Young Thug: Art as Evidence in the War on Gangs

Grammy-award winning rapper Young Thug is currently at the centre of one of the longest criminal trials in Georgia state history. He’s been charged alongside more than two dozen other people under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO. Prosecutors are using his rap lyrics as evidence he and a gang called YSL are involved in serious criminal activity, but his defence attorneys say Thug is entirely innocent and that he’s not running a gang, he’s running a record label. Dr Gemma Flynn unpacks this extraordinary case in her latest zine called, ‘Slime: The State of Georgia v. Young Thug, The art of evidence in the war on gangs’. In this episode of Just Humans we discuss Young Thug’s career, the trial, the lack of mainstream media attention it's received, race and politics and what impact this could all have on how rappers write lyrics. To get your own copy of Gemma’s zine please email [email protected] Instagram @gemmaflynn Gemma’s Young Thug Playlist Lifestyle by Rich Gang feat. Young Thug https://youtu.be/nGt_JGHYEO4?si=_yJQWN6_dXPyqs3R Pick up the Phone, Young Thug and Travis Scott https://youtu.be/mZDinQ92OZQ?si=qT4cWoUPmsjNASI9 Business is Business album King Slime: The Prosecution of Young Thug and YSL, iHeartPodcasts. https://www.radio.net/podcast/king-slime Additional Reading Neilson, E., Dennis, AL. and ‘Killer Mike’ (2019). Rap on Trial: Race, Lyrics, and Guilt in America. New York: New York Press Hannah-Jones, N. et al. (2019) The 1619 Project : a new origin story. First edition: New York: one World.   Hosted/produced/edited by Rachelle Cobain, SCCJR Intro/outro music: Rewind by Donna Maciocia and Sean H. Available for download from the Distant Voices EP ‘Looking at Colours Again.’ Visit the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research website www.sccjr.ac.uk to find out more about us and work.