ysl rico Archives - Page 9 of 16

Slimelife Shawty Appears To Explain Reason For YSL Plea Deal In Alleged Audio Leak

August 20, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Last year, Slimelife Shawty and Lil Durk both accepted plea deals to avoid facing trial over their connection to the Atlanta-based YSL. The group, led by Young Thug, has long been deemed a criminal gang by prosecutors and now faces a sprawling RICO trial in Fulton County. However, alleged audio recordings released by News Made It appears to shed more like on why Shawty took the deal. Alongside messages in which Shawty appears to argue that he did it for his family, audio messages appear to drive the message home. “It really made me think – damn, who gonna be there for my kids?,” Shawty can reportedly be heard saying. “I don’t fuck with a n*gga like that. I ain’t gonna be around a n*gga like that,” Shawty allegedly continued. The second comment was in reference when asked if he’s spoken with Durk since the plea.

It is very important to note that aside from the audio, there is nothing officially tying this leak to Shawty. Many people in the comments have accused News Made It of falsifying the audio or manipulating it for the sake of a story. Therefore, at this time, we have to say that this is an alleged leak without much evidence to back it up. Furthermore, News Made It does not appear to be claiming that they are the original source of the audio, meaning it is also unclear where they got it from themselves. This is a developing story and we’ll have any updates as and when they come in.

YSL Trial Causes More Chaos

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Furthermore, it’s been a pretty busy week in regard to the YSL trial and its ever-unfolding consequences. The complex nature of the case has led to the delay of YFN Lucci’s trial. The primary reason for the delay in Lucci’s case is that Lucci is actually part of the YSL case. “YFN Lucci’s trial was due to begin January 9, same as Young Thug’s. The YFN gang and RICO case is just as wide-ranging as the YSL case,” Chidi tweeted. “The two are connected; Lucci is a witness,” tweeted journalist George Chidi. “And here we go. For clarification: Lucci is on the state’s witness list. That doesn’t mean he’s going to testify, but he could still be called. Don’t @ me with questions about snitching. I don’t care.”

However, it’s the possibility that Lucci could be called to testify means that his trial cannot start. Prosecutors would not want to begin only to be postponed if he was called to testify in the YSL case. This comes as more twists emerge in the YSL case. Last week, a warrant was ordered on the laptop of attorney Eric Johnson. Johnson had been accused of allowing one of his clients, Christian Eppinger, to use his laptop to contact people and YSL contacts outside of prison. Previously, the investigation into Eppinger’s conduct led to the arrest of a Fulton County deputy, who was reportedly in a romantic relationship with Eppinger. Given the chaotic state of the YSL trial, it’s unclear how long Lucci’s trial will remain delayed.

[via]

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Young Thug Helping His Lawyer In Court During Hearing: Watch

August 13, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Young Thug and YSL’s RICO case is still hanging in an odd limbo state, but that’s not letting the defense team get their spirits down. Moreover, a video recently emerged online of Thugger helping his lawyer Brian Steel with proceedings during a court hearing. Specifically, it seems like Steel enlisted the Atlanta trap pioneer to help him take some notes down, as he put pen to paper when the judge clarified some numbers. It may be a very small and, for many, meaningless task, but it’s not every day you see defendants being an active part of the courtroom process. At best, it serves as a heartening symbol for both Thug and Steel working their hardest to make their case together.

Furthermore, both have done everything they can to both move this trial forward and get the freedom they seek. The last update on this case was the defense team moving to exclude evidence of alleged goat sacrifices from the trial. Of course, this was a bizarre and concerning development, if only because of the dark and mysterious nature of the act and its ludicrousness when said out loud. Regardless, it’s similar to other motions to dismiss artifacts, statements, and other pieces of evidence that could paint Young Thug and YSL in a negative light in ways that don’t relate to the indicted charges.

