50 Facts About Young Thug

Young Thug, born Jeffery Lamar Williams, is a name that resonates deeply within the hip-hop community. Known for his unique style and influential music, he has carved out a niche that few can rival. Let's dive into some fascinating facts about this enigmatic artist.

Early Life and Beginnings

Young Thug's journey from the streets of Atlanta to global stardom is nothing short of remarkable. His early life set the stage for his future success.

1. Born on August 16, 1991, in the Jonesboro South projects of Atlanta, Georgia, Young Thug was one of 11 children.
2. He began his musical career in 2010 with a guest appearance on rapper TruRoyal's song "She Can Go".
3. His initial recognition came from a series of mixtapes starting with "I Came from Nothing" in 2011.

Rise to Fame

Young Thug's rise to fame was marked by significant collaborations and releases that showcased his unique style.

4. In 2013, he signed with Gucci Mane's 1017 Records and released his debut mixtape "1017 Thug".
5. His commercial debut single "Stoner" was released in October 2013, spawning several unofficial remixes.
6. Despite disapproving of the remixes, his song "Danny Glover" received remixes from notable artists like Waka Flocka Flame and Nicki Minaj.
7. In 2014, Kanye West collaborated with Young Thug, praising his ability to make songs quickly.
8. He appeared on the March 2014 cover of The Fader, highlighting his rising fame.

Major Projects and Collaborations

Young Thug's career is dotted with major projects and high-profile collaborations that have cemented his place in the music industry.

9. His debut album was initially titled "Carter 6," referencing Lil Wayne's acclaimed "Tha Carter" series.
10. He was working on a collaborative album with Metro Boomin titled "Metro Thuggin," set for release in spring 2014.
11. In April 2014, he released a new 808 Mafia-produced song titled "Eww," named one of the five best songs of the week by XXL.
12. In July 2015, 300 Entertainment released a promotional single "Pacifier" in support of his debut album HiTunes (stylized as Hy£UN35).
13. He released the final installment of the Slime Season series, Slime Season 3, on March 26, 2016.
14. He toured the United States on his May 2016 Hi-Tunes tour, featuring artists like Dae Dae, TM88, and Rich The Kid.
15. Young Thug featured on Calvin Harris' song "Heatstroke" alongside Ariana Grande and Pharrell Williams, released in March 2017.
16. In April 2017, he announced the commercial mixtape Beautiful Thugger Girls, originally titled E.B.B.T.G., executive-produced by Drake.

Chart-Topping Hits

Young Thug has numerous hits that have topped charts and gained massive popularity.

17. He featured on Camila Cabello's single "Havana," which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 2017.
18. In September 2017, he released a joint EP with DJ Carnage titled Young Martha.
19. His album So Much Fun debuted at number one in the United States, showcasing his musical contrasts and commercial appeal.
20. He collaborated with Post Malone on the song "Goodbyes," which still receives over a million streams daily.

Influence and Style

Young Thug's influence extends beyond music, impacting fashion and culture with his unique style.

21. He is considered a pioneer of the mumble rap microgenre, characterized by his unique vocal style and delivery.
22. Known for his eccentric fashion sense, he often wears bold and unconventional outfits that reflect his artistic persona.
23. In 2019, he won his first Grammy for backing vocals and ad-libs on Childish Gambino’s "This Is America".
24. His most impressive legacy is his army of imitators, young artists who discovered that there's money and fame to be made from idiosyncratic rhymes and unconventional sounds.

Legal Troubles

Young Thug's career has also been marred by legal issues, including serious charges and trials.

