1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:07,400 Speaker 1: King Slime is a production of iHeart Podcasts and Heirloom Media. 2 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:09,520 Speaker 2: This is the Black Country Globe over lemm. 3 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 1: It's Saturday morning, just after ten at A and M 4 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: Barbershop in Atlanta's Castlebury Hill neighborhood on the city southwest side. 5 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 3: This barbershaw is the oldest black owned barber shop in George. 6 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 2: This is history. 7 00:00:23,239 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: AM first opened its doors in nineteen fifty six in 8 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: a deeply segregated Atlanta barber's. Derek and Carlos have been 9 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: cutting hair at this little four chair institution for decades. 10 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 2: I've been working here this ye would be twenty one e. 11 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 2: I've been a A and M barbershop for like twenty five 12 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 2: plus years. 13 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 4: This place is bustling black men filled rows of metal 14 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 4: folding chairs. They're sitting under a painting of cartoon dogs 15 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 4: getting haircuts, scrolling through their phones. A black and white 16 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 4: photo of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Junior hangs 17 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 4: over their heads. King and Malcolm are smiling, shaking hands. 18 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:03,200 Speaker 1: A poster grit with profiles displays different fade styles. The 19 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 1: bright vanity lights over the mirrors of each station reflect 20 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 1: off the brown tile floor, and of course there's the 21 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: swirling candy cane of a barber pool just outside the door. 22 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 3: You know, we come in here, we can let our 23 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 3: hair down till the few lies and laugh and watch 24 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:24,679 Speaker 3: boys and just enjoy the customers. You know, everybody got 25 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:26,279 Speaker 3: opinions about different things. 26 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 2: We taught politics, sports, no women. You know, the barber 27 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 2: shop didn't mean a whole lot to the community. 28 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 4: This isn't a Atlanta Saturday man. This is pretty much 29 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 4: how it must have felt on another Saturday. Back on 30 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 4: January tenth, twenty fifteen, As always, Carlos was on his 31 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 4: white maroon share in the back corner. 32 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 3: Well, it started out us a good day, you know, 33 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 3: everybody cut and hell we had customers outside, you know, 34 00:01:58,360 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 3: kicking awaiting to get they cuts. 35 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: It's the late afternoon, early evening. A man named Donovan 36 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 1: Thomas walks in. He's a regular from the neighborhood, big guy, 37 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 1: twenty six years old. Everyone calls him Peanut or just Nut. 38 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 1: It's been his nickname since he was little. 39 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 3: I've been on Peanut for probably twenty fifteen. Oh made 40 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 3: my thirteenth year, so I had been on at least 41 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 3: twelve thirteen years. That night he had paid for everybody 42 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,079 Speaker 3: halcut that was in him three keys. 43 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:33,679 Speaker 2: I had one coachman. 44 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 3: He paid for him, and then he also paid mister George. 45 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 2: Mister George is the owner. 46 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: When we walked into the barbershop that morning, Good Morning 47 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 1: America was blaring on the TV. But on that evening 48 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: back in January twenty fifteen, there was a big game 49 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 1: on once again. 50 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 5: January brings the Ravens to Foxboro to face Tom Brady 51 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 5: and the New England Patriots. 52 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 3: We was all geared up about playoff weekend. Right before it happened, 53 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:06,880 Speaker 3: you know, we were watching the game Baltimore versus New England, 54 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 3: and you know Peanut with Baltimore and I was telling him, 55 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,799 Speaker 3: why don't go again, Tom Brady, don't do that. 56 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:15,919 Speaker 2: He would I believe they got him to night. 57 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 1: No. 58 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,959 Speaker 2: I was like, no, don't do it. So he jumped 59 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:21,359 Speaker 2: out like fourteen zero. 60 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 3: Brady dropped back to the raven and before he could leave, 61 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 3: the low door. 62 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 4: To Amondola, he scoops it up, shakes the tackle, Amon 63 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 4: Doola dives. 64 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:33,480 Speaker 3: You know, New England came back and tied it up fourteen. 65 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 6: Up, touch down the Patrons. 66 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 4: Around seven fifteen that night, Carlos cuts off his clippers. 67 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 4: He holds a mirror up so Nut can check his fade. 68 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 4: The barber cape comes off. Nut rises from the chair. 69 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 4: He and Carlos grip hands and say goodbye. The Nut 70 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 4: walks out the door, and. 71 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 3: Then you know, out the blue, a bunch of shots 72 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 3: break out. I had ran to a coke in the back, 73 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 3: so you know, we had like a system. Somebody run 74 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 3: the aid when when you need and somebody. 75 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 2: Called nine one one. 76 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:21,039 Speaker 3: My coworker dead ran outside to run the aid to 77 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 3: whoever need because we ain't know what happened. 78 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 2: And out of nine one one call. 79 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 1: Okay, so you call nine one one and what do 80 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:31,680 Speaker 1: you tell the dispatcher. 81 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 2: That somebody was shot? 82 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 3: I didn't know who cause I never went outside. 83 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 2: And so they were telling me that they needed an ambulamp. 84 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:42,480 Speaker 3: So I relayed that missage to the arm nine one 85 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 3: one people and during that time they were like, hey, 86 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 3: tell them we need two ammulamb. I was like, damn, 87 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 3: They said we need two amulam and then they were 88 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 3: holling commotion back and forth. Then this thing, you know, 89 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 3: they were like we need a third emu lamb and 90 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,039 Speaker 3: I'm like damn, I mean the people don't got shot 91 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 3: and he you know, I stayed on the phone with 92 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 3: him for a little while, you know, damn information that. 93 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 2: I had, and he fired a guy here and took him. 94 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 2: They paul about right outside the window. 95 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:23,280 Speaker 3: And Peanut, they was shot two in the parking lot 96 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 3: and Peanut. 97 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 2: Along the sidewalk. 98 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 7: We begin tonight with a developing story. But Land the 99 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 7: police are on the scene of a trickle shooting and 100 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 7: one of the victims is a teenager. 