Young Thug trial live: Defence insists YSL lyrics are ‘art’ not evidence
The hotly-anticipated trial of the rapper Young Thug is underway in a courtroom in Atlanta, Georgia, following almost a year of delays.
In May 2022, Young Thug, real name Jeffery Williams, was arrested and charged in a sprawling RICO indictment along with 27 other defendants.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis – who is using the same law to prosecute Donald Trump in his Georgia election interference case – accused the suspects of being part of a criminal street gang named YSL.
According to prosecutors, the gang is responsible for a series of violent crimes, including murders, shootings, carjackings and racketeering.
Young Thug has denied the accusations and insisted that YSL is simply Young Thug’s record label – Young Slime Life.
After several defendants took plea deals or had their cases severed, the Grammy Award-winning rapper and five others are finally on trial.
The trial got off to a rocky start on Monday with a late juror delaying the trial start by an hour and a half followed by the defence filing a motion for a mistrial; the bid was denied. After two days of opening statements, the prosecution is expected to present evidence on Wednesday.
Key points
Young Thug charged in sprawling RICO case
What is YSL?
Tuesday 28 November 2023 22:09 , Kelly Rissman
The court is taking a 10 minute comfort break
A defence attorney for Marquavius Huey said he had 30 minutes left of his opening remarks, which will resume shortly.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 21:32 , Kelly Rissman
Who are the 28 codefendants?
Kahlieff Adams A/K/A Bobby Hunt
Martinez Arnold A/K/A Duke
Derontae Bebee A/K/A Bee A/K/A B
Damone Blalock A/K/A Bali
Javaris Bradford A/K/A Tuda‘
Justin Cobb A/K/A Duwap
Cordarius Dorsey A/K/A Polo A/K/A Juicy
Christian Eppinger A/K/A Bhris
Miles Farley A/K/A Slato A/K/A Lil Miles
Jevon Fleetwood A/K/A 4tray A/K/A Psycho
Damekion Garlington A/K/A Dee A/K/A Sxarfaxe
Quantavious Grier A/K/A Unfoonk
Marquavius Huey A/K/A Qua
Deamonte Kendrick A/K/A Yak Gotti
Sergio Kitchens A/K/A Gunna
W U Nnie Lee A/K/A Slimelife Shawty
Demise Mcmullen A/K/A Nard
Tenquarius Mender A/K/A Nard A/K/A Stunna
Walter Murphy A/K/A Dk
Jayden Myricka/K/A Settrip A/K/A Jayman
Quamarvious Nichols A/K/A Qua
Rodalius Ryan A/K/A Lil Rod
Antonio Sledge A/K/A Mounk Tounk
Trontavious Stephens A/K/A Tick A/K/A Slug
Shannon Stillwell A/K/A Shannon Jackson A/K/A Sb
Antonio Sumlin A/K/A Obama
Jeffery Williamsa/K/A Young Thug A/K/A Slime
Jimmy Winfrey A/K/A Roscoe
Tuesday 28 November 2023 21:20 , Kelly Rissman
WATCH: Defence attorney describe the prosecution’s case as a “donut hole”
Abt just finished. One recurring theme in his opening was that @KrispyKreme doughnuts are absolute crap.
The prosecution’s case is “a doughnut hole. It’s a Krispy Kreme doughnut hole. You don’t get the glaze. You don’t get the doighnut. You just get air in the middle.” pic.twitter.com/j6ZdUfw0wg— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) November 28, 2023
Tuesday 28 November 2023 21:08 , Kelly Rissman
Opening statements continue
A lawyer for Quamarvious Nichols told the court that he reserved his opening statement until the prosecution has concluded its case.
Careton Matthews, who is representing Marquavius Huey, is now making his opening statement.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 20:30 , Kelly Rissman
WATCH: Young Thug’s attorney Brian Steel discusses the rapper’s upbringing in opening statements
“Jeffery Williams was born into an environment, a community, a society that was filled with oppression, despair, hopelessness and helplessness.”
Steel skillfully used this intro about Young Thug’s background to transition into criticism of police and credibility of witnesses. pic.twitter.com/0iDMjOjfbc— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) November 28, 2023
Tuesday 28 November 2023 20:15 , Kelly Rissman
Opening statements continue
Each of the defendants’ lawyers is giving opening statements.
There are 28 defendants. Many of their opening statements hinge on the destitute nature of the defendants’ upbringing in parts of Atlanta. They have also made an effort to separate any previous crimes from this case.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 20:06 , Kelly Rissman
The trial resumes post lunch
The attorney for Rodalius Ryan pointed out that the defendant grew up poor — so poor, she said, that he was born on a couch, despite a hospital being just five minutes away.
Mr Ryan is “100 pounds soaking wet,” the attorney said. So, he had to defend himself by posting on Instagram.
He has just been charged with the RICO count. He is listed in eight of the “overt acts.”
Tuesday 28 November 2023 19:54 , Kelly Rissman
What is YSL?
It depends who you ask.
YSL is Young Thug’s own record label – Young Slime Life. Artists on his record label are considered part of the “Slime Family,” and a compilation album, “Slime Language 2,” rose to number one on the US charts in April 2021.
Its artists include Gunna and Lil Keed, though several contemporary artists, including Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Lil Baby, and Travis Scott have also expressed allegiance to YSL without being contractually signed.
However, according to prosecutors, YSL is actually a “criminal street gang”, which started out in the Cleveland Avenue area of Atlanta and claims affiliation to the national Bloods gang.
According to a sprawling 88-page indictment, the members of YSL use “a variety of identifiers including colours, clothing, tattoos, and hand signs” to show their allegiance to the group.
The most predominant colours used by members of YSL are red for Bloods and green for Slime.