Young Thug Takes Notes During Hearing

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Unfortunately, many of these efforts have not worked out in their favor. The BUSINESS IS BUSINESS MC saw multiple denials of bond, the most recent of which came after a hospital scare. With jury selection still underway amid multiple delays, it could be a long time before the trial actually gets up and running. Despite the suggestion that the developments right now are moot, there’s been no shortage of wild and consequential layers added to this story.

Meanwhile, fans still appreciate any chance to see Jeffery throughout all this. Sometimes, he looks distraught, whereas on other days like this note-taking instance, he seems to keep his head up through it all. All fans can hope for is that his health is much better now, and that this long wait doesn’t take a tougher toll on him. For more news and the latest updates on Young Thug and the YSL RICO case, stay logged into HNHH.

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Drake Supports Young Thug With Custom “STOP RICO” Hoodie

August 12, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Drake has collaborated with both Young Thug and Gunna in the past. However, as the former artist remains behind bars, it’s become increasingly clear where the Canadian’s loyalties lie. Gunna gave us a surprise featureless record earlier this summer. Shortly after, Thugger relied heavily on the support of his pals to drop BUSINESS IS BUSINESS from jail. Drizzy appeared on two titles “Parade on Cleveland” and “Oh U Went” – one of which finds the YSL leader throwing shade at Wunna.

The DS4EVER artist was released on a plea deal earlier this year. Jeffrey Williams, on the other hand, has been denied bond several times. He’s believed to be a flight risk, among other things, by those overseeing the RICO investigation, leaving him locked up as the jury proceedings continue. It’s unclear exactly how long it will be before all 12 members are selected. Still, the So Much Fun hitmaker is surely tired after already awaiting his fate for over a year. Thankfully, much of the music industry is standing behind Young Thug as he continues to stay strong.

Read More: Young Thug Denied Bond Again In RICO Case

Drake is Advocating for Young Thug’s Freedom

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On Friday (August 11), Drake made it clear that his “Way 2 Sexy” collaborator is on his mind. He notably donned a white “STOP RICO” hoodie for a series of mirror selfies. The artwork on the sweater is an animated take on Thug’s Jeffrey mixtape album cover. Of course, there were some political touches added in to enhance the message. “3 the guys out the you know…” the Scorpion artist wrote in his caption.

As he continues across North America on his It’s All a Blur tour, Drake has been feeding his fans with consistent Instagram content. Most of it comes from the antics that unfold at his concerts by attendees or celebrity friends, but this weekend, he shared adorable new photos with his young son, Adonis. See what Lil Yachty had to say about his friend’s photo dump at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

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Judge Approves Search Warrant For Laptop In YSL RICO Case

August 12, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Yesterday, Chief Judge Ural Glanville ruled that a laptop owned by attorney Eric Johnson is allowed to be searched. Allegedly, one of the defendants in the YSL case used the laptop to communicate with Akeiba Stanley, a former courthouse deputy. She is also said to have had a romantic relationship with the defendant, Christian Eppinger. Johnson had requested that his laptop be returned to him, however, the judge decided there was enough probable cause for a search.

Following news of the courthouse romance, Stanley was let go from her position and arrested. She’s now charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, violating her oath of office, and more. Shortly after her arrest, Stanley was released on a $70K bond. Johnson is accused of allowing Eppinger to use his laptop in the courtroom. Apparently, deputies even have photos of Eppinger using the device to access Instagram.

Laptop Seized In YSL Case

Rapper Young Thug attends Young Stoner Life Meet & Greet at DTLR Camp Creek on April 22, 2021 in East Point, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Defendants are allowed to use their attorneys’ computers, however, what they can use them for is limited. They are only supposed to be accessing evidence on the devices, and they are not permitted for personal use. A special master was appointed by the judge to supervise the search of the laptop. This was done in order to protect any potentially sensitive information on the device, like details of the case or clients.

A few weeks back, Young Thug was also denied bond for the third time. He’s been behind bars in Georgia for over a year now, facing multiple charges tied to YSL. YSL has been labeled a “criminal street gang” amid the RICO case, which has seen the arrests of over 25 YSL members. Jury selection for the trial is still ongoing. “We’re taking a lot of time,” Suri Chadha Jimenez, who represents one of the defendants says. “To make sure people who have hardships are heard, and we end up with a jury that will give us the attention we deserve.”