101 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 4: It was cooled that January night in the thirties. Three 102 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 4: young men lead on the sidewalk. You could have seen 103 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 4: their breath. A team named Cordarius Sanders was shot in 104 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 4: the left ankle, a man named Reginald Hendrix was shot 105 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 4: in the groin, and Donovan Thomas was shot multiple times 106 00:05:56,480 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 4: in the chest and arm. Paramedics arrived and began treating 107 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 4: the victims. 108 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 3: And they went by with them on the garden and 109 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:08,159 Speaker 3: they looked bad at me when it all. 110 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 2: Dang dang, like you know, I ain't a good look. 111 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 4: All three victims were taken to Grady Hospital. 112 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 7: Shooting happened outside of barber shopping tonight. One victim is 113 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 7: clinging to life. 114 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 1: Sanders and Hendrick's injuries weren't life threatening, but Donovan Thomas 115 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 1: was in critical condition. His family gathered at the hospital. 116 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 1: The outlook was grim. 117 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:42,159 Speaker 4: At ten oh six pm, Thomas would die, but before 118 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:45,919 Speaker 4: he did, police alleged he whispered something to his brother. 119 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 4: For words that would change everything. Thug had me killed. 120 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 8: Two of the hottest rappers come out of Atlanta are 121 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 8: now in big legal trouble. 122 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 9: Young Thug and Gunna are facing serious charges. 123 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 8: A rapper and twenty eight other defendants charged in a 124 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 8: fifty six count indictment. 125 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:15,080 Speaker 10: That indictment alleges his YSL record label is a criminal 126 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 10: street gang that has committed murder, assault, and threats of violence. 127 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 1: Jeffrey Williams, the rap artist known as Young Thug, has 128 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,239 Speaker 1: been at the center of not just Atlanta's music scene, 129 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 1: but America's music scene for years. 130 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:33,240 Speaker 4: And now he's on trial accused of heading up a 131 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 4: violent gang responsible for murder. 132 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 1: I'm Christina Lee, a music journalist who has covered Atlanta's 133 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 1: hip hop scene for over a decade. 134 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 4: And I'm George Cheaty, a crime and politics reporter based 135 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 4: in Atlanta. 136 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: This trial changes music, This trial changes Atlanta, and we're going. 137 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 4: To tell you how this is Kings Slime. 138 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 1: The prosecution of Young Thug and YSL. 139 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 10: So. 140 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:15,480 Speaker 1: Over the past decade, Young Thug has become an international superstar, 141 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 1: cranking out hits, collaborating with everyone from Drake to Camilicabeo 142 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 1: Post Malone to Justin Bieber, amenting new artists with his 143 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:26,880 Speaker 1: label YSL But. 144 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 4: Police alleged that over the same decade, Young Thug was 145 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 4: building another organization under the name ysl One that recruited 146 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:40,600 Speaker 4: troubled youth, pedaled drugs, incited violence, and committed murder. 147 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: There's a story of his musical fortune and fame. 148 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,600 Speaker 4: And there's the story of Young Thug in street life 149 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:47,240 Speaker 4: in Atlanta. 150 00:08:50,679 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: As a music journalist, I've reported on Young Thug and 151 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 1: Gunna's careers as they skyrocketed out of South Atlanta to 152 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: become internationally known rap stars. The first time I wrote 153 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 1: for MPR Music, I wrote about Young Thug's music. The 154 00:09:05,559 --> 00:09:08,839 Speaker 1: first time I wrote for Double XL magazine, I profiled Gunna. 155 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: He fondly remembered being crowned best dressed in high school, 156 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:15,959 Speaker 1: and this was many years before Rihanna would dress is 157 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,720 Speaker 1: Gunna for Halloween. I never could have imagined that either 158 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: of their careers would lead us to this moment where 159 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 1: Atlanta's reputation as a rap capital appears to be in jeopardy. 160 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: Young Thug and Gunna were arrested at the peak of 161 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:35,080 Speaker 1: their mainstream influence. They each had number one album. 162 00:09:35,280 --> 00:09:38,360 Speaker 10: Gonna scores his second number one album as DS Forever 163 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 10: debuts atop the tally, with Young Thug achieves his. 164 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 7: Third number one as his latest released Punk Debuts in 165 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:44,440 Speaker 7: the top slot. 166 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,560 Speaker 1: Gonna attended the Mac Gala, and they both were musical 167 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 1: guests on Saturday Night Live. 168 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 3: Ladies and Gentlemen, Young Thug, Ladies and Gentlemen, Gunna or What. 169 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: And just months prior, appeared on the cover of Billboard magazine. 170 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 1: The articles tagline Young Thug and Gunna's hot streak Isn't 171 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:10,319 Speaker 1: enough for the Atlanta duo. That cover story laid out 172 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: what music journalists covering pop music had just started taking 173 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:17,680 Speaker 1: for granted, why Sell Records was a hit making label. 174 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: Young Thug won his first Grammy for his writing credits 175 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:30,200 Speaker 1: on Childish Gambinos This Is America. The Spotify playlist This 176 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: is Young Thug shows that he's this sought out feature 177 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:37,680 Speaker 1: artist for the likes of Doja Cat Future Calvin Harris 178 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: and even Elton John. But Young Thug's career started small 179 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 1: in a studio on Spring Street owned and operated by 180 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:50,080 Speaker 1: a producer named David Cunningham, better known as Dune Deal. 181 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 1: So were you always done? Deal? 182 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:56,080 Speaker 11: No Geez? 183 00:10:56,480 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: Today Dundal is thirty seven, though this was years before 184 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 1: where he'd work with artists like Kevin Gayet's low Uzi 185 00:11:02,840 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 1: Ver and Trey Songs. This was also before he'd produce 186 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:09,839 Speaker 1: Atlanta rap classics like She's Werken by cash Out and 187 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: Hannah Montana by Migos. Before all that, he grew up 188 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:18,199 Speaker 1: in New York, Arizona, and California. He'd moved to Atlanta 189 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:20,600 Speaker 1: when he was a teenager. In the year two thousand. 190 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 1: Dundal started up rapping, but quickly turned to producing instead. 191 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: Krufflow Dollar, the famous Atlanta televangelist, gave Dundal his moniker 192 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 1: and father. 