Defence attorneys meanwhile insist that YSL is just a music label.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 19:30 , Kelly Rissman
Differing accounts
To make the prosecution’s point, that YSL is functioning as a cohesive unit, she underscored some codes and symbols that the group uses to communicate. She said YSL substitutes the letter “C” with the letter “B,” like “Bleveland” instead of Cleveland, uses certain emojis, like the green heart, green snake, and green vomit emojis, and uses certain hand signs.
“We don’t criminalize association,” Mr Steel said, as he tried to debunk the prosecution’s claims about certain symbols and gestures being linked to YSL.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 19:15 , Kelly Rissman
What you missed yesterday
Attorney Max Schardt argued that his client, Shannon Stillwell, is an “innocent man.” Mr Stillwell is one of a few charged with Thomas’ murder; he has been previously charged with distributing drugs.
Mr Schardt said that his client was “trying to make it in rap, sold marijuana” and pleaded guilty. He tried to separate Mr Stillwell’s past as being totally separate from YSL. He said he had done his time for the drug charges.
“We’re not hiding that Shannon Stillwell sold drugs...or was found in possession of a firearm. These are his pasts and his truths,” he added. “But the evidence will show that Shannon’s decisions had nothing to do with YSL or any other organisation.”
Mr Schardt also claimed there were “no eyewitnesses” of Thomas’ murder. He said there is surveillance footage of the incident, which jurors will be able to watch.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 18:42 , Kelly Rissman
The court breaks for lunch
“Jeffery is not guilty,” Mr Steel said at end of his hours-long opening statement.
The court will resume at 2.45pm after a lunch break, Judge Granville said.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 18:19 , Kelly Rissman
Who is Donovan Thomas, a central focus of this case?
Like many things in this trial, it depends on who you ask.
Thomas was shot to death in a drive-by shooting on 10 January, 2015. Some defendants are accused of murdering him, while others are accused of being involved in his killing.
“The defendant Jeffery Williams’ words and actions betrayed his participation in the conspiracy,” Ms Love said. He rented a car, despite owning a car, that other YSL members used to “notoriously gun down Donovan Thomas,” the prosecutor added.
Defence attorney Brian Steel said Thomas was a “friend” of Mr Williams.
The indictment says that Thomas was an “associate of a rival gang,” which both sides said was the Inglewood Family gang, or IF.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said that Thomas’ killing sparked a gang war that “created violence like Atlanta has never seen.”
Tuesday 28 November 2023 18:12 , Kelly Rissman
Defence issue takes issue with symbols accused of being used by YSL
“We don’t criminalize association,” Mr Steel said, as he tried to debunk the prosecution’s claims about certain symbols and gestures being linked to YSL.
He argued that Mr Williams is holding up a “P” not a “B” in one of the videos that the prosecution used as evidence of his alleged involvement with the YSL “gang”
A photo shows the rapper wearing a “YSL” pendant and a bracelet that says “slime” and a tattoo with the leader “B,” which the prosecution said furthered YSL group
Mr Steel accused the prosecution of looking through the rapper’s lyrics to “search” for evidence. “These are not confessions or admissions. This is art,” he said.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 17:39 , Kelly Rissman
The court takes a break
The jurors are taking a break after listening to Young Thug’s defence attorney’s opening statement this morning.
He has analysed each of the “overt acts” mentioned in the indictment that involve his client. Brian Steel has highlighted Young Thug’s music career which arose from an upbringing plagued by poverty and growing up in an environment riddled with crime.
Mr Steel has also represented the lyrics, a pressure point of this case, as being “art” and part of the rapper’s “freedom of speech,” coming in sharp contrast to Ms Love, who portrayed the lyrics as bearing “a very eerie significance to real life.”
Tuesday 28 November 2023 17:00 , Kelly Rissman
What you missed on Day 1
The highly anticipated Young Thug trial got off to a slow and rocky start — consistent with a pretrial process, as jury selection took nearly 11 months to complete.
The prosecution portrayed the rapper as the “head” of the so-called “criminal street gang” YSL (Young Slime Life), and used lyrics in its opening statement to support its case, but not without many delays and a fiery Judge Ural Glanville, who seemed upset with both sides on Monday.
The rapper, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, and 27 other defendants have been charged in a sweeping 65-count indictment. Mr Williams has been charged with eight counts, including possession of a firearm while committing a felony and possession of a machine gun. He has pleaded guilty to all counts.
All defendants have been charged with racketeering. Prosecutors say YSL is a gang; the defence insists it is just a record label.
Read the full story...
Young Thug’s YSL trial kicks off with scoldings, ‘wasted time’ and no tempo
Tuesday 28 November 2023 16:27 , Kelly Rissman
Young Thug’s lawyer distancing him from codefendants
Mr Steel that Young Thug doesn’t need money, doesn’t know many of his codefendants, and doesn’t live in Georgia anymore.
“He’s got his own source of legitimate income,” he said after listing his appearances on SNL, Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and NPR’s Tiny Desk, his collaborations from superstars like Rihanna and Elton John, as well as his musical awards, including a Grammy.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 16:21 , Kelly Rissman
The origin of YSL, according to the defence
The defence argued that “YSL” stemmed from the “YSL” logo on Yves Saint Laurent pants, cutting into the prosecution's argument that YSL is a criminal enterprise that stands for “Young Slime Life.”
Tuesday 28 November 2023 16:14 , Kelly Rissman
Defending the lyrics
“Whatever the listener takes from it, you will learn, that’s what the song means,” Mr Steel said. “This is art. This is freedom of speech in America.”
The attorney pointed out the series of accolades that Young Thug has won, including a Grammy. He said he has performed with Elton John, Rihanna, Drake — “everyone in music.”