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YSL RICO Trial: Jury Selection To Continue Next Week

August 5, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Jury selection is set to continue between August 7 and 10 in the sprawling YSL RICO trial in Georgia. At the time of writing, 108 potential jurors have been assessed. Per Jozef Papp of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 4 saw two jurors assessed. Juror 106 was excused due to hardship. The man’s wife had narrowly avoided the spree killing committed by Brian Nichols at Fulton County Courthouse in 2005. Meanwhile, Juror 108 was deemed suitable for the jury pool. Despite attending Young Thug concerts and knowing some of the defendant’s family members, Judge Glanville believed the man when he said he could be fair and impartial.

However, the next two weeks appear to be very busy in the case. “#YSL Jury selection will continue over the next week (Aug. 7-10). Hearing relating to attorney Eric Johnson on Aug. 11. Judge Glanville was asked about the following week (Aug. 14-18) schedule – “There are some things that are playing out that I have to take into account,” Papp tweeted.

Busy Few Weeks For YSL Trial And Georgia Legal System

#YSL Jury selection will continue over the next week (Aug. 7-10). Hearing relating to attorney Eric Johnson on Aug. 11.

Judge Glanville was asked about the following week (Aug. 14-18) schedule – “There are some things that are playing out that I have to take into account.” @ajc

— Jozsef Papp (@JozsefPapp_) August 4, 2023

As indicated by Papp, Judge Glanville has devoted another three days in the coming week to jury selection. It is still unclear when the jury will be seated in the case. At the time of writing, jury selection has been progressing since January. However, next Friday (August 11) will be dedicated to a hearing related to Eric Johnson. Johnson had previously served as the attorney for YSL defendant Christian Eppinger. However, Johnson was taken into custody after it was discovered that he had allowed Eppinger to use his laptop to send messages to people out of custody. This included a Fulton County Deputy that Eppinger was romantically linked to and who was helping Eppinger run a smuggling ring.

However, it also appears that Glanville is predicting a disruption in the case starting the week of August 14. In all likelihood, this relates to the impending indictment of former President Donald Trump. President Trump is expected to receive new indictments in the state of Georgia after attempting to pressure state officials into overturning the state’s 2020 election results. Georgia’s voting for President Biden was a key factor in Trump’s loss. In the weeks that followed the election, claims and evidence emerged showing Trump attempting to force Georgia officials to change their election results to favor him.

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YSL Co-Founder Hit With Multiple Charges Amid Young Thug Case

August 3, 2023 by newhiphopnews

One of the big surprises of the YSL RICO trial is that one of the label’s co-founders, YSL Mondo, escaped without any charges. Now over a year later, he is reportedly facing multiple gun, drug, and gang charges. According to AllHipHop, he was arrested on July 27th and remains in custody. Despite not being charged in the original RICO case Mondo has followed it closely. On a podcast appearance, he expressed his dissatisfaction with Gunna for his alleged snitching as part of his plea deal. “You can’t say, ‘Oh, they tricked me,’ or ‘Oh, I ain’t talk.’ Come on, my brother … It’s certain sh*t you just don’t do. And hey boy, you crossed the line, my brother. You did that.”

Young Thug has now been imprisoned for over a year. Last month he was once again denied bond by a judge after a short hearing. He’s been repeatedly denied bond over the past year. Despite that long-term imprisonment Thugger has managed to stay busy in the music world. He released the album Business Is Business from prison back in June. The album featured contributions from some major genre stars like Drake, 21 Savage, Travis Scott, Future, and many more. It went on to debut at number 2 on the Billboard 200. The album’s lead single “Oh U Went” recently got a new music video staring Drake.

