CNN –
A defense attorney for rapper Young Thug accused prosecutors of misrepresenting evidence and ridiculed the idea that the Grammy-winning, world-famous artist would focus on running a small Atlanta street gang in opening statements at his money laundering trial Tuesday.
“He does not run this criminal street gang in the Cleveland Avenue area of ’Bleveland’ for property, money or power. “Jeffery Williams did it with will, hard work and determination, without the help of anyone but the local people he won’t turn his back on,” attorney Brian Steel told jurors, referring to the rapper with his First names.
“He doesn’t sit there and tell people to kill people,” Steel added. “He doesn’t need your money. Jeffery is worth tens of millions of dollars.”
The defense’s opening arguments come at the start of what is expected to be a months-long trial that will test the state’s sweeping Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis also used the law to charge former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants in connection with their alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election.
The trial is also a prominent example of the prosecution’s controversial tactic of using rap lyrics as evidence.
Young Thug, 32, is one of the music industry’s most innovative and influential artists, pushing both musical and cultural boundaries – like his decision to wear a purple dress for the cover of his 2016 album “Jeffery.” He had a featured appearance on Camila Cabello’s hit song “Havana,” has collaborated with leading artists such as Travis Scott and Drake, and won the 2019 Grammy for Song of the Year for co-writing the track “This is America” with Childish Gambino and Ludwig Göransson.
Last May, he was among more than two dozen people indicted under the state’s RICO law, accused of being the leader of a criminal street gang. Some of the defendants have pleaded guilty, including rapper Gunna, while others have had their cases excluded from these proceedings.
Young Thug is also charged with drug and weapons possession in connection with a search of his home. He has been behind bars since his arrest last year and released his latest album, “Business is Business,” from prison over the summer.
He and five others are on trial in Fulton County and all have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
On Monday, prosecutors laid out their case against the group, arguing that Young Thug’s label, Young Stoner Life Records, or YSL, was actually an Atlanta-based criminal street gang that was guilty of armed robbery, kidnapping,… guilty of motor vehicle theft, possession of a machine gun and murder. The gang members all responded to Young Thug, the group’s “proclaimed leader,” Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Adriane Love said.
“They have created a crater in the middle of the Cleveland Avenue community in Fulton County that has sucked away the youth, the innocence and even the lives of some of its youngest members,” Love said.
Lawyer Says Young Thug Stands for ‘Truly Humble Under God’
In his opening statement, Steel explained Young Thug’s life story to jurors, saying the rapper grew up poor in Atlanta with his 10 siblings and often shared clothes with them to give the impression he could afford more outfits. He focused his talent and work ethic on achieving success as a rapper and promised that if he did, he would help lift up those around him, Steel said.
The rap nickname “Young Thug” is a variation of the Tupac song “PYT (Playa Young Thugs)” and stands for “Truly Humble Under God,” Steel said. He also said that the rapper’s record label Young Stoner Life was a nod to the Yves Saint Laurent clothing line, whose acronym YSL was emblazoned on the form-fitting pants he favored.
Steel went through and dismissed all of the “overt acts” in the indictment, accusing Young Thug of wrongdoing and saying there was no evidence to prove the rapper’s involvement in the crimes.
He said prosecutors and police “targeted” him and turned his neighborhood charity into an alleged conspiracy. For example, prosecutors alleged that Young Thug rented a car that was used by YSL members to commit a murder. However, Steel said the rapper constantly rented cars for people and had no control over their use.
“He is not the crater. He’s trying to lift people out of poverty,” he said.
Prosecutors also repeatedly referenced Young Thug’s own songs, emphasizing lyrics that Love said had “a very sinister significance” to real-life crimes. But Steel said the lyrics were merely an art form and not a confession.
“He is not the leader of a conspiracy. He is not involved in a conspiracy. They’re song lyrics,” he said.
Marquavius Huey, Deamonte Kendrick (known as Yak Gotti), Quamarvious Nichols, Rodalius Ryan and Shannon Stillwell are the other five defendants in the trial. Each defendant has their own representation and has the opportunity to make individual opening statements.
Stillwell’s attorney, Maxwell Schardt, made his opening statement Monday afternoon, saying his client was not guilty of murder and that his previous work selling drugs was for his own benefit and “had nothing to do with YSL or anyone else involved in this case.” “.