The emphasis on his success in the field comes after the prosecution said yesterday: “The lyrics [defendants] chose to speak...bore a very eerie significance to real life.”
Tuesday 28 November 2023 16:04 , Kelly Rissman
The defence turns to music
Mr Williams “idolized” Lil Wayne, Mr Steel saying, adding that growing up, he emulated his style and tattoos.
Lil Wayne was mentioned yesterday by the prosecution and is mentioned in the indictment, as one defendant was accused of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly shot at a bus that Lil Wayne was riding in 2015.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 15:50 , Kelly Rissman
Day 2: The Young Thug trial resumes
Brian Steel started his opening statement by talking about the past of his client, Young Thug aka Jeffery Williams.
Mr Williams “was born into an environment and a community and a society that was filled with depression, despair, hopelessness and helplessness,” Mr Steel said of the housing projects Young Thug grew up in. He painted a picture of the circumstances in which he grew up, “in severe poverty, severe crime.”
Ms Love objected to something Mr Steel was saying and opted to approach the bench, out of earshot of the jury.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 15:45 , Kelly Rissman
WATCH: Prosecutor addressed the finding of certain lyrics, a pressure point ahead of the trial
Fulton County Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love gets into Young Thug’s lyrics, telling jurors, “law enforcement didn’t chase the lyrics to solve the murders.”
“Law enforcement chased the murders and found the lyrics.” pic.twitter.com/vqEI1cgLv0— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) November 27, 2023
Tuesday 28 November 2023 15:30 , Kelly Rissman
Why is Young Thug on trial?
Jury selection for the trial began in January, but faced numerous challenges – from getting the defendants housed in different jails to court each day to dealing with contraband in the courtroom and – wildly – the arrests of a defence attorney and a courtroom deputy.
The saga in the courtroom has led to lengthy delays in the trial, which is expected to last months, getting under way.
Finally, opening statements are scheduled to begin on Monday 27 November.
Here’s what you need to know.
Young Thug, YSL and questionable lyrics: The controversial ‘gang’ trial is here
Tuesday 28 November 2023 15:08 , Kelly Rissman
Lyrics have already been used in the courtroom
“We didn’t chase any of the lyrics to solve any murders. Law enforcement in Fulton County chased the murders and found the lyrics,” Ms Love said.
The prosecutor then started quoting a Young Thug song.
The use of lyrics from rappers associated with YSL and Young Thug in the case has been an ongoing point of contention.
Earlier this month, the judge ruled that he would allow prosecutors to introduce 17 sets of lyrics — so long as they can demonstrate that those lyrics are related to crimes that the rapper and other defendants are accused of committing.
The defence team had argued against the lyrics’ inclusion in the case, arguing they are constitutionally protected speech.
“The lyrics [defendants] chose to speak...bore a very eerie significance to real life,” Ms Love added.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 14:58 , Kelly Rissman
The second day of the trial is set to begin
After a day plagued by delays, objections, and a failed mistrial motion, the second day of the already turbulent trial is about to take shape at 10am ET.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 14:00 , Kelly Rissman
ICYMI: What happened at the Young Thug trial
Today was a rocky start to the hotly anticipated trial of rapper Young Thug, aka Jeffery Williams, and 28 other defendants who are allegedly involved in the criminal gang YSL; the defence argues that YSL is merely a record label.
The trial was immediately delayed by an hour and a half, as the court was waiting for one late juror.
Then, the prosecution started its opening statements, which were met with numerous objections, and some disagreement over whether the prosecution provided the defence with slides it was showing the jurors.
The jury then had to leave, came back briefly, before being let off for a lunch recess.
After the court returned from lunch, the judge snapped at attorneys from both sides for having “wasted two hours.”
Hours after she began, prosecutor Adriane Love resumed her opening statement, which focused on depicting how YSL operates and portraying Mr Williams as the ringleader. She also already incorporated some of the defendants’ lyrics — the inclusion of which was itself a heated topic ahead of the trial.
Max Schardt, whose is representing Shannon Stillwell, asked the jury to find his client “not guilty” of murder, claiming that the evidence that led the state to the murder charge was given by someone who gave a false name.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 12:00 , Kelly Rissman
What have Young Thug’s lawyers said?
The defence team has yet to give opening statements today.
But in numerous court filings, the rapper’s attorneys have said that he is innocent of all crimes charged in the indictment. They argue YSL is simply a record label.
Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, has pleaded not guilty.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 21:53 , Kelly Rissman
Has the case been controversial?
The use of lyrics from rappers associated with YSL and Young Thug in the case has been an ongoing point of contention.
Earlier this month, Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville ruled that he would allow prosecutors to introduce 17 sets of lyrics, as long as they can show that the lyrics are related to crimes that the rapper and other defendants are accused of committing.
Defence attorneys had asked the judge to exclude them, arguing the lyrics are constitutionally protected speech and would be unfairly prejudicial.
“The question is not rap lyrics. The question is gang lyrics,” prosecutor Mike Carlson said, during a pre-trial hearing. “These are party admissions. They happen to come in the form of lyrics.”
Mr Carlson had argued that First Amendment speech protections do not apply because the defendants are not being prosecuted for their lyrics. Instead, he said, the lyrics refer to the criminal act or the criminal intent related to the charges.
Another prosecutor, Simone Hylton, also separated the lyrics into three categories: those that prove the existence of YSL as an enterprise, those that show the gang’s behaviour and actions, and those that show that Young Thug is a leader of the gang.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 10:00 , Kelly Rissman
ICYMI: What are the charges against YSL members?
The YSL members named in the indictment are charged with conspiracy to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
The act is similar to its federal counterpart, which is used to convict large-scale organisations such as the mafia.
