Young Thug Opens Up About Choosing to Accept Plea Deal in RICO Case

After months of silence surrounding his headline-grabbing RICO case, Young Thug is finally opening up about the tough decision he made to accept a plea deal—one that abruptly ended his jail time but came with significant strings attached.

In a candid new interview with GQ, the Atlanta rap superstar reflected on the emotional and legal weight of agreeing to a plea deal in a case that had captivated hip-hop fans and legal observers alike. Although the plea secured Thug’s immediate release from incarceration, it also included strict conditions: a lengthy probation period, a ban from entering metro Atlanta, and limitations on what he can say online and in his lyrics—particularly anything perceived as gang-related.

“Absolutely,” Thug responded when asked whether taking the deal was a difficult choice. “Just pleading to something you know that you didn’t do is crazy. But you get a chance to keep fighting. [You can] worry about the jury’s fate, or you [can] just go ahead now and go home. It’s like—shit. Go home.”

It’s a sobering admission from an artist whose legal troubles became a lightning rod for debates over freedom of expression in rap lyrics. Thug, born Jeffery Williams, expressed frustration over how certain lines from his music were used against him in court. He explained that although he's known for rapping about “cool things,” there were a few bars that touched on street life—lyrics that prosecutors allegedly twisted into supposed proof of criminal involvement.

“I can’t do nothing like gang things or stuff like that on the internet,” Thug told GQ. “I can really talk about what I want to talk about in music. I normally rap about cool things. I just got a few lyrics where I just rap about street stuff and those are the lyrics that they tried to use against me. But most of the time I don’t rap about that type of stuff.”

One of the most controversial aspects of his plea deal is the restriction that forbids him from entering Atlanta—his hometown and the birthplace of his career. Thugger didn’t mince words when discussing the condition, describing it bluntly as “abuse.” For a rapper so deeply tied to Atlanta’s identity, being cut off from his roots seems like a particularly harsh penalty.

But despite the heavy circumstances, Thug is clearly moving forward. He’s back in the studio and already making waves. His latest track, “Money on Money” featuring Future, marks his first lead single since his release. The song is also the first glimpse of his upcoming and highly anticipated album, Uy Scuti, which is set to drop on May 9.

However, “Money on Money” isn’t just a flex track—it also appears to contain some deeply personal jabs. On the chorus, Thug raps, “These fuck n-ggas tellin’ for nothin’, and I gotta be the one callin’ ’em friends,” which many fans believe is a not-so-subtle shot at fellow YSL rapper Gunna, who also took a plea deal during the trial. Later in the track, Thug doubles down with the line, “Brother, you a rat (My brother),” and follows it up in a later verse with, “Twin, you a rat, you smoked, uh.”

These pointed bars suggest that while Thug is free physically, he’s still processing the emotional fallout from a case that fractured relationships and shook the core of his circle.

As May 9 approaches, fans are eagerly awaiting the full release of Uy Scuti—an album that promises not just musical evolution, but a deeper look into the mind of an artist who has faced some of the most high-profile legal battles in modern hip-hop. With new music, raw honesty, and an uncertain road ahead, Young Thug is navigating the next chapter of his life with resilience, even if it means rapping under restrictions and living outside of his hometown.

Source: Hiphopdx
Image: Young Thug 2018 by Young Thug is licensed under CC BY 3.0