193 00:11:32,679 --> 00:11:35,080 Speaker 6: I pray that you will speak through my vocal chords 194 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 6: and think through my mind, none. 195 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 2: Of me and all of you. 196 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 12: I had different names before, but it was stupid like 197 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 12: the Eagle Platinum Kid productions. And then one day I 198 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 12: happened to be making music at church. I went to 199 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 12: Kreflo Dollar's church and they had a studio in there, 200 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 12: and in the church, as I'm making music for his artists, 201 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 12: I do the beat really quick, and when he walked 202 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 12: in the room, Krauflow Dollar was like, that's a done deal. 203 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:09,079 Speaker 11: I'm gonna call you done deal. And it just stuck. 204 00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 1: Dundal continued to rub elbows with several soon to be 205 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:14,320 Speaker 1: famous people while they were still on the up and up. 206 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 12: And then after that I got with a management company 207 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 12: called Visual Grammar, and Visual Grammar did the music for 208 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:25,920 Speaker 12: Tyler Perry's plays, which I didn't know we're going to 209 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 12: turn into movies. 210 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 2: At the time. 211 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 1: But he was still working a day job at Guitar 212 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: Center to pay the bills. 213 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:34,320 Speaker 12: I happen to be working one day and this guy 214 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:36,040 Speaker 12: walks up to me while I'm making a beat on 215 00:12:36,040 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 12: the keyboard. He was like, he was like, you just 216 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 12: made that. I was like, yeah, I just made it. 217 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: The guy was an artist manager named Boo Man. He 218 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 1: told Dundal to help him pick out some studio equipment. 219 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 12: He was like, I want the best of the best 220 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:51,199 Speaker 12: equipment for my studio. So we go through and we're 221 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 12: picking everything out. He was like, all of this is yours. 222 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:58,600 Speaker 12: I have a building on Spring Street and you can 223 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:00,959 Speaker 12: come and it's yours. 224 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:02,400 Speaker 11: Just make beats from our. 225 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:06,040 Speaker 1: Artists, And soon it was where Dundeal started producing mixtapes 226 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:09,720 Speaker 1: for aspiring artists from a particular part of Atlanta. 227 00:13:09,600 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 11: Cleveland Avenue Jonesboro South. 228 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,680 Speaker 1: Cleveland Avenue is this four mile stretch of road that 229 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:22,680 Speaker 1: runs through several South Atlanta neighborhoods stricken with the city's 230 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 1: toughest economic conditions. 231 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 11: It's the gutter. 232 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:31,560 Speaker 12: So if you can compare to any other town like 233 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 12: O Block in Chicago or in California, Compton, this was 234 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:42,199 Speaker 12: the hood. This is where people are climbing out of 235 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 12: the gutter to do something. 236 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 1: Cleveland Avenue dead ends into Jonesboro Road. The Jonesboro South 237 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:52,120 Speaker 1: housing projects used to be in this area, a campus 238 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:57,120 Speaker 1: of subsidized apartments for low income, mostly black residents. And 239 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 1: when you say folks were like climbing out of the gutter, like, 240 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 1: was music looked at as their way out or how 241 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: is yeah? 242 00:14:05,080 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 11: Yeah? 243 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:07,679 Speaker 12: Yeah, music was definitely a way out for a lot 244 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 12: of people. 245 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 1: The city of Atlanta got rid of all its housing 246 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: projects outright starting in two thousand and six, but many 247 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: of the kids who grew up in Jonesboro South stayed 248 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:21,600 Speaker 1: tight as done. Deal is coming up. His name starts 249 00:14:21,640 --> 00:14:24,760 Speaker 1: getting passed around in that circle. And in two thousand 250 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: and nine, a stranger from Jonesboro South shows up to 251 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: Spring Street. 252 00:14:30,680 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 11: One day. 253 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 12: I get a knock on my door and I kind 254 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 12: of creak it open and I'm looking through and I'm like, yeah, 255 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 12: what's up? Can I help you? He was like, yeah, man, 256 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:41,520 Speaker 12: I'm gonna be the next Little Wayne. Let me in 257 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 12: your studio. Let's work. And I'm like the hell. And 258 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 12: he looks crazy. He was wearing bell bottoms and like 259 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:53,520 Speaker 12: a scarecrow hat, like a straw hat, a trench coat 260 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:56,280 Speaker 12: with the arms cut out, in a little kind of 261 00:14:56,680 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 12: cut off belly shirt. And I was like, what the 262 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 12: hell is this. He was like, I'm young thug man. 263 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 12: He was like, I'm gonna change your life. 264 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 1: Jeffrey Williams was only seventeen years old when he introduced 265 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: himself to Dundal as young thug. Now when he said 266 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 1: I'm gonna be the next Lil Wayne. I guess there's 267 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 1: two ways to read that, right. One is stylistically, two 268 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: is in like I'm gonna be as famous as Lil Wayne, 269 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 1: So like, how did you interpret that or what do 270 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:27,240 Speaker 1: you think he meant by that? 271 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 12: I interpreted as Thug knew exactly what he was going 272 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 12: to do to take it to the next level. 273 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 11: I think he had a game plan. 274 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 12: Any artists that have ever crossed my path, the only 275 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 12: person I ever wanted to sign was Thug. Like, I 276 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 12: love all my people that I've worked with, but Thug 277 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 12: was the person that came with an idea in a 278 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 12: mindset that matched his music. 279 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 1: Okay, and what did that game plan look like? 280 00:15:56,480 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 12: I mean, his game plan was to outwork every stylistically 281 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:07,680 Speaker 12: to change the sound of Atlanta music. We did three 282 00:16:07,720 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 12: mixtapes I came from nothing, one, two, and three. The 283 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 12: first one was like, you know, almost unbearable because our 284 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 12: production recording, It's kind of like it was drawn off 285 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 12: of as good as you can get. And then the 286 00:16:24,680 --> 00:16:29,000 Speaker 12: second one was you could see growth, and then the 287 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 12: third one. People started to pay attention to who Thug was. 288 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 1: At the time, artists like Ti and Young Jeezy were 289 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: big on the scene, but Dundal says that what he 290 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 1: and Young Thug were making was changing the sound of 291 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: Atlanta rap. 292 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 12: Thug brought the melodic trap sound to music. So I 293 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 12: think that was the mindset, is that Thug was on 294 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 12: the train to head somewhere and I'm going along. 295 00:16:59,560 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 2: Better. 