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Rb Hip Hop

Travis Scott, Sexyy Red, T.I. & More React to Young Thug’s Release After YSL RICO Case

The hip-hop community is celebrating after news broke that Young Thug will be released from custody after receiving 15 years probation and no prison time.

Young Thug performs at halftime during the Boston Celtics v Atlanta Hawks game at State Farm Arena on November 17, 2021 in Atlanta.

Young Thug performs at halftime during the Boston Celtics v Atlanta Hawks game at State Farm Arena on November 17, 2021 in Atlanta.

Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Young Thug is officially returning home after pleading guilty in a criminal case accusing him of leading a violent Atlanta street gang. The rapper was sentenced to 15 years probation and no prison time on Thursday (Oct. 31).

Thug (real name Jeffery Williams) pleaded guilty in Georgia to several counts, including possession of drugs and firearms, and pleaded no contest to others including the racketeering accusations that alleged he was the leader of a criminal gang, Young Slime Life. Thug has been in custody for two years after he along with 27 others were arrested in May 2022 as part of a sprawling 56-count indictment for violations of Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).


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Before his sentencing, Young Thug told the court he takes “full responsibility for my crimes and for my charges,” adding, “I know what I bring to the table and I know what I am. I know the heights I’ve reached and I know the impact I’ve got on people in the community.”

Following the news, Travis Scott took to his Instagram Stories to write that his “bruddda otw home” with a series of brown hearts. Similarly, Metro Boomin shared a series of photos of Thug to his Stories.

“Welcome Home lil bruddah, It’s been too long… Time to get back to it!!!” T.I. wrote on Instagram alongside photos of the duo. On X, Sexyy Red wrote, “THEY LET TWIN OUT!!!,” in reference to the duo’s physical resemblance.

Kevin Liles, the CEO of 300 Entertainment which houses Thug’s YSL Records, wrote on Instagram, “Words can’t express the incredible happiness and relief I feel to learn of Jeffery’s freedom. There will be a time to discuss the criminalization of hip-hop lyrics and the use of bond denial as a weapon against defendants, but in this moment everyone should feel nothing but joy that this amazing artist and even better man can hug his children, parents, siblings, and other loved ones tonight.”

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This article was originally published by Billboard U.S.

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Aysanabee

FYI

Music News Digest: Hamilton's Supercrawl Celebrates 17 Years, George Canyon and Aaron Pritchett Announce Tour

Also this week: A Vesuvius Music showcase in Toronto, new inductees into the Mississauga Music Walk of Fame and David J plays solo Canadian dates.

Hamilton's annual Supercrawl music and arts festival is now recognised as one of Canada's most popular and important free street fests. Now in its 17th year, Supercrawl returns to stages on James St, North, in the heart of downtown, this weekend (Sept. 11-13). Visual art, fashion, dance, theatre, comedy and family programming are all on the schedule, but music remains the core focus.

The eclectic grouping of Juno winners Aysanabee, William Prince and Protest the Hero, plus Mariel Buckley, The Grapes of Wrath and The Halluci Nation are singled out as headliners, and they are joined by a similarly musically diverse lineup of over 60 artists. That list includes local favourites Superstar Crush, Golden Feather, Chore, Capitol, Steve Strongman, Emma Whale and Ariana Fig, while other notable Canadian acts include Population 11, Julian Taylor, Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar, Reuben and The Bullhorn Singers, John Muirhead, Mauvey, Gizmo, Status/Non-Status and Bells Larsen. More info here.

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