1 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 1: King Slime is a production of iHeart Polocasts and Heirloom Media. 2 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 1: I'm Christina Lee and I'm George Cheedy and this is 3 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:19,120 Speaker 1: King Slime. 4 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 2: We're coming to you with our last episode, right, and 5 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 2: it's a bittersweet, but we're gonna make it good because 6 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:32,960 Speaker 2: we're here with the whys and powerful Joe Coscarelli, who 7 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 2: writes about hip hop for The New York Times, Joe, 8 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 2: how are you? 9 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 3: Hey? 10 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:39,159 Speaker 4: Thanks for having me. I don't think I've ever been 11 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 4: described as powerful, but I'll take it. No. 12 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 1: I mean here, we're all about first, we're all about reporting. 13 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 1: You know, that's really evergreen. And of course we're joined 14 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 1: by executive producer Tommy Andres. We'd be remiss not to 15 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: introduce it. 16 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 3: Hey, guys, cheers to the last one. Huh yeah, I. 17 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 1: Mean this is I mean, this is such an interesting conundrum, 18 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,160 Speaker 1: right because there is still so much trial left. I 19 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 1: would say when I hear first gave us this deal, 20 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:04,759 Speaker 1: they maybe didn't anticipate how much trial there would still 21 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 1: be by the end of all this. But you know, 22 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: long story short, there's no end in sight, and so 23 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 1: the financials didn't really work out and to where our 24 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:18,679 Speaker 1: ongoing coverage can't keep going on forever. So our goal 25 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: with this episode is to not only just bring you 26 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,559 Speaker 1: up to speed of what's been happening, do a quick 27 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: touch on that, but then also just to like, you know, 28 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 1: take a bigger picture perspective on what the overall effects 29 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 1: are going to be. And so Joe obviously is a 30 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: perfect guest for that being Culture reported The New York Times. 31 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: As you mentioned, George, he wrote an entire book on 32 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: Atlanta's hip hop scene, Rap Capital, and Atlanta Story. And 33 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:44,400 Speaker 1: if you remember, in the very beginning of this show, 34 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 1: you were one of our very first guests, so we're 35 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: so honored to have you once again. 36 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 4: Thanks. I mean, it's sort of sadly the podcast is 37 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 4: like a microcosm for the trial in itself, and that 38 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 4: it's taking so long, that all these things are happening 39 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,080 Speaker 4: and following by the wayside, and like you know, it 40 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 4: could be like the longest trial podcast ever if you 41 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 4: guys have covered through the burden, so you might you 42 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 4: might be here in like twenty twenty six doing the 43 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 4: same thing. 44 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 3: I mean, we started making the show two years ago, 45 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:15,959 Speaker 3: like it's been two years already, and the trial could 46 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 3: go till they said twenty twenty seven. 47 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:21,639 Speaker 4: I think did we I think we might have taped 48 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 4: our first interview for the first episode in which it 49 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,640 Speaker 4: would have been January twenty three or February. 50 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, right, I think so. 51 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's wild. 52 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 2: I note in passing the passing of OJ Simpson, Oh 53 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 2: my god. And I'm mentioning that because it was a 54 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 2: lengthy trial that had a lot of media attention, and 55 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:45,799 Speaker 2: from time to time this trial gets compared. 56 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 3: To that Trial of the Century. Well it was nine months. 57 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:49,560 Speaker 3: We talked about that. Actually they might hit the cutting 58 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:51,359 Speaker 3: room floor. But that trial is only nine months long. 59 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,079 Speaker 3: Now the trial is Century is only nie months long. 60 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 3: And here we are. 61 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:56,639 Speaker 2: This trial is going to be longer than the O. J. 62 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 2: Simpson trial. And the media ronment then, like the OJ 63 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 2: Simpson trial launched sort of cable news law stuff, like 64 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 2: the twenty four hour news cycle hit with the OJ 65 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 2: Simpson case. And I've mentioned this before, this trial has 66 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:21,119 Speaker 2: been this social media kind of thing where clips circulate 67 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 2: on