296 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, Young Thug was already dressing the part of an 297 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 1: unconventional rap star. 298 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 12: He paid attention to fashion. He was looking up on 299 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:10,640 Speaker 12: the internet. While people are looking at you know, guns 300 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 12: and stuff like that, he's looking up European fashion talking about, oh, 301 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:17,000 Speaker 12: you see what they're wearing on the runway. 302 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:20,440 Speaker 11: This is at nineteen twenty years old. 303 00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 12: It's like, you know, that's strange, but that's good because 304 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:26,879 Speaker 12: you're gonna influence people. 305 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:30,159 Speaker 1: So he was into that from the beginning. 306 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:33,720 Speaker 12: He was putting together his own clothes, Like when I 307 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:35,439 Speaker 12: tell you he was wearing a pea coat with the 308 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 12: arms cut out of it because he cut the arms off. 309 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:42,119 Speaker 12: He was trying to create his own fashion sense. 310 00:17:43,040 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 1: Young Thug started performing at Club Crucial, a nightclub and 311 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 1: music venue owned by Rapperti. Once the club opened up 312 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:53,919 Speaker 1: in Atlanta's Bankhead neighborhood in two thousand and five, it 313 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,880 Speaker 1: quickly became a launch pad for up and coming rap artists. 314 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:59,600 Speaker 12: Rich Kids and Young Thug do a song called one 315 00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 12: hundred Dollar autograph and we shot a video there. But 316 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:06,479 Speaker 12: I remember this is when things started to look up 317 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 12: for Thug, when people started to be like, Okay, this 318 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:11,000 Speaker 12: is the guy that's gonna be the star. 319 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:17,440 Speaker 1: Within a few months, Atlanta trapstar Gucci made sign Young 320 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:18,359 Speaker 1: Though to his label. 321 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 12: Ten seventeen, he was working at Gucci Spot and Gucci 322 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:24,359 Speaker 12: asked me, done, what do you think is gonna take 323 00:18:24,800 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 12: for Thug to get to the next level? And I 324 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:30,679 Speaker 12: told him, I was like, get his teeth done. I 325 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 12: was like, he his confidence comes from how he looks. 326 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 12: If you give him the confidence, he's gonna take it 327 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:41,680 Speaker 12: to the next level. And literally within the next month, 328 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 12: Thug was like a different person and that from the 329 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:50,199 Speaker 12: time he got his teeth done. Next month we made Stoner. 330 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 12: So we did Stoner and then we started doing more 331 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 12: songs and hooking up with rich Homi Kwan and we 332 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:01,760 Speaker 12: did the Rich Gang tape literally maybe three months later. 333 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:06,440 Speaker 12: From that four months later, and then it was just uncontainable. 334 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 12: You couldn't stop him from rise. 335 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 9: I remember hearing this early stretch of Young Thug mixtapes 336 00:19:16,160 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 9: in the early twenty tens that were making a splash 337 00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:24,200 Speaker 9: online in the sort of tastemaker underground rap fan community. 338 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:28,160 Speaker 1: This is Joe Costrelly, culture reporter at the New York Times, 339 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 1: an author of Rap Capital and Atlanta Story. 340 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:34,439 Speaker 9: I remember two things about it. One is that he 341 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 9: was obviously obsessed with Lol Wayne, as many people were 342 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:41,679 Speaker 9: at that time, myself included, and that was clearly the 343 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 9: number one influence, especially the more experimental, abstract side of 344 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 9: Lol Wayne that had come about in the you know, 345 00:19:49,560 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 9: late aughts, early twenty tens. And then the other part 346 00:19:52,640 --> 00:19:55,920 Speaker 9: of it was that he was taking that experimentalism even 347 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:59,399 Speaker 9: further is doing insane things with his voice. You know, 348 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 9: it was very polarizing from the jump. He was sort 349 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 9: of you know, yelping and using auto tune as this 350 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:12,680 Speaker 9: instrument and just really stretching himself vocally, saying odd things, 351 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 9: you know, dressing oddly, and yeah, the songs just sounded 352 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 9: like nothing I'd ever heard before. 353 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 1: When Young Thug's music first hit Atlanta, rap radio and 354 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:26,719 Speaker 1: mixtape sites like Dappith, Costcarly says people didn't quite know 355 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 1: what to make of it. 356 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 6: What he was. 357 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 9: Doing was considered weird and not really rap, especially when 358 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 9: you're looking at it from a national perspective, and the 359 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:39,120 Speaker 9: sort of traditionalist rap strongholds of New York or LA. 360 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:41,919 Speaker 9: They heard a guy like Young Thug, who you know, 361 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:46,040 Speaker 9: was proudly alien in the lineage of someone like Lol 362 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 9: Wayne or Gucci Man, and it was like an affront, 363 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:52,639 Speaker 9: I think, to traditionalist taste, to classic rules of hip hop. 364 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:58,480 Speaker 1: Both the music and fashion industries couldn't help but be 365 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 1: enamored by how Young Thug was breaking the rules. By 366 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:06,360 Speaker 1: twenty fourteen, Young Thug had jumped from Gucci Mains ten 367 00:21:06,480 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 1: seventeen over to three hundred Entertainment, a label run by 368 00:21:10,480 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 1: former Warner Music execs. He also had the fashion Week 369 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 1: ready wardrobe to match his newfound status. On the cover 370 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: of his twenty sixteen album Jeffrey, Young Thug wears a 371 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 1: dress with cascading lavender ruffles on its skirt. He tips 372 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:29,679 Speaker 1: a parasol shaped hat over his face, and only a 373 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 1: few of his locks are visible. This entire ensemble was 374 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:37,040 Speaker 1: made by fashion designer Alessandro Dracone for men who want 375 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 1: to express themselves. Young Thug wouldn't fully explain the Jeffrey 376 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: cover for several more years on the song just how 377 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:48,440 Speaker 1: it is, and even then he's daring you to question 378 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:52,720 Speaker 1: his fashion choices. The lyric goes had to wear the 379 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:57,240 Speaker 1: dress because I had to stick by stick. He means 380 00:21:57,280 --> 00:21:58,720 Speaker 1: an ak forty seven. 381 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:04,920 Speaker 9: People were wondering, you know, is he straight? Is he gay? 382 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 9: Is he joking? Is he trolling? I compare him. You know, 383 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:09,919 Speaker 9: he's like in a lot of ways, like a prince 384 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:12,439 Speaker 9: like figure. I think, you know, he's sort of like 385 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 9: post genre, post gender, you know, both both tough, both 386 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:21,080 Speaker 9: masculine and feminine. And I think he just really sort 387 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:25,240 Speaker 9: of widened the parameters for what a rapper could be. 388 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 1: Between a series of hits and all the conversation he 389 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:32,879 Speaker 1: started over a new fem direction in modern hip hop style, 390 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:37,719 Speaker 1: Janta becomes more than just a successful artist. He becomes 391 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: a taste maker. 