Young Thug dons shirt that reads ‘SEX Records: Truly Humble Under God’ during ongoing RICO trial in Atlanta

• Rapper, 32, is in the midst of a RICO criminal trial in Atlanta
• His white dress shirt had an emblem and lettering on it
• The Grammy-winning artist was initially charged in 2022 [1]

By Adam S. Levy For Dailymail.com[2] and Associated Press[3]

Published: 03:21, 9 January 2024 | Updated: 03:31, 9 January 2024

Young Thug, who is in the midst of a criminal trial[4] in Atlanta, donned a white dress shirt that read SEX Records: Truly Humble Under God in a court hearing on Monday.

Young Thug, 32, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, wore a black tie to round out his ensemble, which did not interrupt proceedings in what marked the 15th day of the RICO trial[5], in which Young Thug's friend Trontavious 'Tick' Stephens testified.

A number of social media users commented on the fashion statement made by the musical artist in his court outing.

One user said, 'Mmmm, not a great choice IMO but okay,' while another commented that it was 'not the best courtroom attire.'

Said one user: 'I fear this is the attire of a man who knows he's cooked.'

Young Thug, 32, who is in the midst of a criminal trial in Atlanta, donned a white dress shirt that read SEX Records: Truly Humble Under God in a court hearing on Monday

The logo was situated on the upper chest portion of his white dress shirt

Another user commented that the 'shirt was inappropriate for court and his attorney should have advised him before court this morning!'

One user noted: 'The choice of attire in courtrooms often raises eyebrows. It'll be intriguing to see how such expressions are perceived within legal settings.'

In the trial, prosecutors allege Young Thug led a violent street gang called Young Slime Life, or YSL, that was responsible for killings, shootings, carjackings and other crimes over about a decade.

Prosecutors said allege that he used his successful music career and social media posts to promote the gang and establish its dominance.

Defense attorneys have said police and prosecutors relied heavily on jailhouse informants who had every reason to tell them what they wanted to hear.

They have also criticized prosecutors' use of rap lyrics as evidence of crimes, saying their clients' art and free expression are being improperly used against them.

The Grammy[6] winner was charged in 2022 in a sprawling indictment[7] that accused him and more than two dozen others of conspiring to violate Georgia's anti-racketeering law.

He also is charged with gang, drug and gun crimes and is standing trial with five of the others indicted with him.

Fulton County prosecutor Adriane Love didn't dispute that Young Thug is a talented artist, but she said he exploited his gift for a darker purpose, using his songs, clout and social media posts to promote and establish the dominance of his gang, Young Slime Life, or YSL.

A number of social media users commented on the fashion statement made by the musical artist in his court outing

The rapper, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, wore a black tie to round out his ensemble, which did not interrupt proceedings in what marked the 15th day of the RICO trial

The rapper was seen filing through papers during the court hearing Monday

'Through that music, through that blessing, the evidence will show, Jeffery Williams led that group of people who wreaked utter havoc on Fulton County,' Love told jurors during her opening statement November 27.

Defense attorney Brian Steel acknowledged that his client's songs mention killing police, people being shot, drugs and drive-by shootings, but he said those are just the words he rhymed and a reflection of his rough upbringing and not a chronicle of his own activities.

'They want you to fear music that talks about killing, drugs,' Steel told the jury in his opening statement Tuesday. 'It is art. You don't like it, you don't have to listen to it. This is America.

It is art.'

Steel mentioned Young Thug's collaborations with high-profile artists, appearances on television and numerous awards and riches that came with it. The rapper is so busy and successful that he wouldn't have the time or motivation to lead a gang, Steel said.

'He is not sitting there telling people to kill people,' he said. 'He doesn't need their money. Jeffrey's worth tens of millions of dollars.'

Steel noted that YSL is the name of Young Thug's successful record label, but Love said the actions outlined in the indictment 'have nothing to do with a recording label.'

The gang began about a decade ago in Atlanta's Cleveland Avenue neighborhood, born of an internal rift in a preceding gang, and Young Thug emerged as its leader, Love said.

The gang's members were 'associated in fact' - using common identifiers, language, symbols and colors - and they 'knew who their leader was and they knew the repercussions of not obeying their leader,' she said.

In the trial, prosecutors allege Young Thug led a violent street gang called Young Slime Life, or YSL, that was responsible for killings, shootings, carjackings and other crimes over about a decade

Prosecutors said allege that he used his successful music career and social media posts to promote the gang and establish its dominance

The recording artist was pictured onstage in Chicago in August of 2021

The rapper was pictured in his mug shot in May of 2022 following his arrest in the case

The people who have been affected directly and indirectly by the gang's violence represent the lives 'swallowed up by that crater created by YSL in the Cleveland Avenue community,' Love said.

Young Thug was born into poverty in a crime-ridden housing project where he developed a strong distrust of the criminal justice system, Steel said. His family moved to the Cleveland Avenue area when he was 16, and he got out through hard work and talent, Steel said. But he didn't forget his roots and has been extremely generous with his good fortune, Steel said.

'He's not the crater.

He's trying to pull people out of poverty,' Steel said.

The indictment charges all the defendants with conspiring to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. Love acknowledged that may sound complicated but told the jurors it's actually quite simple.

The members of the gang committed crimes, including murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault and theft to further the gang's mission, she said. Those actions and others that aren't crimes - rap lyrics, social media posts, flashing gang signs - combined to form a pattern of illegal activity, she said.

'They endeavored to do some illegal stuff to get a bunch of stuff that didn't belong to them,' Love said.

Prosecutors have made clear that they intend to use rap lyrics from songs by the defendants to help make their case.

This is a controversial tactic, but Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville earlier this month said he'd conditionally allow certain lyrics as long as prosecutors can show they're linked to the crimes alleged in the indictment.

Prosecutors have said they're not pursuing Young Thug and others because of violent lyrics.

'We didn't chase the lyrics to solve the murders,' Love said. 'We chased the murders and, as the evidence will show, in the process, we found the lyrics.'

References

1. ^ (www.dailymail.co.uk)
2. ^ Adam S.

   Levy For Dailymail.com (www.dailymail.co.uk)

3. ^ Associated Press (www.dailymail.co.uk)
4. ^ in the midst of a criminal trial (www.dailymail.co.uk)
5. ^ the 15th day of the RICO trial (www.youtube.com)
6. ^ Grammy (www.dailymail.co.uk)
7. ^ in 2022 in a sprawling indictment (www.dailymail.co.uk)