According to the indictment, associates of YSL “conspired to associate together and with others for the common purposes of illegally obtaining money and property through a pattern of racketeering activity”.
It claims that YSL members were involved in murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, theft, drug dealing, carjacking, and witness intimidation.
Other activities include “the posting of messages, images, videos and songs, demonstrating allegiance to the enterprise and willingness to engage in violence on its behalf”.
Prosecutors claim they can show that some of the group’s lyrics are related to crimes that they are accused of committing.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 22:34 , Kelly Rissman
Who is Donovan Thomas, a central focus of this case?
Like many things in this trial, it depends on who you ask.
Thomas was shot to death in a drive-by shooting on 10 January, 2015. Some defendants are accused of murdering him, while others are accused of being involved in his killing.
“The defendant Jeffery Williams’ words and actions betrayed his participation in the conspiracy,” Ms Love said. He rented a car, despite owning a car, that other YSL members used to “notoriously gun down Donovan Thomas,” the prosecutor added.
Defence attorney Brian Steel said Thomas was a “friend” of Mr Williams.
The indictment says that Thomas was an “associate of a rival gang,” which both sides said was the Inglewood Family gang, or IF.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said that Thomas’ killing sparked a gang war that “created violence like Atlanta has never seen.”
Tuesday 28 November 2023 08:00 , Kelly Rissman
Zooming in on Young Thug
Young Thug aka Jeffery Williams is being painted as the head of YSL by the state.
“The defendant Jeffery Williams’ words and actions betrayed his participation in the conspiracy,” Ms Love said.
He rented a car, despite owning a car, that other YSL members used to “notoriously gun down Donovan Thomas,” the prosecutor added.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 06:00 , Kelly Rissman
ICYMI: What is YSL?
It depends who you ask.
YSL is Young Thug’s own record label – Young Slime Life. Artists on his record label are considered part of the “Slime Family,” and a compilation album, “Slime Language 2,” rose to number one on the US charts in April 2021.
Its artists include Gunna and Lil Keed, though several contemporary artists, including Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Lil Baby, and Travis Scott have also expressed allegiance to YSL without being contractually signed.
However, according to prosecutors, YSL is actually a “criminal street gang”, which started out in the Cleveland Avenue area of Atlanta and claims affiliation to the national Bloods gang.
According to a sprawling 88-page indictment, the members of YSL use “a variety of identifiers including colours, clothing, tattoos, and hand signs” to show their allegiance to the group.
The most predominant colours used by members of YSL are red for Bloods and green for Slime.
Defence attorneys meanwhile insist that YSL is just a music label.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 05:00 , Kelly Rissman
Where does Young Thug fit in?
The indictment portrays Young Thug as the leader of the criminal gang, which was responsible for multiple violent crimes, including murders, shootings and carjackings.
Prosecutors say the rapper also used his music and social media posts to promote the gang,
He is also alleged to have committed multiple crimes that he has not been charged with.
While he is not being charged for such “overt acts”, they lend credence to the allegation that the group of defendants were together engaged in a criminal conspiracy.
Brian Steel, Young Thug’s lawyer, told The New York Times: “Mr Williams came from an incredibly horrible upbringing, and he has conducted himself throughout his life in a way that is just to marvel at. He’s committed no crime whatsoever.”
Read the full story...
Young Thug, YSL and questionable lyrics: The controversial ‘gang’ trial is here
Tuesday 28 November 2023 04:00 , Kelly Rissman
How has the music industry reacted to the trial?
Several big names in the music industry have expressed support for YSL and hit out at prosecutors’ efforts to use their own lyrics against them.
Canadian superstar Drake referenced the case in the track Sticky on his new album Honestly, Nevermind.
“Somebody’s getting paid and/Free Big Slime out the cage,” Drake says in the song.
Killer Mike of rap group Run The Jewels previously told ABC News: “Hip hop is not respected as an art because Black people in this country are not recognised as full human beings.
“If we allow the courts to prosecute these men based on characters they created and stories of pretend that they tell in rhyme then next, they’ll be at your door.”
Tuesday 28 November 2023 03:00 , Kelly Rissman
Prosecution pointing out patterns
YSL uses a certain set of symbols and other idiosyncrasies to identify themselves, according to Prosecutor Love. These included:
substituting the letter “C” with the letter “B,” like “Bleveland” vs Cleveland or “Bhris” vs Chris
using certain emojis: Green Heart, Green Snake, Blowing Nose, and Green Vomit emojis
using certain hand signs
Tuesday 28 November 2023 02:00 , Kelly Rissman
ICYMI: What happened at the Young Thug trial
Today was a rocky start to the hotly anticipated trial of rapper Young Thug, aka Jeffery Williams, and 28 other defendants who are allegedly involved in the criminal gang YSL; the defence argues that YSL is merely a record label.
The trial was immediately delayed by an hour and a half, as the court was waiting for one late juror.
Then, the prosecution started its opening statements, which were met with numerous objections, and some disagreement over whether the prosecution provided the defence with slides it was showing the jurors.
The jury then had to leave, came back briefly, before being let off for a lunch recess.
After the court returned from lunch, the judge snapped at attorneys from both sides for having “wasted two hours.”
Hours after she began, prosecutor Adriane Love resumed her opening statement, which focused on depicting how YSL operates and portraying Mr Williams as the ringleader. She also already incorporated some of the defendants’ lyrics — the inclusion of which was itself a heated topic ahead of the trial.
Tuesday 28 November 2023 01:00 , Kelly Rissman
WATCH: Prosecutor addressed the finding of certain lyrics, a pressure point ahead of the trial
Fulton County Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love gets into Young Thug’s lyrics, telling jurors, “law enforcement didn’t chase the lyrics to solve the murders.”