392 00:22:39,080 --> 00:22:42,200 Speaker 9: This is also a moment where every rapper coming up 393 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:46,040 Speaker 9: is also a label boss. They're also a gatekeeper. They're 394 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:49,919 Speaker 9: also a ringleader, and they're able to bring friends and 395 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:54,959 Speaker 9: artists around them with them on their rise through the mainstream. 396 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:57,919 Speaker 9: Thinking of like Odd Future and Tyler the Creator or 397 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:03,200 Speaker 9: asap Rocky and a Mob. Basically, you know, all of 398 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:05,119 Speaker 9: a sudden, we're in a new boom time for the 399 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:08,160 Speaker 9: record industry, and every rapper getting signed to a big 400 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:11,160 Speaker 9: deal is also starting their own label, starting their own imprint, 401 00:23:11,240 --> 00:23:15,359 Speaker 9: and bringing new talent with them. It's at that moment 402 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:17,920 Speaker 9: that I think Young Thug is able to really brand 403 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:19,120 Speaker 9: his own business. 404 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 1: In twenty sixteen, Young Thug launches his own imprint under 405 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:27,919 Speaker 1: three hundred Entertainment. He calls the label YSL, short for 406 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:33,280 Speaker 1: Young Stoner Life. Young Thug surrounds himself with friends and 407 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:37,480 Speaker 1: literal family. He features two of his sisters, Door and 408 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:41,239 Speaker 1: Dolly on his songs. He signs his older brother on 409 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: Funk to the label, and ysl's biggest hit making signee 410 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 1: Hills Straight from College Park out of Atlanta South Side. 411 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:52,320 Speaker 9: It's not really until the rise of Gunna a few 412 00:23:52,359 --> 00:23:55,639 Speaker 9: years later that YSL has another breakout, sort of on 413 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:57,840 Speaker 9: the on the scale of a Young Thug. 414 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:02,040 Speaker 1: Often when rap stars launch their own labels, their founders 415 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:06,720 Speaker 1: steal the spotlight from their own signees. Miraculously, that didn't 416 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 1: happen with Gunna. Instead, these two natives from Atlanta South Side, 417 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:15,720 Speaker 1: Cleveland Avenue and College Park would take the world by storm. 418 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 9: These artists were at the really at the top of 419 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:18,720 Speaker 9: their game. 420 00:24:18,800 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 4: You know. 421 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:22,439 Speaker 9: In twenty twenty one, YSL has a number one album 422 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 9: with a label compilation called Slime Language two. Gunna has 423 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 9: a number one album. Young Thug has his own number 424 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:32,679 Speaker 9: one album with Punk. They're on SNL together. 425 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:33,199 Speaker 11: You know. 426 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:36,120 Speaker 9: They have this smash single Push and Pe with Future 427 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:39,160 Speaker 9: Thug and Gunna on the same song, and they were 428 00:24:39,200 --> 00:24:42,119 Speaker 9: just really on top of the world. 429 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:48,160 Speaker 1: And then on May ninth, twenty twenty two, the music stopped. 430 00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:57,960 Speaker 4: Young Thug's house on Alison Drive is only fifteen miles 431 00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 4: north of Cleveland Avenue, but it might as well be 432 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 4: in another country. Buckhead is Balanciaga, Gucci, and Prada. It's 433 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:11,879 Speaker 4: for white women in designer clothes and black women in 434 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:14,760 Speaker 4: designer clothes who get stopped by the cops because they 435 00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:18,440 Speaker 4: don't look like they belong there. When people in Atlanta 436 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:22,080 Speaker 4: want to describe something that affects everyone, they talk about 437 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:26,160 Speaker 4: going from Bucket to Bankhead. Buckhead has restaurants that will 438 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 4: employ black people from Bankhead who can't afford to eat there. 439 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:33,879 Speaker 4: But Buckhead is where black people with money in Atlanta 440 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 4: show off. Buckhead is Real Housewives of Atlanta. 441 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:42,240 Speaker 1: White Oh not a white refuse right now? 442 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:47,160 Speaker 4: Ti and Tiny All I Won't Nell and Wood Love 443 00:25:47,160 --> 00:25:47,680 Speaker 4: and hip. 444 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 1: Hop we're here because dred. 445 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 4: On May ninth, twenty twenty two, Atlanta police took Young 446 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:58,960 Speaker 4: Thug out of his Buckhead house and handcuffs. 447 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:02,120 Speaker 10: They're appeared to be a massive presence on Allison Drive 448 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 10: and Buckhead by Atlanta police and perhaps others. 449 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:07,960 Speaker 1: The Fulham County District Attorney's Office confirms that's where Young 450 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:09,440 Speaker 1: Thug resides. 451 00:26:09,119 --> 00:26:12,479 Speaker 13: Or authorties rated the rapper's buck at home as investigators arrested. 452 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:14,680 Speaker 13: The thirty year old Young Thug, whose real name is 453 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 13: Jeffrey Lamar Williams, is one of twenty eight defendants charged 454 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 13: in a sweeping fifty six count indictment against the criminal 455 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 13: street gang Young Slime Life, also known as Wysel. 456 00:26:24,800 --> 00:26:27,280 Speaker 4: They found him with his friends and label mates Diamante 457 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:32,479 Speaker 4: Kendrick the Rapper, Yack Cotty, and Martinez Arnold the Rapper 458 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:35,760 Speaker 4: Little Duke. Police say they also found him with twenty 459 00:26:35,800 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 4: bottles of YSL Slime Drink, a THHC concoction his label 460 00:26:39,840 --> 00:26:44,680 Speaker 4: has been marketing in North Carolina. They found almost three 461 00:26:44,720 --> 00:26:49,680 Speaker 4: pounds of weed, thirty one bottles of lean that's promethazine 462 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:55,199 Speaker 4: coding serru Bo's Schedule five controlled substance, and they found guns. 463 00:26:56,119 --> 00:27:01,520 Speaker 4: One of those was a switch a handgun modified fire 464 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:02,879 Speaker 4: as a machine gun. 465 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:06,040 Speaker 11: Those are very illegal. 466 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:11,440 Speaker 4: It's the sort of thing one absolutely does not want 467 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:15,240 Speaker 4: to be caught with. But Young Thug must have known 468 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:18,399 Speaker 4: the police were coming, because even I knew they were coming. 469 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 4: Young Thug has been on gang investigator's radar for about 470 00:27:24,520 --> 00:27:29,120 Speaker 4: a decade. I had no idea who he was. I mean, 471 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:32,159 Speaker 4: I recognized the name, but I didn't realize he was 472 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:35,880 Speaker 4: a big deal or potentially the target of an investigation 473 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:39,480 Speaker 4: until I started reading a different indictment. 474 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:43,919 Speaker 5: Knew at six, a massive gang indictment in Fulton County 475 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:47,840 Speaker 5: charged a dozen people with a racketeering conspiracy, including a 476 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:50,040 Speaker 5: famous musical artist, YF and Lucci. 477 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 4: A year before police arrested Young Thug. Police arrested YFN Lucci. 