Young Thug is a rapper from Atlanta who specializes in trap music, a specific kind of rap that originated from Atlanta. He started his career in 2010 and has lived on the top of the charts since he started making music publicly, with 53% of his 77 songs hitting the top ten. He has collaborated with some of the biggest artists in the world, such as Travis Scott, Metro Boomin, Chris Brown, and 21 Savage. Despite his stardom, the Atlanta rapper has been facing legal trouble for the past few years after alleged involvement in the rap label and street gang YSL.
According to the Vulture’s article on the case, “The grand-jury indictment identifies Young Thug, and 27 associates as members of the ‘criminal street gang’ YSL, or Young Slime Life. Thug, the heartbeat of Atlanta’s fertile rap scene, is allegedly the founder of this street gang, which formed in the city in 2012.” Young Thug is faced with nine criminal charges, which consist of charges related to racketeering, or the activity of making money through dishonest or illegal activities, gun charges, drug possession and street gang participation.
Should we “free Young Thug”? In short, no, but the long version is he was let out and sent home after 4 years in prison and has 15 years of probation, so does he deserve more time? LA times says, “In May 2022, Young Thug was arrested and charged on two counts: conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act for an offense dating to January 2013, and criminal street gang activity for an offense dating to May 2018.”
Criminal racketeering is a class 2 felony, Violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, abbreviated as RICO, which was put in order to prevent organized crime moving from state to state using legitimate business as a front, can yield up to 20 years in prison. Do four years in prison and 15 years of probation give enough punishment for these crimes against the Atlanta community, not to mention the gun, drug and other charges his “record label” committed?
Young thug pleaded guilty to the charges in order to lessen his sentence, which means he did those things. The judge shouldn’t’ve cut him a deal, based on the fact that he was guilty. He did those crimes he would do the time. Is it fair to cut a deal they might not cut for an average person?
Should Young Thug have been freed? No, absolutely not. Give him access to a recording booth as a reward for good behavior and let him drop an album, maybe, but free? Absolutely not. His music is good, but his actions outweigh his contribution to trap and hip-hop. Do not free Young thug