“Law enforcement chased the murders and found the lyrics.” pic.twitter.com/vqEI1cgLv0— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) November 27, 2023
Tuesday 28 November 2023 00:00 , Kelly Rissman
Has the case been controversial?
The use of lyrics from rappers associated with YSL and Young Thug in the case has been an ongoing point of contention.
Earlier this month, Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville ruled that he would allow prosecutors to introduce 17 sets of lyrics, as long as they can show that the lyrics are related to crimes that the rapper and other defendants are accused of committing.
Defence attorneys had asked the judge to exclude them, arguing the lyrics are constitutionally protected speech and would be unfairly prejudicial.
“The question is not rap lyrics. The question is gang lyrics,” prosecutor Mike Carlson said, during a pre-trial hearing. “These are party admissions. They happen to come in the form of lyrics.”
Mr Carlson had argued that First Amendment speech protections do not apply because the defendants are not being prosecuted for their lyrics. Instead, he said, the lyrics refer to the criminal act or the criminal intent related to the charges.
Another prosecutor, Simone Hylton, also separated the lyrics into three categories: those that prove the existence of YSL as an enterprise, those that show the gang’s behaviour and actions, and those that show that Young Thug is a leader of the gang.
Monday 27 November 2023 23:00 , Kelly Rissman
Who is Young Thug?
Born in 1991 as Jeffrey Lamar Williams, Young Thug is an Atlanta-born rapper. He also goes by the name Slime.
After starting his career at the age of 19, he signed with Gucci Mane’s record label, and went on to become one of the most influential artists on the contemporary hip-hop and trap music scene.
His first two albums “So Much Fun”, in 2019, and “Punk”, in 2021, debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, as did his 2021 joint compilation album with Gunna, “Slime Language 2”.
Young Thug has also featured in multiple collaborations that have earned him several number one hits.
These include guest spots on Camila Cabello’s Havana in 2018, Travis Scott and MIA’s Franchise in 2020 and Drake and Future’s Way 2 Sexy in 2021, all of which topped the Billboard Hot 100.
He also co-wrote the hit song This Is America with Childish Gambino, real name Donald Glover, which became the first hip-hop track to win Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 2019.
Monday 27 November 2023 22:00 , Kelly Rissman
What has been said about Donovan Thomas
The case hinges on Donovan Thomas, whom the indictment describes as “an associate of a rival gang.” He was killed in a drive-by shooting on 10 January 2015.
Fulton County DA Fani Willis described Thomas’s killing led to a gang war that “created violence like Atlanta has never seen.”
The prosecutor accused Jeffery Williams aka Young Thug of renting a car, despite owning a car, that other YSL members used to “notoriously gun down Donovan Thomas.”
The defence argued that there are “no eyewitnesses” of Thomas’ killing and insinuated that Spencer Wright aka “fabricated” seeing the killing, as he pointed out that Mr Wright initially used a false name — Nicholas Robinson — when talking to investigators.
Then, using Mr Wright’s word, detectives got warrants for his client, Shannon Stillwell, among others, he said.
Monday 27 November 2023 21:53 , Kelly Rissman
The defence’s opening statement continues
“There were no eyewitnesses” of the murder of Donovan Thomas, Max Schardt of the defence team told the jury. “No one had been charged for nine months and nine days.” The indictment describes Thomas as an “associate of a rival gang.”
He said there is surveillance footage of the incident, which jurors will be able to watch.
The Fulton County District Attorney has said that Thomas’s killing led to a gang war that “created violence like Atlanta has never seen,” therefore much of the case connects back to this drive-by death.
Monday 27 November 2023 21:41 , Kelly Rissman
The defence begins its opening statements
Defence attorney Max Schardt started by saying his client, Shannon Stillwell, “is an innocent man.”
Mr Schardt said that Shannon “trying to make it in rap, sold marijuana” and pleaded guilty. He tried to separate Mr Stillwell’s past as being totally separate from YSL. He said he had done his time for the drug charges.
“We’re not hiding that Shannon Stillwell sold drugs...or was found in possession of a firearm. These are his pasts and his truths,” he added. “But the evidence will show that Shannon’s decisions had nothing to do with YSL or any other organisation.”
Monday 27 November 2023 21:30 , Kelly Rissman
ICYMI: What happened at the Young Thug trial
Today was a rocky start to the hotly anticipated trial of rapper Young Thug, aka Jeffery Williams, and 28 other defendants who are allegedly involved in the criminal gang YSL; the defence argues that YSL is merely a record label.
The trial was immediately delayed by an hour and a half, as the court was waiting for one late juror.
Then, the prosecution started its opening statements, which were met with numerous objections, and some disagreement over whether the prosecution provided the defence with slides it was showing the jurors.
The jury then had to leave, came back briefly, before being let off for a lunch recess.
After the court returned from lunch, the judge snapped at attorneys from both sides for having “wasted two hours.”
Hours after she began, prosecutor Adriane Love resumed her opening statement, which focused on depicting how YSL operates and portraying Mr Williams as the ringleader. She also already incorporated some of the defendants’ lyrics — the inclusion of which was itself a heated topic ahead of the trial.
Monday 27 November 2023 20:59 , Kelly Rissman
More on lyrics
Ms Love emphasised that law enforcement were “happening upon the lyrics while trying to solve a murder.”
She read some of defendant Shannon Stillwell’s lyrics, which included a reference to murder after he was released on bond for the murder of Donovan Thomas, she said.