478 00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:58,680 Speaker 11: You know, you know, stay a hustle trying to get 479 00:27:58,760 --> 00:27:59,440 Speaker 11: rich and rich. 480 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 4: Lucci is Rayshon Bennett. He's a rapper from Atlanta's Southside 481 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:08,080 Speaker 4: and arrival for Young Thug in the studio and in 482 00:28:08,119 --> 00:28:13,600 Speaker 4: the streets. He's the front man for YFN Young Flyden, 483 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:17,600 Speaker 4: which police describe as a street gang that started in 484 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:21,919 Speaker 4: Atlanta's Summer Hill neighborhood. Fannie Willis picked up YFN on 485 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:24,840 Speaker 4: a one hundred and five count gang indictment a year 486 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:31,359 Speaker 4: before Young Thug's arrest. Prosecutors referenced YSL seven times in 487 00:28:31,400 --> 00:28:36,280 Speaker 4: the indictment. They said a ward broken out that YFN 488 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 4: and their allies in another camp Bird gang believed YSL 489 00:28:40,880 --> 00:28:46,360 Speaker 4: was responsible for the death of Donovan Thomas. Police suspected 490 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:52,640 Speaker 4: Peanut Thomas was affiliated with YFN, so I dug in 491 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 4: the more questions, I asked that the more it became 492 00:28:56,280 --> 00:29:00,280 Speaker 4: clear that the cops believed Young Thug was at the 493 00:29:00,320 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 4: center of this swirling chaos of street violence between two 494 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:10,040 Speaker 4: warring camps, and then one by one, shoes began to drop. 495 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:17,200 Speaker 4: On April twenty fifth, twenty twenty one, Young Thug and 496 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 4: Gunna bailed out a handful of people from the Fulton 497 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:23,080 Speaker 4: County jail, including one person facing a murder charge who 498 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:26,480 Speaker 4: was released on bond as a mistake rappers. 499 00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:29,920 Speaker 12: Young Thug and Gunna posted bond for thirty inmates stuck 500 00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 12: in jail facing minor charges. Those inmates could not afford 501 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:34,280 Speaker 12: bail by themselves. 502 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:41,680 Speaker 4: It wasn't thirty, it was six. Then Kenneth Copeland Lillwoody 503 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:45,360 Speaker 4: to his friends and one of Lyaseel's core crew got 504 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:47,080 Speaker 4: arrested in South Fulton. 505 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:50,560 Speaker 13: But police arrested Copeland on October twenty seventh, after they 506 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:53,280 Speaker 13: say he was caught driving in his girlfriend's car with 507 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 13: a loaded gun inside. 508 00:29:54,960 --> 00:30:00,600 Speaker 4: A few days later, Copeland's girlfriend South Fulton comp well 509 00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:03,440 Speaker 4: for trying to delete evidence from his phone. 510 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:05,360 Speaker 6: A former officer accused of trying to help get a 511 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:08,080 Speaker 6: gang member back onto the streets the Laisse. 512 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:10,200 Speaker 2: The pair was in a relationship. 513 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:15,840 Speaker 4: About three months later, in February, an Atlanta cop got 514 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:20,080 Speaker 4: shot six times while serving a warrant on Christian Eppinger. 515 00:30:20,640 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 13: According to the warrants, Hevinger pushed Rogers away, pulled out 516 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:25,840 Speaker 13: a gun, and shot the officer four times in the shoulder, 517 00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 13: once in his leg, and once in the back of 518 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:28,280 Speaker 13: his head. 519 00:30:28,640 --> 00:30:33,800 Speaker 4: People were shocked and outraged, but almost as a footnote, 520 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:37,840 Speaker 4: we found out that the alleged shooter was affiliated with YSL. 521 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:44,560 Speaker 4: Two days after Eppinger was arrested, someone tried to kill 522 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:49,200 Speaker 4: Young Thug's main rival, the rapper Yafn Lucci in jail. 523 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:53,440 Speaker 4: He was allegedly shanked by a YSL affiliate who is 524 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 4: facing charges in the Rico indictment, and then in March 525 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:00,200 Speaker 4: twenty twenty two, the mother of one of you Young 526 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:02,960 Speaker 4: Thug's children was shot and killed in an argument at 527 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:05,480 Speaker 4: a bowling alley near Cleveland Avenue. 528 00:31:05,640 --> 00:31:07,440 Speaker 5: Police looking for the ball who shot and killed a 529 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 5: thirty one year old woman during an argument over a 530 00:31:10,960 --> 00:31:11,680 Speaker 5: bowling ball. 531 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:16,640 Speaker 4: Police and family members loudly denied that her death had 532 00:31:16,840 --> 00:31:21,200 Speaker 4: anything to do with the street feud, but by then 533 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:26,240 Speaker 4: people watching all of this unfold understood that something was coming. 534 00:31:29,240 --> 00:31:31,920 Speaker 4: Young Thug had a concert scheduled in April at State 535 00:31:31,960 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 4: Farm Arena. With all the drama swirling around him and 536 00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:40,280 Speaker 4: the murder of his child's mother, the promoter postponed it 537 00:31:40,320 --> 00:31:44,440 Speaker 4: to June, but they didn't make it to June. Young 538 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:47,560 Speaker 4: Thug was arrested in May. Police picked him up with 539 00:31:47,600 --> 00:31:50,080 Speaker 4: Little Duke and Yak Gatti in his house and buckhead 540 00:31:50,720 --> 00:31:54,560 Speaker 4: that Monday in twenty twenty two was the last day 541 00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:58,320 Speaker 4: Young Thug has been seen in public as a freeman. 542 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:02,600 Speaker 4: Young Thug has been a target of the police since 543 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:06,680 Speaker 4: the shooting of Donovan Thomas. He faces eight counts in 544 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:12,760 Speaker 4: the now sixty five count indictment, and those counts accuse 545 00:32:12,840 --> 00:32:14,920 Speaker 4: him of being the leader of a gang as a 546 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:20,120 Speaker 4: violation of the state's racketeering and gang laws. The indictment 547 00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:23,480 Speaker 4: alleges that the Young Stoner Life label is also the 548 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:27,920 Speaker 4: Young Slime Life street gang, that it has murdered three 549 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:32,240 Speaker 4: people and tried to kill many others, committed robberies and 550 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:36,440 Speaker 4: traffick and drugs, and if you're the leader, all of 551 00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:38,080 Speaker 4: those crimes lay on your head. 552 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:41,520 Speaker 10: We'll ask on the different charges for the maximum penalties, 553 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:44,040 Speaker 10: and there's obviously many people that are looking at life 554 00:32:44,440 --> 00:32:45,360 Speaker 10: under this indictment. 555 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:48,920 Speaker 4: The most serious charge against Young Thug in the indictment 556 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:51,920 Speaker 4: alleges that he rented the car used in the drive 557 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:56,000 Speaker 4: by killing of Donovan Thomas. But it's more than that. 558 00:32:56,400 --> 00:33:00,120 Speaker 4: Throughout the indictment, prosecutors say Young Thug spurred other members 559 00:33:00,120 --> 00:33:03,640 Speaker 4: of Yesel to commit acts of violence. Prosecutors used the 560 00:33:03,720 --> 00:33:07,320 Speaker 4: drugs and guns found at his house, alongside lyrics and 561 00:33:07,440 --> 00:33:10,760 Speaker 4: social media posts, to craft an image of Young Thug 562 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:14,840 Speaker 4: as a kingpin and his friends his willing associates. The 563 00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:18,480 Speaker 4: DA claims lyrics were more than just musical expression, that 564 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:21,120 Speaker 4: they were a means of promoting the gang, making it 565 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:23,720 Speaker 4: more attractive for others to join in a method to 566 00:33:23,760 --> 00:33:28,959 Speaker 4: intimidate gang rivals. But if this trial were only about 567 00:33:29,160 --> 00:33:33,920 Speaker 4: rap music lyrics, it wouldn't be half as interesting as 568 00:33:34,040 --> 00:33:45,960 Speaker 4: the full story. From twenty twenty to twenty twenty two, 569 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:51,000 Speaker 4: Atlanta went through an unprecedented rise in violence. Prosecutors say 570 00:33:51,120 --> 00:33:55,600 Speaker 4: gang crime drove that violence. District Attorney Fani Willis said 571 00:33:55,680 --> 00:33:58,920 Speaker 4: so at the press conference announcing the young Thug indictment. 572 00:33:59,680 --> 00:34:03,840 Speaker 10: As the District Attorney of Fulton County, my number one 573 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:07,720 Speaker 10: focus is targeting gangs, and there's a reason for that. 574 00:34:08,360 --> 00:34:13,560 Speaker 10: They are committing conservatively seventy five to eighty percent of 575 00:34:13,640 --> 00:34:15,759 Speaker 10: all of the violent crime that we are seeing within 576 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:16,520 Speaker 10: our community. 