Young Thug Still Waiting For His Trial

YSL co-founder YSL Mondo has been arrested on multiple guns & drugs charges in Cobb County, GA pic.twitter.com/UiBN42Euhu

— No Jumper (@nojumper) August 2, 2023

Admiration for Young Thug continues to come from all over the hip-hop world. Lil Uzi Vert is taking it to a whole new level though. The rapper is following up their new album Pink Tape from earlier this year with a new Thugger-inspired album called Barter 16. For the project, Uzi has been working with Thug’s collaborators like London On Da Track and Birdman and even went as far as to dress up just like Thug and an event last month.

What do you think of YSL Mondo being arrested on multiple charges while Young Thug is still waiting for his trial? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Young Thug Uncomfortable With Overwhelming Police Presence At YSL RICO Trial: Report

July 4, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Even though he’s been locked up for over a year now, Young Thug is doing his best to remain positive. Unfortunately, things have been incredibly slow-moving for several reasons. Among them are the difficulty of finding a jury and antics carried out by defendants and their lawyers. At this point, the So Much Fun rapper has been denied bond four times. On top of that, whenever he’s brought into court, what he and his attorneys consider extreme measures are being taken.

As AllHipHop reports, the embattled artist wears a leg brace every day. His legal team argues this is contributing to the impression that Thug is dangerous. In addition, they’re uncomfortable with the “fortress-like atmosphere” in the courtroom. It’s apparently partially created by the overbearing presence of police. This, along with the guards wearing tactical gear, carrying heavy guns and ammunition could potentially influence the jury pool’s perception of the “Day Before” artist.

Young Thug Continues to Fight for His Freedom

Young Thug 2021 BET Awards — Young Thug attends the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards on October 01, 2021, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/2021 BET Hip Hop Awards/Getty Images for BET)

Family members and fans have been prevented from supporting Thugger in his courtroom as well. Instead, they’ve been given a “viewing” room to watch the trial unfold from. Defense attorneys feel that this “creates a prejudice” against the 31-year-old. The court has previously overruled objections of a similar manner about the rap superstar’s potential for a fair trial. According to them, the security on site is up to the discretion of the Sheriff.

Things may not be going exactly as planned in court, but at least Young Thug has the success of his BUSINESS IS BUSINESS album to celebrate. He didn’t manage to secure the first No. 1 of the year for hip-hop, but the Atlanta native did put out an impressive effort from behind bars. Read more about the LP’s first week sales at the link below, and check back later for more music/pop culture news updates.

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Rich Homie Quan Allegedly Addresses Young Thug’s Case In Leaked Audio

July 1, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Many of the youngest fans of hip-hop might not remember, but there was a time when the new hot duo to look out for was Rich Homie Quan and Young Thug. Their run of mixtapes and frequent collaborations got a lot of hype around them as they developed their unique style. However, eventually something got in the way, and the two haven’t spoken to each other in years, it seems. Still, a recent audio leak that allegedly captured Quan’s remarks revitalized interest in their whole situation. Moreover, it’s because he appears to speak on Thug’s current RICO case in what seems to be some sort of interview setting, or at least a very formal and pointed question-and-answer conversation.

While the video is hard to understand, there are some things that really stand out in the recording. One of those is that Rich Homie Quan allegedly said something along the lines of: “Thug had something to do with it, we just can’t prove it.” In addition, Quan said that there was never any beef with Young Thug, suggesting that they just drifted apart. “That s**t was deeper than rap,” Quan apparently says at one point, calling the situation “real f***ed up.” Also, he seemingly says that he “loves” Thugger.

Rich Homie Quan Allegedly Speaking On Young Thug

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Of course, a lot of people started debating in the comments whether this is an instance of “snitching.” Even though Rich Homie Quan’s remarks were caught on camera, it’s unclear whether he really knew that someone was recording it. That being said, the context of his remarks also seems to be in an interview setting with an unspecified interviewer, and it’s hard to say whether someone would really be asking him these things in regular conversation. Either way, there’s clearly more nuance in Quan’s words than people believe at first glance.

