The defense for Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug, legally known as Jeffery Williams, commenced on Tuesday, with his lead attorney, Brian Steel, undertaking the task of elucidating the nuances of trap music to a jury largely unfamiliar with the genre. This legal maneuver marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing YSL RICO trial, as Steel aims to dismantle the prosecution’s narrative that casts Williams as the head of a criminal enterprise.
Steel asserted that by 2014, Young Thug had ascended to superstardom, amassing a fortune and reputation that would be jeopardized, not enhanced, by engaging in street-level criminal activities. “He is not running a criminal enterprise on Cleveland Avenue to gather money and power,” Steel argued before the Fulton County Superior Court. “He is not sitting there telling people to kill people. He doesn’t need their money. He’s worth tens of millions of dollars.” This line of defense seeks to establish a clear distinction between Young Thug the artist and the criminal figure portrayed by the prosecution.
The jury, composed of nine women and three men, predominantly over the age of 50, was intentionally selected to include individuals with limited prior knowledge of Young Thug and his music. This demographic detail underscores the educational aspect of Steel’s defense, as he must bridge a cultural gap to effectively communicate his client’s reality. Questions regarding the jurors’ familiarity with contemporary music genres were a significant part of the jury selection process, highlighting the case’s unique challenges.
Young Thug faces a conspiracy charge under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. He is among the remaining six defendants in a trial that initially included 28 individuals. The prosecution alleges that Williams utilized his record label, YSL Records, as a front for criminal activities, encompassing charges ranging from murder and gang-related offenses to illegal firearm possession. A key piece of the prosecution’s case involves accusations that Williams rented a car that was subsequently used in a drive-by shooting, directly linking him to the alleged conspiracy.
During Williams’ arrest at his Atlanta residence, law enforcement officials reported finding a Glock switch, an illegal modification that converts a handgun into a fully automatic weapon. Alongside the firearm modification, authorities also discovered substantial quantities of promethazine syrup, marijuana, and cocaine, leading to additional drug-related charges against the rapper. These findings are central to the prosecution’s attempt to paint a picture of Young Thug’s involvement in illicit activities beyond his artistic persona.
Steel’s opening statement presented Young Thug as a “studio gangster,” a persona cultivated within the realm of his music, drawing inspiration from the harsh realities of poverty in South Atlanta. He emphasized that this image is a deliberate artistic choice, influenced by icons like Lil Wayne and Tupac Shakur, who similarly incorporated elements of gangster imagery into their rap. “Lil Wayne changed the culture,” Steel stated, acknowledging the pervasive influence of gangster rap on contemporary music. Interestingly, Atlanta police detectives have previously corroborated this observation, linking the rise of Lil Wayne’s popularity to an increased association with Bloods gang affiliations, a point that may become relevant as the trial progresses. One such detective, Lakea Gaither, is listed as a potential prosecution witness.
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Brian Steel, recognized as a highly accomplished appellate attorney in Georgia with a notable record of overturned convictions, has a long-standing relationship with Williams, having represented his brother in a successful murder conviction appeal before the Georgia Supreme Court. This established rapport and Steel’s legal expertise are crucial assets for Young Thug’s defense team.
On Tuesday, Steel strategically addressed two potentially damaging aspects of the prosecution’s case: the anticipated testimony of Kenneth “Lil’ Woody” Copeland and the controversial use of Young Thug’s rap lyrics as incriminating evidence of gang activity. Copeland, expected to testify against Young Thug, is implicated in the events that escalated tensions between YSL and the rival YFN gang.
Steel preemptively discredited Copeland’s credibility, highlighting inconsistencies in his statements to law enforcement. “Nobody is saying Jeffery was at the scene of that shooting,” Steel clarified, aiming to distance his client from direct involvement in violent acts. “But after Kenneth Copeland is arrested, he tells the police lie after lie after lie after lie,” suggesting that Copeland’s testimony may be unreliable and coerced.
Addressing the contentious issue of rap lyrics, Steel argued vehemently that they should not be interpreted literally as confessions or admissions of guilt. He characterized Young Thug’s lyrics as artistic expression, aligning them with the conventions of trap music and comparable to other forms of artistic license, even drawing a parallel to the storytelling in Bruce Springsteen’s music. “These are not confessions,” Steel asserted. “They are not admissions. They are art.” However, he acknowledged the challenging legal landscape surrounding rap lyrics, stating, “But rap lyrics, you will find out, are prosecutable,” hinting at the uphill battle his defense faces in this regard. Steel’s strategy is to persuade the jury to view Young Thug not as a criminal mastermind, but as an artist whose work reflects, but does not dictate, his reality.