577 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:19,560 Speaker 4: Is that actually true? 578 00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:23,120 Speaker 1: The DA says that it doesn't matter whether these gangs 579 00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:24,879 Speaker 1: are involved in the music business. 580 00:34:25,480 --> 00:34:27,960 Speaker 10: It does not matter what your notoriety is, what your 581 00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:31,960 Speaker 10: fame is. If you come to Fulton County, Georgia and 582 00:34:32,040 --> 00:34:35,520 Speaker 10: you commit crimes, and certainly if those crimes are in 583 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:39,120 Speaker 10: furtherance of a street gang, that you are going to 584 00:34:39,160 --> 00:34:43,680 Speaker 10: become a target and a focus of this District Attorney's office, 585 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:46,200 Speaker 10: and we are going to prosecute you to the fullest 586 00:34:46,239 --> 00:34:47,000 Speaker 10: extent of the law. 587 00:34:47,520 --> 00:34:50,400 Speaker 1: So we'll arresting rappers lead to less violence. 588 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:55,200 Speaker 4: Can Atlanta prosecute its way to safety? Can you actually 589 00:34:55,280 --> 00:34:59,479 Speaker 4: put enough gangsters in prison to reduce crime without trying 590 00:34:59,560 --> 00:35:06,520 Speaker 4: to direct we change a place like Cleveland Avenue? Three 591 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:09,879 Speaker 4: years ago, Atlanta was on a black Lives matter path. 592 00:35:11,239 --> 00:35:14,680 Speaker 4: The current District Attorney, Fannie Willis was elected in part 593 00:35:14,719 --> 00:35:18,839 Speaker 4: because her predecessor, Paul Howard fumbled the politics of the 594 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:23,279 Speaker 4: summer of George Floyd protests. Two Atlanta cops killed a 595 00:35:23,360 --> 00:35:27,080 Speaker 4: man named ray Shard Brooks after a scuffle at a 596 00:35:27,120 --> 00:35:36,839 Speaker 4: drunk driving stop at a Wendy's. Howard was facing accusations 597 00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:41,240 Speaker 4: of corruption and up for reelection against Willis, an able challenger, 598 00:35:42,040 --> 00:35:47,080 Speaker 4: Howard quickly issued murder charges, but charging two cops with 599 00:35:47,239 --> 00:35:51,440 Speaker 4: murdered days after demonstrators burned a Wendy's to the ground 600 00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:55,000 Speaker 4: in protest looked like a political move to save his 601 00:35:55,040 --> 00:35:59,320 Speaker 4: own skin. The counter protest by police and the public 602 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:03,120 Speaker 4: backlash cost him enough support to give Willis the seat. 603 00:36:03,800 --> 00:36:07,240 Speaker 5: It is the end of a decade's long era Fawnie 604 00:36:07,239 --> 00:36:11,320 Speaker 5: Willis defeating her old boss, incumbent Fulton County District Attorney 605 00:36:11,360 --> 00:36:14,359 Speaker 5: Paul Howard, in the runoff election, and she did so 606 00:36:14,480 --> 00:36:15,880 Speaker 5: by a large margin. 607 00:36:16,280 --> 00:36:21,200 Speaker 4: La tonin crime shifted almost immediately as the news filled 608 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:24,759 Speaker 4: with stories of club murders and highway shooting gunfire. 609 00:36:24,840 --> 00:36:27,320 Speaker 6: That's right, so right now Atlanta police are investigating in 610 00:36:27,400 --> 00:36:30,960 Speaker 6: early morning shooting. It happened outside the Marquette Lounge in 611 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:31,920 Speaker 6: northwest Atlanta. 612 00:36:32,040 --> 00:36:34,840 Speaker 7: Atlanta police are investigating a deadly double shoot. 613 00:36:34,920 --> 00:36:35,480 Speaker 1: Now they're shooting. 614 00:36:35,520 --> 00:36:38,040 Speaker 5: A man is dead after bullets rang out in the 615 00:36:38,080 --> 00:36:40,680 Speaker 5: parking lot of a popular Atlanta. 616 00:36:40,239 --> 00:36:43,600 Speaker 8: Lounge when Atlanta police say five people were shot near 617 00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:44,200 Speaker 8: the lounge. 618 00:36:44,239 --> 00:36:46,840 Speaker 5: More than a dozen people injured by gunfire. 619 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:48,520 Speaker 13: We do you know that this started with a fight 620 00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:50,800 Speaker 13: inside of the Club Blue Lounge. 621 00:36:50,840 --> 00:36:53,960 Speaker 5: At some point it was taken outside and someone pulled 622 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:55,920 Speaker 5: a gun and started shooting. 623 00:36:56,840 --> 00:37:00,480 Speaker 4: Activists had been demanding to shut the city jailed down 624 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:04,120 Speaker 4: and move money out of police budgets and into social services. 625 00:37:04,040 --> 00:37:06,320 Speaker 11: Closed the Atlanta City Detention Center. 626 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:13,680 Speaker 4: Now Atlanta was funding police projects and complaining about how 627 00:37:13,680 --> 00:37:18,160 Speaker 4: people facing serious charges weren't getting prison time. Atlanta literally 628 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:21,480 Speaker 4: added new sheriff in down. Voters threw the old one 629 00:37:21,480 --> 00:37:23,560 Speaker 4: out of office at the same time that they elected 630 00:37:23,560 --> 00:37:28,000 Speaker 4: Willis and Willis is already known for being tough on crime. 631 00:37:33,360 --> 00:37:36,960 Speaker 4: As an assistant DA Back in twenty fourteen, Fannie Willis 632 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:40,799 Speaker 4: helped prosecute Atlanta Public School teachers and principles associated with 633 00:37:40,920 --> 00:37:45,640 Speaker 4: a cheating scandal, a scandal that rocked the city and 634 00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:47,160 Speaker 4: made national headlines. 635 00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:52,239 Speaker 2: The Fulton County Grand jury has returned an indictment that 636 00:37:52,360 --> 00:37:57,560 Speaker 2: contains sixty five counts against thirty five defendants. 637 00:37:57,960 --> 00:38:01,680 Speaker 4: Teachers went on trial for fixing state classroom achievement tests 638 00:38:01,719 --> 00:38:04,240 Speaker 4: to win bonuses and raise school rankings. 639 00:38:05,280 --> 00:38:07,760 Speaker 2: Some went to prison this morning. 640 00:38:07,840 --> 00:38:11,319 Speaker 6: Ten Atlanta Public School educators now out on bond after 641 00:38:11,360 --> 00:38:14,040 Speaker 6: a judge sendens them to prison on Tuesday for a 642 00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:18,880 Speaker 6: year's long cheating scandal changing answers on standardized tests. 643 00:38:19,200 --> 00:38:21,600 Speaker 4: Now, as we work on this show, we don't know 644 00:38:21,600 --> 00:38:24,919 Speaker 4: what Fannie Willis will do with Donald Trump. We don't 645 00:38:24,920 --> 00:38:27,840 Speaker 4: know if he will be charged personally with crimes of 646 00:38:27,880 --> 00:38:29,640 Speaker 4: election interference from twenty twenty. 647 00:38:30,040 --> 00:38:34,640 Speaker 12: I just want to find eleven thousand, seven hundred and 648 00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:36,560 Speaker 12: eighty votes. 649 00:38:37,200 --> 00:38:39,760 Speaker 4: But she's warned law enforcement to get ready. 650 00:38:40,760 --> 00:38:44,680 Speaker 8: Fulton County's district attorney has put area law enforcement officials 651 00:38:44,680 --> 00:38:48,640 Speaker 8: on standby for possible unrest. This summer when she says 652 00:38:48,680 --> 00:38:51,320 Speaker 8: she may announce charging decisions. 653 00:38:51,960 --> 00:38:55,160 Speaker 4: And it's not hard to see the YSL trial as 654 00:38:55,200 --> 00:38:58,719 Speaker 4: a dry run for a political circus in court in 655 00:38:58,760 --> 00:38:59,560 Speaker 4: an election year. 656 00:39:06,719 --> 00:39:12,640 Speaker 1: Protesters against cop City, the controversial ninety million dollar police facility, 657 00:39:12,680 --> 00:39:15,680 Speaker 1: say that the DA's office will likely press RICO charges 658 00:39:15,719 --> 00:39:19,960 Speaker 1: on them as well. RICO stands for Racketeer, Influence and 659 00:39:19,960 --> 00:39:23,600 Speaker 1: Corrupt Organizations Act, and it's both a state and federal 660 00:39:23,680 --> 00:39:27,160 Speaker 1: law used to prosecute groups of people in criminal conspiracies. 661 00:39:27,880 --> 00:39:32,440 Speaker 1: Defense attorneys on the y Cell case say loudly that 662 00:39:32,520 --> 00:39:35,960 Speaker 1: Willis is abusing George's RICO law in all of these cases, 663 00:39:36,560 --> 00:39:40,160 Speaker 1: especially the one being made against young Thug and Gunna. 664 00:39:40,239 --> 00:39:43,640 Speaker 1: After all, Rigo was originally written to put mobsters to 665 00:39:43,680 --> 00:39:47,200 Speaker 1: trial crime families like the Gambinos and Colombos. 666 00:39:47,640 --> 00:39:50,960 Speaker 4: Maybe there's an argument to be made. Is this the 667 00:39:50,960 --> 00:39:54,480 Speaker 4: final nail in the coffin for criminal justice reform in Atlanta? 668 00:39:55,440 --> 00:39:58,839 Speaker 4: And does this send a signal to other cities that 669 00:39:58,880 --> 00:40:01,759 Speaker 4: they can do the same. It's hard to find a 670 00:40:01,760 --> 00:40:03,680 Speaker 4: bigger symbol than this case. 671 00:40:04,600 --> 00:40:07,719 Speaker 1: When Finie Willis addressed the media about the YSL indictment 672 00:40:07,840 --> 00:40:11,279 Speaker 1: in May twenty twenty two, She called George's Rico law 673 00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:12,759 Speaker 1: a powerful tool. 674 00:40:12,880 --> 00:40:16,160 Speaker 10: It is certainly a tool that I believe in. The 675 00:40:16,239 --> 00:40:18,040 Speaker 10: reason that I believe in it as a tool is 676 00:40:18,080 --> 00:40:21,360 Speaker 10: it allows juries and the communities to see the complete 677 00:40:21,400 --> 00:40:24,000 Speaker 10: picture of a crime, so they can truly be educated 678 00:40:24,040 --> 00:40:26,799 Speaker 10: and have facts to weigh when they're making decisions. And 679 00:40:26,880 --> 00:40:29,919 Speaker 10: so if you're asking, should you expect to see other 680 00:40:30,040 --> 00:40:33,960 Speaker 10: reco indictments against under other street gang organizations. 