Young Thug’s Lyrics Can be Entered As Evidence In YSL RICO Trial, Judge Rules
Young Thug’s Lyrics Can be Entered As Evidence In YSL RICO Trial, Judge Rules
Young Thug’s music is now in the hot seat.
On Thursday (Nov. 9), Judge Ural Granville granted prosecutors the right to present a collective of Young Thug’s rap lyrics in the trial against him and his YSL (Young Slime Life) associates amid their controversial RICO case.
Before Granville’s ruling, a long deliberation ensued over 17 sets of lyrics, in which authorities argued whether or not the song verses were utterly a form of creative expression or deserving of legal punishment.
Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Mike Carlson said in a statement,
“The lyrics are being used to prove the nature of YSL as a racketeering enterprise, the expectations of YSL as a criminal street gang. We’ve got party admissions for even the offense of murder here; this is evidentiary use.”
While Young Thug’s defense team assured that the singles were only done in an artistically-driven manner, the court settled unfavorably, reportedly citing that their stance was “ridiculous.”
Doug Weinstein, YSL member Deamonte Kendrick’s lawyer, added:
“There’s a giant elephant in the room which is that we’re ignoring art. There is art here and the art has got to be separated from real life.”
Ultimately, Glanville ordered that the verses could be used but with limitations “depending upon or subject to a foundation that is properly laid by the state.”
When doubling down on her proposal of the inclusion of the lyrics into the case, Deputy District Attorney Simone Hylton cited Thug’s 2016 track “Slime Sh*t.”
She said,
“This statement has [Young Thug], Mr. Deamonte Kentrick, Martinez Arnold, and Jimmy Winfrey. This was released on Apple Music on March of 2016. And the lyric is, ‘Hey, this that Slime sh*t, hey YSL sh*t, killin’ twelve sh*t, f*ck a jail sh*t. This that mob sh*t, YSL, this that mob life.'”
Hylton later furthered:
“This particular verse, or particular portion of this statement, will go to show –again…the state of mind of members of this gang. The second part, ‘This that Slime sh*t, this that mob sh*t,’ again… referencing to [YSL] being like a mafia family, being those who engage in this mafia type of mindset. [As for] ‘F*ck the jail, YSL, this that mob life.’ Again, disrespect to the judicial system.”
Prosecutor reads lyrics from young thug songs that they want to use against him pic.twitter.com/MKAAQtLJdm
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) November 8, 2023
Thug’s trial is set for Nov. 27. If you didn’t know, the Atlanta-bred rhymer has been accused of leading a violent street gang that’s suspected to be at the root of numerous criminal activities, including drug distribution and homicides. Last year, Thug, along with 26 others were arrested in a high-profile indictment.
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