappers. But with all that fame, sold old tours, lavish lifestyle, and popularity came a trail. A trail that has now forced Yung Thug to change and to live out the next fifteen years of his life on probation.
The Atlanta rapper was born on August 16, 1991, he grew up in the projects in Jonesboro South. At just 19 years old he began his career in music. He released a mixtape series called “I Came From Nothing”. Fellow Atlanta rapper, Gucci Mane, signed Young Thug to 1017 Brick Squad Records. A year later he released his fourth mixtape called 1017 Thug. Rolling Stones put it at number 5 on their list of Best 10 Mixtapes of 2013. That same year he was featured in Complex as a rapper to watch out for. In 2014 Young Thug worked with many producers, rappers, and writers such as Kayne West, Chief Keep, and Rich Homie Quan. He even worked on a collaborative album with Metro Boomin. After many years of confusion about where Young Thug was signed, he announced that he had started his own record label named YSL Records; abbreviated for Young Stoner Life.
Now I am absolutely sure that you have heard the term YSL, whether it comes to fashion or to Young Thugs labels but it most definitely is a word you remember. Especially now since it has been talked about in legal news for the past couple of years. In May of 2022, Young Thug and 27 other individuals were arrested as part of a 56-count indictment that was charged under violations of the Georgias Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act as founder of YSL Records Young Thug was charged with being the leader of their crimes. The district attorney’s office believed that YSL was a violent gang that had crimes ranging from theft to murder. Young Thug remained behind bars from May 2022 to November 2023 before his RICO case began. After a long, hard battle Young Thug agreed to a plea deal on Oct 31, 2024.
Now with his new arrangement and agreement of his plea deal, a lot must change in his everyday life and that life for the next 15 years. For one, Young Thug is no longer allowed in Atlanta for the next 10 years—special arrangements such as family events, emergencies, or special occasions will allow him to enter only for 48 hours. Young Thug is allowed to travel and hold onto his passport. Since that trial is still continuing on YSL Records, some people will have to testify however Young Thug will not have to. He did not admit to being a “Gang Leader” like the prosecution wanted him to, helping him opt out of continental testifying. Young Thug is allowed to keep working with his friend and partner, Gunna, who pleaded guilty to interest but was innocent of crimes back in 2022. Gunna and Young Thug produce music together at YSL and work together consistently. Young Thug’s lawyer was able to get the Judge to agree that Gunna and Young Thug could continue visitation. In addition to those rules, Young Thug is required to perform 100 hours of community service. Every year there will be a benefit concert that will pledge $100,000 to donate to fund the Sheriff’s office to buy back illegal firearms. In addition to supporting no firearms, Young Thug is not allowed to have drugs or firearms on him per any probation deal. He is also not allowed to promote anything having to do with gang violence, gang signs, or gang-related vernacular.
Now that may sound like a lot of rules he has to follow and his fans and followers are worried that he won’t be the same. But Young Thug has continued to showcase his creativity and his drive through the past 14 years of his musical career. He will follow the law and the terms of his probation but as he said it won’t stop him from continuing to love music and love his life creating music.