681 00:40:34,040 --> 00:40:38,239 Speaker 1: Absolutely, But she wasn't just thinking about the future of 682 00:40:38,320 --> 00:40:42,960 Speaker 1: crime in Atlanta. She was also thinking back to January tenth, 683 00:40:43,120 --> 00:40:44,280 Speaker 1: twenty fifteen. 684 00:40:45,120 --> 00:40:48,000 Speaker 10: I sat down with mister Thomas's mother, and I made 685 00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:51,279 Speaker 10: her a promise that her son was as valuable as 686 00:40:51,320 --> 00:40:54,440 Speaker 10: any other person within our community, and that I would 687 00:40:54,440 --> 00:40:57,239 Speaker 10: put resources on this case and that I would do 688 00:40:57,320 --> 00:41:04,080 Speaker 10: everything I could to make sure that her son had justice. 689 00:41:04,920 --> 00:41:08,040 Speaker 1: We came to an m barbershop because that's where Donovan 690 00:41:08,080 --> 00:41:11,640 Speaker 1: Thomas was gunned down. He spent his last few moments 691 00:41:11,680 --> 00:41:16,439 Speaker 1: in Carlos's chair, watching football and shooting the shit. That's 692 00:41:16,480 --> 00:41:19,959 Speaker 1: what people do in a barbershop. We wanted to know 693 00:41:20,040 --> 00:41:22,520 Speaker 1: how this case was being talked about in a place 694 00:41:22,600 --> 00:41:23,680 Speaker 1: so pivotal to it. 695 00:41:25,120 --> 00:41:27,719 Speaker 4: Does music come up? Does this case come up? 696 00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:32,680 Speaker 2: You know, there's the talk of probably the globe right now. 697 00:41:33,080 --> 00:41:36,479 Speaker 1: You know what opinions have folks had about it? I guess, oh, they. 698 00:41:36,560 --> 00:41:37,560 Speaker 2: Had a mixed opinion. 699 00:41:37,680 --> 00:41:42,799 Speaker 3: Some people, you know, saying that it's case where they 700 00:41:42,840 --> 00:41:44,840 Speaker 3: think that he gonna get out, you know they. 701 00:41:45,840 --> 00:41:47,640 Speaker 2: Well, some people saying that he finished. 702 00:41:49,960 --> 00:41:52,359 Speaker 3: And you know, I just don't know. I just had 703 00:41:52,440 --> 00:41:54,239 Speaker 3: to wait and see. 704 00:41:56,360 --> 00:42:00,240 Speaker 4: This case and the trial have been surprising in many ways, 705 00:42:00,760 --> 00:42:03,560 Speaker 4: so is the reaction to it. You sort of think, 706 00:42:03,600 --> 00:42:05,520 Speaker 4: you know what someone might say about it, and nothing. 707 00:42:05,560 --> 00:42:09,400 Speaker 4: They make you think twice, like when Carlos the barber 708 00:42:09,480 --> 00:42:11,239 Speaker 4: put blame for all of this in a place we 709 00:42:11,280 --> 00:42:13,200 Speaker 4: didn't expect a. 710 00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:14,640 Speaker 2: Lot of thing that happening. 711 00:42:15,880 --> 00:42:16,760 Speaker 11: Due to the music. 712 00:42:18,360 --> 00:42:20,000 Speaker 2: Six virus and drugs. 713 00:42:20,880 --> 00:42:25,640 Speaker 3: And if you listen to the number one top ten songs, 714 00:42:27,160 --> 00:42:29,600 Speaker 3: listen to what they're saying, and then you put on 715 00:42:29,680 --> 00:42:33,280 Speaker 3: the evening news, then you see what they saying. 716 00:42:34,239 --> 00:42:36,200 Speaker 4: Do you think the music reflects what's actually going on 717 00:42:36,280 --> 00:42:36,720 Speaker 4: in the street? 718 00:42:38,040 --> 00:42:38,560 Speaker 2: Exactly? 719 00:42:39,560 --> 00:42:43,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, everything they talk about in the song is happening. 720 00:42:45,880 --> 00:42:50,440 Speaker 3: Kick your doe down, dog, get kicked down? Which man 721 00:42:50,520 --> 00:42:56,480 Speaker 3: you blocked blocked in Schman, people getting shot, you know, robbed, 722 00:42:56,520 --> 00:43:00,040 Speaker 3: all counter stuff, and that's what the music is talking about. 723 00:43:00,200 --> 00:43:03,040 Speaker 1: Day and so, just so I understand, you're saying the 724 00:43:03,520 --> 00:43:07,640 Speaker 1: music kind of like if it's a chicken versus egg situation, right, 725 00:43:07,680 --> 00:43:09,839 Speaker 1: you're saying the music leads to the violence, or that 726 00:43:09,880 --> 00:43:11,640 Speaker 1: the violence is reflected in the music. 727 00:43:12,080 --> 00:43:17,640 Speaker 3: It's more like a trigger. The music trigger the mind. See, 728 00:43:17,760 --> 00:43:22,399 Speaker 3: music is universe. If we can change that and get 729 00:43:22,400 --> 00:43:25,319 Speaker 3: people to start talking about more positive stuff, then you 730 00:43:25,360 --> 00:43:29,200 Speaker 3: can reprobate the mind. Once you get the mind reprobated, 731 00:43:29,600 --> 00:43:33,080 Speaker 3: then people start having different actions, better ashes. 732 00:43:34,120 --> 00:43:35,800 Speaker 2: And so that's my theory. 733 00:43:36,120 --> 00:43:41,640 Speaker 3: Change the dynamics of the music, then you change your thinking, 734 00:43:42,520 --> 00:43:43,439 Speaker 3: especially of the young. 735 00:43:44,680 --> 00:43:46,640 Speaker 4: That doesn't sound like it's easy to do, though. 736 00:43:48,320 --> 00:43:56,520 Speaker 3: Now it ain't nothing good come easy, nothing good call leasy. 737 00:44:00,560 --> 00:44:03,439 Speaker 4: As a political journalist, I've been thinking long and hard 738 00:44:04,000 --> 00:44:08,960 Speaker 4: about what happens when crime arises. Politicians do whatever they 739 00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:10,680 Speaker 4: have to do to stay in office, even if it 740 00:44:10,719 --> 00:44:14,280 Speaker 4: means walking back promises to reform the criminal justice system. 741 00:44:14,840 --> 00:44:17,400 Speaker 4: I came across the YSL case almost by accident as 742 00:44:17,440 --> 00:44:19,279 Speaker 4: I was looking at how a people in power were 743 00:44:19,400 --> 00:44:23,319 Speaker 4: getting a gang crime. But now I'm looking at how 744 00:44:23,360 --> 00:44:27,960 Speaker 4: this case speaks to the larger issues. Prosecuting Young Thug 745 00:44:28,120 --> 00:44:30,440 Speaker 4: is symbolic of bigger things. 746 00:44:31,080 --> 00:44:34,240 Speaker 1: In this show, you're going to hear from everybody about 747 00:44:34,239 --> 00:44:36,640 Speaker 1: who Young Thug is and what the significance of this 748 00:44:36,719 --> 00:44:39,680 Speaker 1: trial could be. You're going to hear about the murders 749 00:44:39,719 --> 00:44:42,799 Speaker 1: and all of the different people involved, and we'll talk 750 00:44:42,840 --> 00:44:45,400 Speaker 1: about the controversial use of lyrics as evidence. 751 00:44:46,160 --> 00:44:49,319 Speaker 4: We have different questions. What doesn't mean to be a 752 00:44:49,360 --> 00:44:52,719 Speaker 4: real street rapper in Atlanta? Are people making more out 753 00:44:52,719 --> 00:44:56,560 Speaker 4: of gang violence than is real? How are people actually 754 00:44:56,600 --> 00:45:00,960 Speaker 4: living in the places that create this music? Connected? Is 755 00:45:01,080 --> 00:45:03,480 Speaker 4: music to real street life in Atlanta? 756 00:45:04,560 --> 00:45:08,120 Speaker 1: If Young Thug is convicted, what does that mean for music? 757 00:45:09,120 --> 00:45:12,640 Speaker 1: What does it mean for Atlanta as hip hop's mecca? 758 00:45:12,719 --> 00:45:15,920 Speaker 1: If street gangs are really and truly part of musical 759 00:45:15,920 --> 00:45:20,200 Speaker 1: life in Atlanta and we're trying to fight gangs, are 760 00:45:20,239 --> 00:45:22,640 Speaker 1: we going to have to fight music at the same time? 761 00:45:23,680 --> 00:45:26,960 Speaker 4: Atlanta is split in a dozen different ways. The street 762 00:45:27,000 --> 00:45:29,839 Speaker 4: is only one part of this city, the part people 763 00:45:29,880 --> 00:45:32,400 Speaker 4: who listen to Atlanta trap music are most familiar with. 764 00:45:32,840 --> 00:45:37,320 Speaker 4: But we're talking to everyone from folks on Cleveland. 765 00:45:36,880 --> 00:45:40,000 Speaker 1: Avenue, young thugs, home turf to the movers. 766 00:45:39,560 --> 00:45:41,680 Speaker 4: And shakers, and politics. 767 00:45:41,000 --> 00:45:44,800 Speaker 1: And business from cops to crooks and to regular people. 768 00:45:45,400 --> 00:45:49,000 Speaker 4: This case affects the whole city and the whole country. 769 00:45:49,520 --> 00:45:51,440 Speaker 1: Some of the ways might surprise you. 770 00:45:53,320 --> 00:46:03,080 Speaker 4: This is King's Slime. Next time on Kingslime. 771 00:46:04,120 --> 00:46:07,560 Speaker 11: From I seventy five to Jonesborough Road. 772 00:46:07,680 --> 00:46:10,879 Speaker 14: That part of Cleveland Avenue would be called Cleveland Now 773 00:46:11,719 --> 00:46:16,880 Speaker 14: kill us why because it's dominated by blood sets. 774 00:46:17,200 --> 00:46:19,239 Speaker 1: He was a young thud when I met he was 775 00:46:19,320 --> 00:46:22,399 Speaker 1: Jeffrey Williams. He was a part of a hybrid game 776 00:46:22,520 --> 00:46:22,919 Speaker 1: rock crew. 777 00:46:23,360 --> 00:46:26,440 Speaker 14: See, people think gangs is a hate thing, when gangs 778 00:46:26,520 --> 00:46:30,440 Speaker 14: is actually a love thing, right, meaning, these are my friends. 779 00:46:30,480 --> 00:46:32,200 Speaker 11: I grew up with them, I loved them. 780 00:46:32,360 --> 00:46:36,520 Speaker 6: Their method of engaging in social control has. 781 00:46:36,400 --> 00:46:39,240 Speaker 11: To do with using violence and force, and it's. 782 00:46:39,080 --> 00:46:41,839 Speaker 3: Inevitable that it's gonna spread when you've got combatants that 783 00:46:42,000 --> 00:46:44,920 Speaker 3: don't see a preak future for themselves and know that 784 00:46:44,960 --> 00:46:47,080 Speaker 3: you know, it's a it's a killer be killed kind of. 785 00:46:47,000 --> 00:46:49,759 Speaker 11: A world out there. Oh yeah, I hope I ain't 786 00:46:49,760 --> 00:46:50,560 Speaker 11: saying too much. 787 00:46:55,280 --> 00:46:58,800 Speaker 1: Kingslime is a production of iHeart Podcasts and Heirloom Media. 788 00:46:59,520 --> 00:47:03,080 Speaker 4: It's written and produced by George Cheedy, Christina Lee, and Tommy. 789 00:47:02,800 --> 00:47:07,200 Speaker 1: Andres, mixing sound design and original music by Evan Tyre 790 00:47:07,320 --> 00:47:08,440 Speaker 1: and Taylor Schaicogne. 791 00:47:09,120 --> 00:47:11,800 Speaker 4: The executive producer and editor is Tommy Andres. 792 00:47:12,200 --> 00:47:13,720 Speaker 1: Fact checking by Kaylin lynch. 793 00:47:14,000 --> 00:47:17,840 Speaker 4: Our theme music is by Don Deal. Special thanks to Josh. 794 00:47:17,719 --> 00:47:21,920 Speaker 1: Lewind and to the Atlanta news outlets eleven A five, WSBTV, 795 00:47:22,280 --> 00:47:23,040 Speaker 1: and Fox five. 796 00:47:23,719 --> 00:47:27,880 Speaker 4: For more shows from iHeart Podcasts, visit the iHeartRadio app, 797 00:47:28,040 --> 00:47:31,480 Speaker 4: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.