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Rapper Young Thug set to go on trial for gang conspiracy

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Maggy Donaldson, Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Young Thug" s="" Twitter="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/01/09/20230109-young-thug.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Young Thug&#x27;s Twitter account. </em></figcaption></figure></div><p>American rapper Young Thug was set to go on trial Monday on charges that his record label is a front for a crime ring.</p><p>The influential hip-hop star born Jeffery Williams was one of more than two dozen people charged last spring by a Georgia grand jury, which said those named belong to a branch of the Bloods street gang identified as Young Slime Life, or YSL.</p><p>The indictment shook the rap world in Atlanta -- long a nexus of hip-hop, where Young Thug is considered among the industry&#x27;s most impactful figures, one who forged contemporary rap&#x27;s sound.</p><p>Georgia prosecutors hit all the defendants with conspiring to violate the state&#x27;s criminal racketeering law, which is modeled on the federal RICO Act.</p><p>In its early days, that statute was used to go after the mob, and more recently to take down the disgraced R&amp;B singer R. Kelly for sex crimes.</p><p>Alleged individual crimes supporting the YSL conspiracy charge include murder, assault, carjacking, drug dealing, and theft.</p><p>Young Thug, who founded the hip-hop and trap label YSL Records in 2016, also faces one count of participation in criminal street gang activity.</p><p>Defense lawyers insist YSL -- also known as Young Stoner Life Records -- represents nothing more than a label and vague association of artists.</p><p>Controversially, prosecutors are holding up rap lyrics from musicians including Young Thug and Gunna -- who was also charged but took a plea deal -- and even a bar from a posthumous Juice WRLD single.</p><p>&quot;I think if you decide to admit your crimes over a beat, I&#x27;m going to use it,&quot; said Fani Willis, the district attorney of Fulton County, which includes Atlanta.</p><div><strong>Rap on trial</strong></div><p>It&#x27;s far from the first time hip-hop lyrics have featured in courtrooms, a practice that&#x27;s sparked controversy numerous times over the past decades.</p><p>Erik Nielson, a University of Richmond professor and specialist on rap music as evidence in criminal trials, will likely testify as an expert witness on behalf of the defense.</p><p>His 2019 book with Andrea L. Dennis, &quot;Rap on Trial: Race, Lyrics, and Guilt in America,&quot; holds that courts routinely take slice-of-life lyrics out of context to criminalize and imprison both professional rappers and aspiring artists who are primarily Black and brown.</p><p>Out of the 28 people originally named in the YSL indictment, 14 are anticipated to stand in the trial, which could last six to nine months.</p><p>Six of the original defendants will be tried separately, and eight -- including Gunna and Young Thug&#x27;s brother, Quantavious Grier -- have taken plea deals.</p><p>Court documents show the state could potentially call well over 300 witnesses, including prominent rap world figures like Lil Wayne.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eg6vWipHsMk?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

American rapper Young Thug was set to go on trial Monday on charges that his record label is a front for a crime ring.

Rapper Young Thug set to go on trial for gang conspiracy

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Rapper Young Thug set to go on trial for gang conspiracy

Maggy Donaldson,

Agence France-Presse

Published January 09, 2023 03:48 PM PHT

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