Monday 27 November 2023 20:43 , Kelly Rissman
Prosecution pointing out patterns
YSL uses a certain set of symbols and other idiosyncrasies to identify themselves, according to Prosecutor Love. These included:
substituting the letter “C” with the letter “B,” like “Bleveland” vs Cleveland or “Bhris” vs Chris
using certain emojis: Green Heart, Green Snake, Blowing Nose, and Green Vomit emojis
using certain hand signs
Monday 27 November 2023 20:34 , Kelly Rissman
Prosecution tries to debunk record label argument
“The only time...that members of YSL don’t want to call themselves and acknowledge hat they are in fact a gang is when it would be to their detriment. The evidence will show that they are loudly and proudly promoting their criminal activities,” Ms Love said during her opening statement.
Monday 27 November 2023 20:21 , Kelly Rissman
A note about lyrics
“We didn't chase any of the lyrics to solve any murders. Law enforcement in Fulton County chased the murders and found the lyrics,” Ms Love said.
The prosecutor then started quoting a Young Thug song.
The use of lyrics from rappers associated with YSL and Young Thug in the case has been an ongoing point of contention.
Earlier this month, the judge ruled that he would allow prosecutors to introduce 17 sets of lyrics — so long as they can demonstrate that those lyrics are related to crimes that the rapper and other defendants are accused of committing.
The defence team had argued against the lyrics’ inclusion in the case, arguing they are constitutionally protected speech.
“The lyrics [defendants] chose to speak...bore a very eerie significance to real life,” Ms Love added.
Monday 27 November 2023 20:16 , Kelly Rissman
Zooming in on Young Thug
Young Thug aka Jeffery Williams is being painted as the head of YSL by the state.
“The defendant Jeffery Williams’ words and actions betrayed his participation in the conspiracy,” Ms Love said.
He rented a car, despite owning a car, that other YSL members used to “notoriously gun down Donovan Thomas,” the prosecutor added.
Monday 27 November 2023 20:09 , Kelly Rissman
“Dangerous weapons”
The prosecutor is painting Jeffery Williams aka Young Thug as the “leader” of YSL.
She said that a machine gun was found at the rapper’s home. Ms Love said there will be no evidence to show “any need for that.”
She repeated that YSL’s goal is to “maintain dominance and control” of the area.
Monday 27 November 2023 20:01 , Kelly Rissman
Opening statements continue
Prosecutor Love said defendant Rodalius Ryan’s youth and life were “swallowed up in the crater created by YSL.”
Twelve hours after killing Jamari Holmes, Mr Ryan posted on his Instagram predicting that YSL ‘makes the news,’ she said, adding that he was “promoting the gang.”
Monday 27 November 2023 19:55 , Kelly Rissman
The prosecutors resume opening statements
Many hours later, due to a series of objections and a recess for lunch break, the prosecution resumed its opening statement.
A conspiracy requires “just one overt act, so you will see evidence of several overt acts...that were done by these defendants” and other unnamed people “to further the goal of the conspriacy,” Ms Love said. She said these “steps” taken that had nothing to do” with a record label.”
Monday 27 November 2023 19:46 , Kelly Rissman
What prison time does the rapper face?
Young Thug’s racketeering conspiracy charge and two gang charges each carry a penalty of five to 20 years in prison. The other five charges also carry potential prison time.
Monday 27 November 2023 19:34 , Kelly Rissman
The judge putting his foot down
The judge asked one defence lawyer to have his client ‘put on his shoes.’ It’s unclear which defendant the judge was referring to when he made the strange request.
The jury was supposed to return at 1.45pm after a lunch break but it has been more than 45 minutes and the jurors have yet to reenter the courtroom.
In the meantime, the judge has snapped at the attorneys for having “wasted” nearly two hours as both sides have yet to complete their opening statements.
Monday 27 November 2023 19:18 , Kelly Rissman
Judge prohibits Powerpoints
“We have wasted almost two hours trying to get this stuff done,” the judge said.
He then banned either side from using Powerpoints after a debacle after the state allegedly didn’t provide updates it made to its slideshow, shown to jurors in opening arguments, to the defence.
Both sides argued for the judge to change his mind.
The jurors have yet to return to the courtroom as the conversation between attorneys and the judge continues.
Monday 27 November 2023 19:09 , Kelly Rissman
Judge snaps
“If you don’t listen to the court, you’re going to get into hot water,” he said, clearly frustrated with both sides.
Monday 27 November 2023 19:00 , Kelly Rissman
What have Young Thug’s lawyers said?
The defence team has yet to give opening statements today.
But in numerous court filings, the rapper’s attorneys have said that he is innocent of all crimes charged in the indictment. They argue YSL is simply a record label.
Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, has pleaded not guilty.
Monday 27 November 2023 18:55 , Kelly Rissman
The trial is delayed — again
Opening arguments were supposed to restart after lunch at 1.45pm. This trial is only on its first day and has already been plagued by a series of objections and delays, including a juror showing up over an hour late.
Monday 27 November 2023 18:40 , Kelly Rissman
ICYMI: Why is Young Thug on trial?
The indictment portrays Young Thug as the leader of the criminal gang, which was responsible for multiple violent crimes, including murders, shootings and carjackings.
Prosecutors say the rapper also used his music and social media posts to promote the gang,
He is also alleged to have committed multiple crimes that he has not been charged with.
While he is not being charged for such “overt acts”, they lend credence to the allegation that the group of defendants were together engaged in a criminal conspiracy.
Brian Steel, Young Thug’s lawyer, told The New York Times: “Mr Williams came from an incredibly horrible upbringing, and he has conducted himself throughout his life in a way that is just to marvel at. He’s committed no crime whatsoever.”
Monday 27 November 2023 18:30 , Kelly Rissman
Has the case been controversial?
The use of lyrics from rappers associated with YSL and Young Thug in the case has been an ongoing point of contention.