Instagram, you know, and it's it's become the most 68 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 2: important trial of all of these other sort of wrap 69 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 2: trials that have been happening, partly because it's nuts and 70 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:38,480 Speaker 2: partly because it's a it reflects this the media environment 71 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 2: that we're in. 72 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 1: I know, trying to keep up with the demand has 73 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: been an absolute doozy. I've definitely felt susceptible to I 74 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,000 Speaker 1: don't even want to call it like the twenty four 75 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: hour news cycle anymore because somehow that doesn't accurately capture 76 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: the pacing of everything, but it certainly we certainly, I 77 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: guess on my end, I should say I don't want 78 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: to speak on behalf of just Tommy and George, but 79 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:02,040 Speaker 1: I certainly felt press to like meet the demand for 80 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: any sort of insight, any sort of clip, any sort 81 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: of like takeaway that was going to catch people's attention 82 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: of this trial. 83 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 4: And yet, on the flip side, like I would say, 84 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 4: this trial also represents its media moment, like as a 85 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 4: counter to something like the O. J. Simpson trial, which 86 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 4: was such a like monocultures like geist thing where everybody 87 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 4: was paying attention to the same thing. Whereas I feel 88 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,800 Speaker 4: like this trial, both because of its length and because 89 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,599 Speaker 4: of the sort of fractured nature of media and music 90 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 4: and popular culture, is like a little bit underrated in 91 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:33,240 Speaker 4: terms of how crazy it is. Like the people like 92 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 4: us who have been following it from since the indictment 93 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:39,719 Speaker 4: or before we're all in. But then most people, I 94 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 4: feel like, just have like a passing like, oh, like 95 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 4: even someone like Young Thug isn't as famous as you 96 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 4: would have been if he was Young Thug in the nineties, 97 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 4: you know, and so they're sort of like, oh, I 98 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 4: know vaguely there's a rap around trial. It's like both 99 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:55,280 Speaker 4: such a complicated and long lasting case that I feel like, yeah, 100 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 4: it's like it's you know, there's there's a chance people 101 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 4: gather back around for the verdict whenever that is. But 102 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 4: I do feel like it's sort of like most things 103 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 4: in news and media, just like floats by most people 104 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 4: whenever that is. 105 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 3: It is crazy how people like I people will ask 106 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 3: me what I do these days or whatever. I'll meet 107 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,280 Speaker 3: somebody to party, whatever, And it's amazing the percentage of 108 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 3: people that still have no idea who Young Thug is. 109 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 3: When I started like, oh, it sort of sounds familiar 110 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 3: or whatever. You haven't heard of this person? I mean, 111 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:27,719 Speaker 3: obviously that strikes me as strange because we've been focusing 112 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 3: on it so intensely for two years. But I, you know, 113 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 3: I think you're right, like the hip hop spotlight is 114 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 3: very bright, but the broader sort of news cycle is 115 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 3: so swallowed up with all these other huge stories. I 116 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:41,040 Speaker 3: do feel like this one is sort of getting like 117 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 3: cast aside in a lot of ways. Even it's not 118 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 3: even the most you know, focused on Rico trial right now, 119 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:50,160 Speaker 3: you know, it's like, yeah, there's a lot going on. 120 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: Well, speaking of a lot going on, I'm going to 121 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: try to make this as succinct as possible because it's 122 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:57,599 Speaker 1: been a couple of weeks since we last caught up 123 00:05:57,640 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: with you guys, and I'm going to do my best 124 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:02,640 Speaker 1: to very sinkly talk about what's been going on since 125 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: we lasted a court report. So we, I think have 126 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 1: finally heard an end to testimony regarding the Red Nissan 127 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:14,039 Speaker 1: incident that happened in May twenty thirteen, or not only 128 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:17,479 Speaker 1: Adrian Bean completed his testimony, but we finally heard from 129 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 1: investigator David Quinn. I would say that was one takeaway. 