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Metro Boomin Defends Young Thug After His RICO Arrest: ‘YSL Is Not A Gang And Never Been A Gang Fool’

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Monday night’s news of Young Thug and Gunna’s criminal charges came as a shock to the music world. The two rappers, along with 26 members of the former’s Young Stoner Life (YSL) label were charged with conspiracy to violate the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act in connection with additional crimes that include murder, armed robbery, and participation in criminal street gang activity. Thug was apprehended at his Georgia home on Monday night while Gunna turned himself in on Wednesday. The ordeal has left some to criticize the rappers while others have come to their defense. Metro Boomin, a frequent collaborator of Thug and Gunna, was one of the people to do the latter.

In a string of tweets, Metro Boomin defended Thug and the YSL collective. “YSL is not a gang and never been a gang fool, YSL is a registered LLC and has provided countless jobs and opportunities for underprivileged black people and really just all people cause that’s how big Thug heart is,” he wrote in one tweet. In another post, Metro said the situation was another example of an influential Black figure being brought down.

“They get terrified every time an iconic black leader emerges with so much influence, respect, power, and appeal so they throw some bullshit charges together to lock him up and slow the movement down,” he wrote. “Look at American history it’s been a pattern for 100+ years.” To conclude his message, Metro shared what he believes the rappers need. “These brothers need love, support, and prayer right now not jokes, criticism, or opinions,” he noted.

Metro’s tweets come after both Thug and Gunna were denied bond in their respective arrests.

You can view the full string of tweets from Metro Boomin below.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group

Tekashi 6ix9ine Lambasts Young Thug After His RICO Arrest

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Tekashi 69 once again reminds the world that he has no problem kicking you when you’re down. The notorious New Yorker took to Instagram to make fun of Young Thug on the heels of his recent arrest for RICO charges. Posting a picture on his Instagram story of Thug in a dress wearing lipstick, 6ix9ine joked “Now he can be himself.” He continued on the next slide with more pictures of the Atlanta rapper in dresses, stating “I wish it was fake.”

He pump-faked being done with the jokes, stating “Ok I’m done Na, free sis, I mean bro” before sharing a clip of Young Thug saying “I want your man.” 69 replied, “there’s plenty men in there.” 69 also targeted Gunna, who surrendered himself to Fulton County officials on Wednesday (May 11), sharing a clip of the rapper from the 2021 movie Dutch. The “Pushin P” rapper is being questioned by the police in an orange jumpsuit and requesting McDonald’s in exchange for information.

It is unclear whether Tekashi intends to troll the other members of the crew, as many more were named in a lengthy 88-page indictment on Monday (May 9) that accuses them all of being in a criminal organization dating back to 2013, with Thug at the helm. Young Thug appeared before a judge on Tuesday (May 10) and was read his charges, which include conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act in addition to criminal street gang activity, namely the murder of a rival gang member Donovan Thomas Jr. in 2015 and the jail stabbing of YFN Lucci earlier this year.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Young Thug And Gunna Were Denied Bond In Their Racketeering Case

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Young Thug, Gunna, and 26 other members of their YSL crew are having — to put it lightly — a rough week. On Monday, they were charged with 56 counts of conspiracy to violate the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act, including violations for drugs, guns, and even murder. An 88-page indictment filled with Young Thug lyrics led to their arrests, with Gunna turning himself in on Wednesday. Now, it looks like they’ll be stuck at Fulton County Jail for a while; the rappers were denied bond requests as the presiding judge declared them a flight risk, according to local news.

In addition to the initial two charges against Thug, seven more were added as a result of a raid at his home in Buckhead; those charges include possession of controlled substances with the intent to distribute, possession of illegal firearms, and participation in criminal gang activity. According to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, YSL is considered a “hybrid criminal gang,” with both the label and the wider association around it tied to the Bloods. Meanwhile, both Thug and Gunna, through their lawyers, have maintained their innocence. Some observers have also disputed the use of their lyrics as evidence to tie them to a larger conspiracy.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

DL Hughley Says Young Thug and Gunna’s Indictment is a Result of Power of the Tongue

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D.L. Hughley Believes Kanye West is 'Conveniently' Mentally Ill

DL Hughley has turned his attention away from Kanye West and Pete Davidson and is looking toward Young Thug and Gunna. In case you missed it, Thugger and Gunna were arrested as a part of a 56-count RICO indictment.

Hitting Twitter, Hughley poked fun at the names of the rappers online and seemingly suggest the two asked for their current situations.

“People seem to forget, the power of life and death is in the tongue!” Hugley wrote. “If you call yourself #Thug and Gunna what you probably gonna do is go to jail! #TeamDL”

One Twitter user had a clever clap back.

