Young Stoner Life

Gunna Returned To Social Media Following His Release From Jail After Pleading Guilty To Racketeering

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Rapper Gunna is looking to reenter the public fold and its good graces since his incarceration last May. While detained, the musician remained optimistic despite having his request for a bond denied three times. However, that didn’t stop him from writing a letter to his loved ones calling 2022, “one of the best years of my life.”

Although the “Pushin P” rapper has been out of jail for weeks, he’s remained uncharacteristically quiet on social media until yesterday. Taking to Instagram, Gunna shared an image of himself inside of his lush home with the caption, “N****s acting like they switching to a side. But it’s only one side,” adding the hashtags #YslTheLabel #FreeThug&Yak to show his seeming advocacy for his label head, Young Thug who is still incarcerated and awaiting trial. The rapper closed the post with, “Gunna Bacc!”

Gunna’s return to social media didn’t stop there. The rapper also uploaded a message to Twitter, writing, “R.I.P Keed. I love you, and I miss you, twin.” Unfortunately, Lil Keed, a fellow YSL Records artist, passed away shortly after Gunna’s arrest.

People didn’t take too kindly to Gunna’s mention of Young Thug or Lil Keed, including Lil Gotit, Keed’s brother. So Lil Gotit posted a subtle response to Gunna’s post. In the first message, Gotit writes, “N****s got to stop the cap,” implying Gunna’s public show of support for Young Thug is all a facade. Then Gotit follows it up with, “Don’t call me twin,” confirming all ties have been severed.

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Lil Gotiti Responds to Gunna 'Don't Call Me Twin'
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Notorious rap troll Tekashi 6ix9ine left a comment echoing Lil Gotit’s sentiments, “In court, you said it was a gang. Here on Instagram, you’re saying the label. LOL, you can’t make this sh*t up.”

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

The Lyrics To Young Thug’s ‘Slime Sh*t’ Were Read In Court During Jury Selection

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The trial for Young Thug and his Young Stoner Life crew’s RICO charges is officially underway. This past week, jury selection began for the court hearings.

According to a report from WSB TV, jurors saw and heard Judge Ural Glanville read lyrics from some of Young Thug and YSL’s songs during the first parts of jury selection this past Wednesday. Glanville particularly homed in on the anti-cop lyrics of one Thug’s songs, “Slime Sh*t.”

Glanville read the lyrics, “Hey, this that slime sh*t, hey/ Y L sh*t, hey/ Killin’ 12 sh*t, hey/ F*ck a jail sh*t, hey/ … Cookin’ white brick, hey, hey/ […] I’m not new to this, hey, I’m so true to this, hey I done put a whole slime on a hunnid licks.”

Later on, he read the lyrics from the verses of some of the other YSL affiliates, including Yak Gotti. On Gotti’s verse, he raps, “Slime or get slimed / In the VIP and I got that pistol on my hip/ You prayin’ that you live / I’m prayin’ that I hit / Hey, this that slime shit…F*ck, f*ck the police / in a high speed.”

Young Thug, Gunna, and 26 other YSL associates were arrested in May 2022 and were charged with eight counts of violating the RICO Act. Gunna and a few others have taken plea deals, but Thug and the rest of the YSL affiliates have been in custody since. The trial is expected to begin on Monday, January 9.

Young Thug is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music group.

What Charges Will Young Thug Face During His Trial?

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Next week, the State of Georgia v. Jeffery Lamar Williams (better known professionally as Young Thug) and YSL Enterprises, Inc. (or Young Stoner Life Records) RICO trial will begin. With each day that passes, more details about the case emerge, including Williams’ alleged witness list.

In May 2022, Williams and 29 other associates were indicted on 56 counts of criminal acts under the state’s RICO Act. However, now that several co-defendants have accepted plea deals, including fellow rapper and label signee Gunna, fans wondered what that would mean for Williams. He was not offered a plea deal and was denied bond several times ahead of the trial, in which the state has tabbed “around 300 witnesses.” The defense is expected to call several prominent figures in the music world.

Williams’ charges are as follows:

  • one count of conspiracy to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act,
  • possession of a firearm while committing a felony,
  • possession of a machine gun,
  • two counts of participating in criminal street activity,
  • three counts of violating the Georgia Controlled Substances Act,
  • and one charge of street racing.

Young Thug’s trial for his RICO case is scheduled for Monday, January 9, 2023. The trial is expected to run for as long as six months.

Some of the artists mentioned are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

YFN Lucci Is Reportedly Not Expected To Testify In Young Thug’s Upcoming RICO Trial

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As Young Thug and the Young Stoner Life crew’s RICO trial is underway, fans and viewers are eager to know when some of the collective’s members are coming home. In a recent update, it has been reported that rapper YFN Lucci, one of Thug’s known adversaries, is not expected to testify in the RICO trial.

Lucci’s lawyer, Drew Findling, told TMZ, that Lucci, whose real name is Rayshawn Bennett, has not been interviewed or subpoenaed by anyone associated with RICO Case.

“Any party can announce for example that Abraham Lincoln is on their witness list, but those words alone are meaningless,” Findling said. “So, to be 100 percent clear, Rayshawn Bennett will not be a witness in the YSL case.”

Lucci is currently in custody in Fulton County Jail, where he is awaiting his own trial in which he and 11 others were charged with gang-related racketeering.

“His focus, as it should be, is on his pending Fulton County case,” said Findling.

Thug’s trial for his RICO case is currently set to take place on Monday, January 9, 2023, and could potentially go on over the course of more than six months.