Earlier this month, Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville ruled that he would allow prosecutors to introduce 17 sets of lyrics, as long as they can show that the lyrics are related to crimes that the rapper and other defendants are accused of committing.
Defence attorneys had asked the judge to exclude them, arguing the lyrics are constitutionally protected speech and would be unfairly prejudicial.
Read the full story...
Young Thug, YSL and questionable lyrics: The controversial ‘gang’ trial is here
Monday 27 November 2023 18:15 , Kelly Rissman
The trial will continue after lunch
After a series of delays and objections, the judge sent the jury to lunch until 1.45pm.
The latest delay occurred after the defence team took issue with one of the slides that the prosecutors showed the jury, saying they hadn’t seen the slide ahead of the trial, which violated the judge’s order last week.
The judge then required the prosecution to send over all of the slides it planned to use while the defence reviewed it, causing another delay.
Monday 27 November 2023 18:02 , Kelly Rissman
How long has Young Thug been behind bars?
Young Thug has been in prison since his arrest in May 2022.
Earlier this month, a jury was finally selected after almost one year – with over 2,000 people having been summoned to possibly serve.
Now, opening statements in the trial are set to begin on 27 November.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the trial could end up being the longest in Georgia’s history.
Monday 27 November 2023 16:56 , Kelly Rissman
A rocky start
The YSL Rico trial has been anything but dull — even on its first day of opening arguments.
A late juror delayed the trial by an hour and a half.
Then, during its opening statement, the prosecution faced three objections from the defence, all of which were sustained.
The defence motioned for a mistrial, because it hadn’t seen all of the slides that the prosecution was showing the jury, but the bid was denied.
The judge scolded both sides for the turbulent trial start: “I’m not happy about any of this.”
Monday 27 November 2023 16:44 , Kelly Rissman
Judge denied motion for mistrial
The judge said he denied the motion. Mr Steel then argued that he didn’t receive the displays used by the prosecution ahead of the trial. Ms Love said it was an “inadvertent omission.”
The judge then got testy. He said “I'm not happy about any of this,” as the jury was delayed again and the defence’s sidebar earlier. The judge instructed prosecutors to hand over any additional slides that she hasn’t provided the defence team in the next five minutes.
The defence team now has a few minutes to review the unseen slides.
Monday 27 November 2023 16:38 , Kelly Rissman
Defence attorney motions for mistrial
Mr Williams’ defence attorney Brian Steel is moving for a mistrial because prosecutor Adriane Love’s team presented a slide on the screen, shown to jurors, that indicated that Mr Steel represented Rodalius Ryan in another case.
Monday 27 November 2023 16:29 , Kelly Rissman
‘Four-hour-long indictment’
The prosecution said that it took the judge four hours to read the 65-count indictment last year.
Young Thug is charged with eight of those 65 counts.
Monday 27 November 2023 16:17 , Kelly Rissman
Prosecutor described Young Thug as the leader of the “pack”
Adriane Love, the state prosecutor, explained the history of YSL and how it operates, emphasising the rapper’s leadership role.
YSL came from ROC [Raised on Cleaveland] Crew. Ms Love said that Mr Williams, aka Young Thug, became one of its leaders.
“There will be no evidence of a written contract...because this was a group of people...who used common colors and symbols to communicate to one another and identify to the rest of the world,” Ms Love explained.
The associates of YSL moved like a pack, “with the defendant Jeffery Williams as its head.”
The evidence will show that “YSL checks all the boxes of being a criminal street gang,” she said.
Monday 27 November 2023 16:12 , Kelly Rissman
Opening statements
Prosecutor Adriane Love opened up with quote from The Jungle Book.
“YSL operated as a pack,” she said. For 10 years and counting, the group calling itself Young Slime Life dominated the Cleaveland Avenue community of Fulton County. They created a crater...that sucked the youth, the innocence, and even the lives of some of its members.”
Monday 27 November 2023 16:01 , Kelly Rissman
Who is Young Thug?
Born in 1991 as Jeffrey Lamar Williams, Young Thug is an Atlanta-born rapper. He also goes by the name Slime.
After starting his career at the age of 19, he signed with Gucci Mane’s record label, and went on to become one of the most influential artists on the contemporary hip-hop and trap music scene.
His first two albums “So Much Fun”, in 2019, and “Punk”, in 2021, debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, as did his 2021 joint compilation album with Gunna, “Slime Language 2”.
Young Thug has also featured in multiple collaborations that have earned him several number one hits.
These include guest spots on Camila Cabello’s Havana in 2018, Travis Scott and MIA’s Franchise in 2020 and Drake and Future’s Way 2 Sexy in 2021, all of which topped the Billboard Hot 100.
He also co-wrote the hit song This Is America with Childish Gambino, real name Donald Glover, which became the first hip-hop track to win Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 2019.
Monday 27 November 2023 15:39 , Kelly Rissman
Thousands tuned in
More than 6,500 people have tuned in to watch the live RICO trial of Young Thug.
Opening arguments are now beginning after an hour and a half delay due to a juror having car problems.
Monday 27 November 2023 15:36 , Kelly Rissman
Opening arguments resume
Judge Ural Glanville is reading the charges brought against each of the 28 defendants.
All of the defendants have pleaded not guilty to all of the charges, the judge said.
Monday 27 November 2023 15:28 , Kelly Rissman
Where does Young Thug fit in to the trial?
The indictment portrays Young Thug as the leader of the criminal gang, which was responsible for multiple violent crimes, including murders, shootings and carjackings.
Prosecutors say the rapper also used his music and social media posts to promote the gang,
He is also alleged to have committed multiple crimes that he has not been charged with.
While he is not being charged for such “overt acts”, they lend credence to the allegation that the group of defendants were together engaged in a criminal conspiracy.
