Will Young Thug’s lyrics impact his organized crime trial? The substantive debates begin on Monday in the case directed against this very influential figure in American rap.
The Atlanta rapper is accused of criminal conspiracy and participating in the criminal activities of a gang. In support of suspected murders, drug trafficking, car theft…
He says he is innocent.
In May 2022, he and around twenty people were indicted by a grand jury in Georgia, a state in the southeastern United States, for alleged membership in an offshoot of the “Bloods” gang identified as “Young Slime Life” YSL. Initials that correspond to those of his record company Young Stoner Life Records, founded in 2016.
Don’t forget the lyrics
The “Best Friend,” “Hot” and “Check” singer’s arrest in May was a shock to the influential Atlanta hip-hop scene in which he is a central figure.
At 32, the rapper has collaborated with the biggest names in rap and pop, from Drake to Travis Scott, including Dua Lipa and Justin Bieber.
As evidence, prosecutors are relying on the lyrics of certain songs by Young Thug (which means “young thug”), those of another rapper, Gunna – who has reached an agreement to plead guilty – and a posthumous track by the man, who died in 2019 Juice WRLD overdoses.
To date, the trials have been devoted solely to jury selection, an extremely arduous task that has spanned nearly 11 months.
The case is now entering the difficult phase, the focus is on 17 excerpts from Young Thug’s songs – which, according to the prosecution, represent as many confessions to the crimes the rapper is accused of.
His lawyers sought to exclude these texts from the exhibits, arguing that the use of verse could unfairly influence jurors.
“Late Night Confessions”
An argument made by many free speech advocates and music industry players who fear this practice harms artists’ creativity and disproportionately affects African Americans.
“We’re not talking about rap lyrics, we’re talking about gang lyrics,” replied prosecutor Mike Carlson. “These are late-night confessions.”
This isn’t the first time hip-hop verses have ended up in a courtroom. The defense, insisting that YSL is nothing more than an artistic “label,” called a specialist in the field, University of Richmond professor Erik Nielson, as a witness.
In an interview with AFP earlier this year, this expert reiterated that “this issue of rape in the trials is just a new example of a system that insists on locking up young men with dark skin.”
“If you have other evidence, don’t use the rap lyrics,” Mr. Nielson ruled. “And if you don’t have any further evidence, don’t press charges.”
The trial, being held in the same Atlanta courthouse that will soon host former President Donald Trump’s trial, will feature hundreds of witnesses, including rappers T.I. and Killer Mike.