Some of the artists mentioned are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Prosecutors States Witnesses in Young Thug’s Case Have Received Threats

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Prosecutors against Young Thug and YSL Records have stated there have been “numerous threats to kill or harm witnesses” of the state RICO case. According to the New York Times, an order has been issued that forces defense lawyers to withhold witness information.

A motion filed in court states witnesses now “fear not only for their own lives, but for their families’ lives should they testify” in the case. The defense has denied any intimidation tactics.

This past Tuesday, District Attorney Fani T. Willis of Fulton county stated the defendants have previously intimated witnesses and noted a member, Christian Eppinger, who attempted to murder two members of the Atlanta PD. Prosecutors also pointed to the actions of Quartavius Mender, a fan, who was arrested for making threats last month.

Fox 5 reports that 18-year-old Quartavius Mender was arrested on May 26 for giving death threats on Instagram targeting Fulton county Sheriff Pat Labat. Mender also targeted Labat’s wife and the Atlantic Public Schools Police Chief Ronald Applin. During the threats he demanded one of the defendants be released. He is now charged with 23 counts of terroristic threats.

“We take these kinds of brazen threats seriously,” Sheriff Labat said. “Social media cyberbullying, and hiding behind a keyboard will not protect someone from criminal prosecution. Our investigators are diligent in seeking individuals who mean to do harm to anybody, and I am grateful to them for ensuring the safety of myself, my wife, and all citizens of Fulton County.”

Young Thug and members of the Young Stoner Life Records were arrested in May on a 56-count state RICO indictment.

The post Prosecutors States Witnesses in Young Thug’s Case Have Received Threats appeared first on The Source.

Young Thug And YSL Are Being Blamed By Prosecutors For Over 50 Gang-Related Murders

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It was just a little over a week ago that the music world was shocked by the news of RICO charges against Young Thug, Gunna, and 26 other members of the former’s YSL rap collective. The RICO case levied a total of 56 charges against the members which included conspiring to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, murder, armed robbery, and participation in criminal street gang activity. Thug himself was hit with seven more felony charges after a search warrant was executed at his Georgia home. More details about YSL’s alleged crimes have arrived since their arrest, including a recent accusation from Georgia prosecutors.

According to Complex, following an emergency motion filed by YFN Lucci, who was allegedly “stabbed with a shank, repeatedly, inside the Fulton County Jail” by a YSL member, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis shared more details about YSL’s alleged crime. “And what myself and any law enforcement member can tell you as a result of that [is] the back-and-forth gun violence and murders that have occurred, have probably been in excess of 50 since 2015—triggered by that in the back-and-forth between that [YSL] gang and other gangs.”

Willis was speaking about the 2015 murder of Donovan Thomas, which she said was “extremely significant” in connecting YSL to other alleged crimes that are listed in the case. In the 2015 incident, the 26-year-old YFN affiliate was murdered outside of a barbershop, and Thug is accused of renting the Infiniti Q50 sedan used in the crime.

YFN Lucci’s team filed the emergency motion on the basis of him being a victim in the YSL case. Lucci’s legal team is reportedly asking that the rapper be released on “reasonable conditions” and an “emergency bond hearing.” According to Complex, they add that “despite being a named victim in a sprawling and high-profile criminal case, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office, nor any Victim’s Advocate from their office has reached out to Mr. [Rayshawn] Bennett or his counsel.”

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

YSL Rapper Lil Keed Is Dead At 24

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Hours after the world clocked out of work and shifted their attention to the weekend, the music community was met with shocking news. It was announced that YSL rapper Lil Keed had died at just the age of 24. The news was shared by his younger brother and fellow YSL rapper Lil Gotit on his social media pages. “Can’t believe I seened u die today bro I did all my cries,” he wrote in a post. “I know what u want me to do and that’s go hard for Mama Daddy Our Brothers Naychur and Whiteboy.” A cause of death for Keed was not revealed as of press time.

Lil Keed began making music back with Lil Gotit in 2017. He released his first project at the beginning of 2018 with Trapped On Cleveland. That year he would go on to release three more projects, Slime Avenue, Trapped On Cleveland 2, and Keed Talk To ‘Em, with the latter two coming after he inked a deal with YSL Records. In the summer of 2019, Keed released his debut album Long Live Mexico which delivered 20 songs and features from Young Thug, Roddy Ricch, Lil Uzi Vert, YNW Melly, Moneybagg Yo, Nav, Gunna, and more.

The following year, he released Trapped On Cleveland 3 and was inducted into the XXL Freshman Class. The 2020 project gave listeners 19 songs with Young Thug, Gunna, Travis Scott, Lil Baby, Future, Ty Dolla Sign, and more. Trapped On Cleveland 3 was extended to 37 songs with a deluxe reissue in fall 2020.

Keed preparing to release his fifth solo mixtape Keed Talk To ‘Em 2 prior to his death. He leaves behind one daughter named Naychur.

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

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

[WATCH] YSL’s First Lady Karlae Teams with Lil Yachty for New Single and Video “Blind”

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Jerrika Karlae, Young Stoner Life Records signee, has released a new single and music video called “Blind.” Lil Yachty is featured on the new tune.

Karlae has long been the First Lady of YSL, dropping off hits in “Jimmy Choo” feat. Young Thug and Gunna and also “U Aint Slime Enough” from the Slime Language project. She has also appeared on Slime Language 2 with the rest of the Young Stoner Life crew.

You can peep the new release below.

The post [WATCH] YSL’s First Lady Karlae Teams with Lil Yachty for New Single and Video “Blind” appeared first on The Source.

One Great Song From Great Hip-Hop Albums in Recent Memory

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Tracks from Tyler, The Creator, Slowthai, Baby Tate, Rod Wave, Conway The Machine, J. Cole and more. Continue reading…