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The hotly-anticipated trial of the rapper Young Thug is underway in a courtroom in Atlanta, Georgia, following almost a year of delays.
In May 2022, Young Thug, real name Jeffery Williams, was arrested and charged in a sprawling RICO indictment along with 27 other defendants.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis – who is using the same law to prosecute Donald Trump in his Georgia election interference case – accused the suspects of being part of a criminal street gang named YSL or “Young Slime Life.”
According to prosecutors, the gang is responsible for a series of violent crimes, including murders, shootings, carjackings and racketeering.
Young Thug has denied the accusations and insisted that YSL is simply Young Thug’s record label – Young Stoner Life.
After several defendants took plea deals or had their cases severed, the Grammy Award-winning rapper and five others are finally on trial.
The first expert witness testified on Wednesday. Detective Mark Belknap was frequently interrupted by objections from the defence, but managed to explain his discovery of YSL, which he described as a street gang, and told the jurors about the group’s identifiers.
The trial was hit by yet another delay after an “inadvertent recording” of some jurors in the front row, the judge said.
Detective discusses YSL identifiers
In court on Wednesday, Detective Belknap discussed some identifiers often associated with YSL, which he called a street gang.
He described a hand sign that depicts the letters Y, S, and L with fingers. The detective also talked about another hand sign in which one’s index finger sits under one’s nose.
He also said certain tattoos and clothes, like a hoodie or a hat that includes “Slime” on it.
The word “SLATT,” which apparently stands for “slime life all the time,” is often seen in graffiti and tattoos.
Kelly Rissman30 November 2023 14:00
What is a ‘studio gangster’?
Detective Belknap said the term is used when someone “takes on the persona” of being violent when entering the studio, but may not be in real life.
He said calling someone that is a “slur” and a “huge sign of disrespect” to those actually involved in a criminal gang.
Kelly Rissman30 November 2023 12:00
What are the charges against YSL members?
The YSL members named in the indictment are charged with conspiracy to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
The act is similar to its federal counterpart, which is used to convict large-scale organisations such as the mafia.
According to the indictment, associates of YSL “conspired to associate together and with others for the common purposes of illegally obtaining money and property through a pattern of racketeering activity”.
It claims that YSL members were involved in murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, theft, drug dealing, carjacking, and witness intimidation.
Other activities include “the posting of messages, images, videos and songs, demonstrating allegiance to the enterprise and willingness to engage in violence on its behalf”.
Prosecutors claim they can show that some of the group’s lyrics are related to crimes that they are accused of committing.
Through these activities and more the gang aimed to “preserve, protect, and enhance the reputation, power and territory” of the enterprise, prosecutors said.
Kelly Rissman30 November 2023 10:00
Born in 1991 as Jeffrey Lamar Williams, Young Thug is an Atlanta-born rapper. He also goes by the name Slime.
After starting his career at the age of 19, he signed with Gucci Mane’s record label, and went on to become one of the most influential artists on the contemporary hip-hop and trap music scene.
His first two albums “So Much Fun”, in 2019, and “Punk”, in 2021, debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, as did his 2021 joint compilation album with Gunna, “Slime Language 2”.
Young Thug has also featured in multiple collaborations that have earned him several number one hits.
These include guest spots on Camila Cabello’s Havana in 2018, Travis Scott and MIA’s Franchise in 2020 and Drake and Future’s Way 2 Sexy in 2021, all of which topped the Billboard Hot 100.
He also co-wrote the hit song This Is America with Childish Gambino, real name Donald Glover, which became the first hip-hop track to win Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 2019.
(2021 Invision)
Kelly Rissman30 November 2023 08:00
YSL’s ties to other gangs, according to an expert witness
30 Deep gang was based in the Mechanicsville neighbourhood and consisted of over 100 members, according to the detective. This gang was affiliated with YSL, ROC, and Goodfellas gangs, Detective Belknap added.
He said 30 Deep was identifiable by its distinctive hand signs, red bandanas, graffiti, and tattoos.
Kelly Rissman30 November 2023 06:00
Detective laid out roots of YSL
Detective Belknap described what he discovered about YSL:
- it was founded in late 2012
- it has over 100 members and associates
- many YSL members previously claimed to be members of ROC crew
- it used red and green bandanas
- “SLATT” [ slime life all the time] and snake emojis were often used by its members and assoicates
- its sometimes referred to the group as “Rudy Gang” after a member who died named Rudy
- a rivalry between Inglewood Family gang, which Donovan Thomas was allegedly a part of
- he said “Young Stoner Life” is not the same entity as “Young Slime Life”
Kelly Rissman30 November 2023 05:00
ICYMI: What is the trial about?
The rapper, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, and 27 other defendants have been charged in a sweeping 65-count indictment. Mr Williams has been charged with eight counts, including possession of a firearm while committing a felony and possession of a machine gun. He has pleaded guilty to all counts.
All defendants have been charged with racketeering. Prosecutors say YSL is a gang; the defence insists it is just a record label.
Kelly Rissman30 November 2023 04:00
Prosecutor Adriane Love asked the expert witness, “In your opinion, Young Slime Life is a criminal street gang?”
Detective Mark Belknap replied: Yes ma’am.
Kelly Rissman30 November 2023 03:00
“Truly Humble Under God”
One clip of Brian Steel, Young Thug’s lawyer, has gone viral after he told jurors that “thug” stands for “truly humble under god.”
Kelly Rissman30 November 2023 02:00
YSL’s ties to other gangs, according to an expert witness
30 Deep gang was based in the Mechanicsville neighbourhood and consisted of over 100 members, according to the detective. This gang was affiliated with YSL, ROC, and Goodfellas gangs, Detective Belknap added.
He said 30 Deep was identifiable by its distinctive hand signs, red bandanas, graffiti, and tattoos.
Kelly Rissman30 November 2023 01:00
Laura Davis is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Broadway, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