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YSL’s Gunna Surrenders To Atlanta Authorities Surrounding RICO Charges

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YSL’s Gunna surrendered to Fulton County authorities early Wednesday morning. Gunna is facing charges of conspiring to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

The “Pushin P” rapper was one of at least 28 others, including Young Thug, caught up in a sweeping RICO indictment brought by the Fulton County District Attorney this week.

During Gunna Wunna’s virtual court appearance on Wednesday, his attorney argued for a bond to be set, but the magistrate judge said that decision would be left for the superior court judge. “I don’t have the authority to do it,” the judge told the court.

Gunna, real name Sergio Kitchens, is allegedly affiliated with a gang known as Young Slime Life that the D.A. says is linked to 80-percent of violent crime in the city.

Gunna’s attorney emailed Channel 2 investigative reporter Mark Winne a statement, saying, in part: “Mr. Sergio Kitchens, known as Gunna, is innocent. The indictment falsely portrays his music as part of criminal conspiracy.” He went on to describe Kitchens as an entertainer and philanthropist.

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READ MORE: Gunna Gives Back To Former Middle School Partners With Goodr To Open Free Grocery and Clothing Store

The news came two days after YSL’s label head Young Thug, real name Jeffery Williams, 30, was arrested early Monday afternoon at his home in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood.

Gunna is due back in court in June.

The post YSL’s Gunna Surrenders To Atlanta Authorities Surrounding RICO Charges appeared first on The Source.

Federal Authorities Add Drug Possession And Weapons Charges To RICO Case Against Young Thug

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As the details surrounding the RICO case against Young Thug, Gunna and 28 YSL members continue to grow, recent reports have confirmed that Thugger has now been hit with federal charges; two illegal firearms charges and two drug possession charges to add to his laundry list of offenses that have kept him behind bars since Tuesday.

Rap ultra-star Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, was one among 28 people who were ensnared by a 56-count indictment handed down by the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office for criminal activity going back as far as 2015 and as recent as 2020. The 88-page indictment filed on Sunday details 180 acts that support just the first of the 56 separate charges for 28 members of the alleged gang.

Williams was denied bond yesterday by a Fulton County Superior judge despite the assertive plea by Williams’ lawyer Brian Steel to grant him a bond based on the nature of his alleged, non-violent charges, but that effort was unsuccessful. 

Now, Thug’s initial court hearing has been followed up with additional charges after federal investigators discover guns and drugs in the rapper’s Buckhead home, according to a report from Atlanta news affiliate WSB-TV. 

Authorities contend that they have more than enough evidence to convict Williams, who they allege rented a Q50 Infiniti used in a 2015, ordered an attempted hit on YFN Lucci by two YSL members during his incarceration in Fulton County Jail and is even named as a co-conspirator alongside Birdman in the 2015 shooting of Lil Wayne’s tour bus in Atlanta. 

Williams new charges come the same day as authorities announce that they have taken “Pushin P” rapper Gunna, whose real name is Sergio Kitchens, into custody at the Fulton County Jail.

Young Thug is now currently charged with is now charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a schedule III, IV, or V controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, sawed-off rifle, machine gun, dangerous weapon, or silencer, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and three counts of participating in criminal gang activity through the commission of a crime.

Thug’s Attorney Brian Steel said in a statement, “Jeffery Williams, who performs as “Young Thug,” vehemently denies the allegations lodged against him in the Fulton County (Georgia) Indictment of May 9, 2022. We look forward to the opportunity to defend this case in court. We filed a Motion for Bond and anticipate a hearing in the near future. We will fight this case ethically, legally and zealously. Mr. Williams will be cleared.”

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Casanova 2X Joins Young Thug & Gunna In Racketeering Roundup – Pleads Guilty To Charges

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Casanova 2x

Brooklyn-based rapper Casanova pleaded guilty to various charges. He has admitted to being a gang leader and aiding in the crimes and is faced with a 60-year sentence. Casanova’s Guilty Plea Brooklyn’s Casanova 2X is one of 18 people who was indicted in connection with a litany of gang-related crimes including racketeering, murder, drugs, firearms, […]

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Gunna Turns Himself In To Authorities On RICO Charges

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Gunna

Rapper Gunna has submitted to authorities, turning himself in early this morning on charges that he was involved in racketeering and conspiracy activities with Young Thug’s YSL street gang. Gunna Turns Himself In Rapper Gunna, whose government name is Sergio Kitchens, surrendered to Fulton County, GA authorities in connection with RICO charges that have been […]

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