25. Young Thug is accused of co-founding the Young Slime Life (YSL) gang, which has allegedly committed numerous criminal acts, including murder.
26. He was indicted along with 27 other defendants, including the hitmaking artist Gunna, and five co-defendants remain part of his trial.
27. The trial is based on racketeering statutes that make gang leaders responsible for crimes committed by their organizations.
28. The judge is permitting various Young Thug raps to be used as evidence, with lines like “… this that mob life” and “ I’m a boss, I call the shots” being cited to demonstrate his involvement in the YSL gang.
29. The trial has produced some unintentionally ludicrous moments, including when Young Thug’s lawyer said his name was an acronym for Truly Humble Under God, and a lawyer for co-defendant Yak Gotti claimed that a lyric about bodies didn’t refer to murder victims but sex partners.
30. Rap legend Fat Joe took Young Thug’s side in a recent interview with journalist Gayle King, stating that he had lied in almost 95% of his songs but was a family man and community giver.
31. The prosecution aimed to combat gang violence in Atlanta, while critics argued that the charges reflected a broader moral panic regarding rap music in America.
32. Defense attorneys unsuccessfully sought to prevent the use of rap lyrics as evidence in court, arguing that YSL was merely a successful rap group exaggerating a gangster persona for commercial appeal.
33. Young Thug pleaded guilty to participating in criminal street gang activity in a dramatic courtroom scene on Thursday, marking a surprising end to what has been the longest trial in Georgia's history.
34. The prosecution suggested a sentence of 45 years, comprising 25 years in custody followed by 20 years of probation, but the exact sentence is yet to be determined.
35. Two co-defendants, Deamonte Kendrick (Yak Gotti) and Shannon Stillwell, were set to proceed with their trial, facing charges related to a murder from 2015.
36. Another defendant, Marquavius Huey, had a murder charge dismissed in exchange for a guilty plea to a single RICO count and was sentenced to nine years in prison, minus time served, along with nine years of probation.

Impact on Music and Culture

Despite his legal troubles, Young Thug's impact on music and culture remains undeniable.

37. The proceedings involving Young Thug and his associates in YSL provided insights into what a trial against Mr. Trump could entail, including complex defense motions, high-profile defendants, significant media coverage, and the division into separate trials.
38. Central to the case was the drive-by shooting of Donovan Thomas Jr., known as Nut, which occurred in January and was linked to conflicts between YSL and Bloods factions in Atlanta.
39. Prosecutors claimed that Young Thug had sanctioned the shooting, including renting the vehicle used and providing refuge in Miami for those responsible, as part of a cycle of retaliatory violence in Atlanta.
40. The indictment included 65 counts and cited 191 overt acts in support of the conspiracy, with prosecutors attempting to demonstrate that conflicts between YSL and Bloods factions had resulted in over 50 violent incidents since 2015.
41. The trial encountered numerous difficulties from the outset, including the stabbing of Stillwell while in jail and an extended jury selection process that was expected to last between six to nine months.
42. Once the trial commenced in November, it faced setbacks due to disorganization and a series of unwilling defendants who agreed to testify against YSL after their guilty pleas.
43. Fat Joe’s reflections on his own career highlight the complexities of hip-hop, where artists often blur the lines between reality and fiction in their lyrics, leading to the "you can't put rap on trial" defense.
44. Young Thug’s legacy extends beyond his music, influencing fashion, culture, and the broader hip-hop landscape, cementing his place as one of the most influential rappers of the 21st century.

Personal Life and Influence

Young Thug's personal life and influence on other artists are also noteworthy.

45. He has influenced artists like Camila Cabello and Drake, who have collaborated with him and incorporated elements of his style into their music.
46. The Rich Gang project with fellow Atlanta MC Rich Homie Quan was a significant collaboration that fulfilled Quan’s boast of being the “hardest duo since OutKast”.
47. The first two volumes of the Slime Season series are deliriously improvised masterpieces, often overlooked because they never made it onto streaming services.
48. His 2015 project Barter 6 was his first commercial release and arguably his most innovative song, Halftime, where he introduced half-a-dozen different flows.
49. Young Thug collaborated with Gunna and Lil Baby on the track Drip or Drown 2, which reached number three on the Billboard album charts earlier this year.
50. This summer, Thug and Future announced that the little brothers would join their elders for a Super Slimey sequel, forming an Atlanta rap Avengers.

Young Thug's Impact and Legacy

Young Thug, born Jeffery Lamar Williams, has left an undeniable mark on the music industry. From his humble beginnings in Atlanta's Jonesboro South projects to becoming a global rap icon, his journey is nothing short of remarkable. Known for his unique vocal style and bold fashion choices, he's influenced countless artists and reshaped modern hip-hop and trap music.

Despite legal troubles and controversies, Thug's contributions to music and culture remain significant. His collaborations with big names like Kanye West, Drake, and Camila Cabello highlight his versatility and widespread appeal. Albums like "So Much Fun" and mixtapes such as the "Slime Season" series showcase his innovative approach to music.

Young Thug's legacy extends beyond his hits; he's a trendsetter and a pioneer. His influence will continue to shape the music landscape for years to come.