Meanwhile, the YSL artist recently faced snitching accusations of his own. Furthermore, his legal team denied allegations that he provided information on a homicide. As he fights in the courtroom, perhaps other rap artists will come forward to speak on his situation in more detail. But if that’s the case, then more controversy and speculation will surely follow, so maybe the alternative to that, keeping quiet, is best. Regardless, check back in with HNHH for the latest news and updates on Young Thug and Rich Homie Quan.

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Young Thug’s Lawyer Calls For Certain Charges To Be Dropped

June 26, 2023 by newhiphopnews

The newest twist in the long-running legal drama for Young Thug and the YSL RICO case has arrived. Young Thug’s lawyer has reportedly filed a massive new motion to have many of the charges thrown out. The reason for the motion is a claim that anything accused of happening more than 5 years before the arrest date is invalid. This is due to the statute of limitations on the RICO laws that were used to arrest almost 30 people associated with YSL. The motion requests that any charge related to something that happened 5 years before Thugger’s arrest be thrown out.

In the wake of this news breaking many fans thought similar things. Namely, why did this take so long to come out? In a trial that has been ongoing for over a year now it seems to many like this legal maneuver should have come a long time ago. Comments under an Instagram post sharing the news expressed this sentiment in a number of ways. “Why they ain’t been tried this,” one commenter says. “His lawyer just realizing this? Lmao,” another reads.

Young Thug’s New Legal Tactic

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Young Thug and the YSL RICO trial have been at the center of rap news for over a year now. Thugger just released his new album Business Is Business. It’s his first project since 2021’s Punk and his first since the arrest happened last year. The album is packed full of high-profile features from artists like 21 Savage, Travis Scott, Drake, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, and more. It also features lyrics that have been a lightning rod for ongoing controversy related to Gunna’s alleged snitching.

Young Thug’s YSL label mate Gunna has faced a lot of hate from fellow rappers for allegedly snitching on his label mates. In some lyrics on Thugger’s new album, he takes shots at snitches that certainly seem like they could be aimed at Gunna. While some online have claimed the lyrics predate the pair’s arrest, it’s currently unclear who Thug was talking about. What do you think of Young Thug’s newest legal strategy? Let us know in the comment section below.

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“Free Young Thug” Projected Onto NYC Supreme Court Building

June 24, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Fans are calling for the release of Young Thug. Recently “FREE YOUNG THUG” was projected onto the New York State Supreme Court building, along with the artwork for his new album. Young Thug released the album, Business Is Business, yesterday from behind bars.

The rapper was arrested last year for RICO charges. Fans are loving his new album, which features scathing bars about snitching. On the track “Jonesboro,” Young Thug raps, “N***as told and he was my homie, I can’t miss him, Ain’t nobody feel him.” Many listeners speculated that the lyrics could be tied to Gunna allegedly snitching on the YSL founder. Whether or not Young Thug is calling out Gunna remains unconfirmed, as many believe that Young Thug wrote the song prior to his arrest.

Business Is Business

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Other listeners suspected that he could be dissing Saweetie on a track from the album, titled “Want Me Dead.” “My n***a ain’t even tryna hit sweetie,” he raps on the song. He later responded with a Tweet that reads, “Her name is Saweetie. I said sweetie. #BusinessIsBusiness.” Earlier this week, Wack 100 also shared an alleged leaked phone call where Young Thug asks Lil Baby to respond to Gunna apparently dissing him on his single “bread & butter.” Gunna has denied claims that he dissed Lil Baby on the track. Dolly White, Young Thug’s sister, later responded to the phone call. She claimed that it was generated using AI, however, tensions continued to rise amongst the rappers.

Gunna recently appeared to unfollow Lil Baby on Instagram, as well as Lil Durk. Durk previously called Gunna a “rat,” further claiming, “if you a rat, I f*cking hate you. Because I love Thug.” This week, a clip from Lil Baby’s upcoming music video circulated, where appears to address Gunna. “Some n***as taking pleas at trial I know that slime ain’t happy,” he raps in the snippet.

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