Brian Steel, Young Thug’s lawyer, told The New York Times: “Mr Williams came from an incredibly horrible upbringing, and he has conducted himself throughout his life in a way that is just to marvel at. He’s committed no crime whatsoever.”
Monday 27 November 2023 15:22 , Kelly Rissman
Update: All jurors are here
After the opening arguments were delayed, due to one juror’s absence, all jurors are now present, the judge said. The trial is now set to begin.
Monday 27 November 2023 15:00 , Kelly Rissman
About the jury
Nearly 10 months after jury selection began, a panel of Georgia citizens was selected Wednesday for the trial of rapper Young Thug and several other people accused of participating in a criminal street gang responsible for violent crimes.
The Atlanta-based artist, whose given name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, and six others are now set to stand trial beginning Nov. 27 after prosecutors and defense attorneys chose 12 jurors and six alternates, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The trial is expected to last months.
The sprawling indictment returned in May included more than two dozen defendants. But eight — including rapper Gunna, whose real name is Sergio Kitchens — took plea deals and 12 others will be tried separately, the newspaper reported.
Read the full story...
Jury selected after almost 10 months for rapper Young Thug's trial on gang, racketeering charges
Monday 27 November 2023 14:45 , Kelly Rissman
What the indictment says about YSL
“YSL is a criminal street gang that started in late 2012 in the Cleveland Avenue area of Atlanta, Georgia. YSL claims affiliation with the national Bloods gang. YSL’s founders were Jeffery Williams AKA ‘Young Thug,’ AKA ‘Slime,’ Walter Murphy AKA “DK,” and Trontavious Stephens AKA ‘Tick,’ AKA ‘Slug.’ Jeffery Williams, an Atlanta-based hip-hop artist, made YSL a well-known name by referring to it in his songs and on social media.”
Monday 27 November 2023 14:44 , Kelly Rissman
Opening arguments
Judge Ural Glanville said that the opening arguments are delayed as one juror has not shown up — after it took 11 months to pick the jury. They are trying to “locate” her, he said.
Monday 27 November 2023 14:30 , Kelly Rissman
ICYMI: The charges
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis — the same prosecutor working on the former president’s Georgia case — accused Yung Thug aka Jeffrey Williams, of being in a “position of leadership” in Young Slime Life, which she claims is a criminal street gang in a 56-count indictment.
The rapper has denied the claims; he and 27 others were charged with conspiracy to violate Georgia’s RICO Act.
Young Thug has been incarcerated since 9 May 2022. According to Rolling Stone, he has filed for bond four times but has been denied three times because the judge thinks the rapper poses a danger to the community.
Monday 27 November 2023 14:15 , Kelly Rissman
Has the case been controversial?
The use of lyrics from rappers associated with YSL and Young Thug in the case has been an ongoing point of contention.
Earlier this month, Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville ruled that he would allow prosecutors to introduce 17 sets of lyrics, as long as they can show that the lyrics are related to crimes that the rapper and other defendants are accused of committing.
Defence attorneys had asked the judge to exclude them, arguing the lyrics are constitutionally protected speech and would be unfairly prejudicial.
“The question is not rap lyrics. The question is gang lyrics,” prosecutor Mike Carlson said, during a pre-trial hearing. “These are party admissions. They happen to come in the form of lyrics.”
Mr Carlson had argued that First Amendment speech protections do not apply because the defendants are not being prosecuted for their lyrics. Instead, he said, the lyrics refer to the criminal act or the criminal intent related to the charges.
Another prosecutor, Simone Hylton, also separated the lyrics into three categories: those that prove the existence of YSL as an enterprise, those that show the gang’s behaviour and actions, and those that show that Young Thug is a leader of the gang.
Monday 27 November 2023 14:06 , Kelly Rissman
ICYMI: Trial is about to start
YSL — Young Slime Life is a record label and alleged criminal street gang.
The YSL members named in the indictment are charged with conspiracy to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
The act is similar to its federal counterpart, which is used to convict large-scale organisations such as the mafia.
According to the indictment, associates of YSL “conspired to associate together and with others for the common purposes of illegally obtaining money and property through a pattern of racketeering activity”.
It claims that YSL members were involved in murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, theft, drug dealing, carjacking, and witness intimidation.
Other activities include “the posting of messages, images, videos and songs, demonstrating allegiance to the enterprise and willingness to engage in violence on its behalf”.
Prosecutors claim they can show that some of the group’s lyrics are related to crimes that they are accused of committing.
How Young Thug’s case has been racked with delays
Monday 27 November 2023 13:45 , Rachel Sharp
Young Thug has been in prison since his arrest in May 2022.
Earlier this month, a jury was finally selected after almost one year – with over 2,000 people having been summoned to possibly serve.
There has been numerous other challenges in the courtroom – from getting the defendants housed in different jails to court each day to dealing with contraband in the courtroom and, wildly, the arrests of a defence attorney and a courtroom deputy.
Now, opening statements in the trial are set to begin today.
It could be the longest trial in Georgia’s history.
The accusations against Young Thug
Monday 27 November 2023 13:25 , Rachel Sharp
The indictment portrays Young Thug as the leader of the criminal gang, which was responsible for multiple violent crimes, including murders, shootings and carjackings.
Prosecutors say the rapper also used his music and social media posts to promote the gang,
He is also alleged to have committed multiple crimes that he has not been charged with.
While he is not being charged for such “overt acts”, they lend credence to the allegation that the group of defendants were together engaged in a criminal conspiracy.
Brian Steel, Young Thug’s lawyer, told The New York Times: “Mr Williams came from an incredibly horrible upbringing, and he has conducted himself throughout his life in a way that is just to marvel at. He’s committed no crime whatsoever.”