130 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 1: The other takeaway is regarding an incident that isn't even 131 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: part of the indictment. It was a part of what 132 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 1: has been called a robbery where essentially there's so much 133 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 1: we could get into this, but a woman who was 134 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: identified as a Bennett says that she heard a knock 135 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 1: on her door one night, looked and saw that it 136 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: was friends of her baby's father, Young Thug Walter DK Murphy, 137 00:06:45,640 --> 00:06:47,840 Speaker 1: and then Young Thug's brother let him in, but then 138 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: all of a sudden gets a gun held to her 139 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: head and she gets robbed of a couple possessions. 140 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 5: Do you recall telling the police that you opened the 141 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 5: door and let thug inside your home? And do you 142 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 5: call telling the police that you turned your back on 143 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 5: Thug Thug's brother and a person you call DKA to 144 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 5: walk into the kitchen to make your baby a bottle? 145 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 5: Do you recall telling the police that when you went 146 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 5: to the kitchen, Thug's brother put a silver nine millimeter 147 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 5: to the back of your head. 148 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: And then on top of that, there has been some 149 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 1: I guess admonishing on Judge Glanville's and where he's talking 150 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: about like, hey, this trial is going on for way 151 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 1: too long. We need to take some hardcore measures to 152 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:37,560 Speaker 1: make sure that this trial is expeding as possible for 153 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: the sake of the jury. So he's talked about earlier 154 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:44,239 Speaker 1: star times. He's also addressed timely discovery and the need 155 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: for all of that. And then finally, the person who's 156 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: currently taken the stand is someone who is one of 157 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:53,360 Speaker 1: the co founders of YSL, and that will be Walter 158 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 1: DK Murphy. He's expected to continue taking the stand after 159 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: we record this episode, so potentially days after. So it's 160 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:04,840 Speaker 1: a lot, George, as you're paying attention to all this, 161 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: like what's sticking out to you? 162 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 2: So let's start with this the judge. It has become 163 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:14,280 Speaker 2: entirely clear to everybody, including apparently the judge now that 164 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 2: this is taking too long. 165 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:19,560 Speaker 1: We can't be talking about like multiple super Bowls, like 166 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 1: that's just crossing a line madness. 167 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 2: And I So he's issued an order and a fairly 168 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 2: stern order, and the questions whether or not he's actually 169 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 2: going to hold to the order to try to speed 170 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 2: things up, he's essentially limiting the kind of objections and 171 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:39,360 Speaker 2: how those objections are going to be held, and when 172 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 2: a jury will be brought in or taken away, and 173 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 2: how much time will be taken from the from the 174 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:53,559 Speaker 2: court for extraneous stuff, and to hold court on Saturdays 175 00:08:53,559 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 2: and Sundays if necessary, which is extraordinary and difficult defensive 176 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:03,679 Speaker 2: because you've got to have sheriff's deputies, a bunch of 177 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:10,200 Speaker 2: sheriff deputies in the courtroom. You're committing ten other people 178 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 2: to over time in a sheriff's office that doesn't have 179 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 2: extra bodies to give to it. So he issues this 180 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 2: order and then still continues with the daily delays, like 181 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 2: court was supposed to be starting at eight thirty on 182 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 2: the dot, and it's not. It's nine. It's nine thirty. 183 00:09:32,360 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 2: Comfort breaks that are supposed to be ten minutes turned 184 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:39,600 Speaker 2: into half an hour or longer. And the objections that 185 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 2: he'sbjecting to are still flowing more or less in the 186 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 2: same way, and he's getting testy about that. 187 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:50,560 Speaker 6: All right, and I guess you'll all be working this 188 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 6: weekend then, because this is exactly what I told you 189 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 6: was going to be a problem. 190 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:57,120 Speaker 4: You bring this stuff up. 191 00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:59,200 Speaker 6: I got a jury sitting in the box, and you 192 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 6: got a witness you're probably gonna have days of examination with. 193 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 3: Yeah, he and Steel have had some really harsh back 194 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 3: and forths. That's been Uh, it's been tense. 195 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:11,440 Speaker 7: You tell in front of the jury how I'm prepared. 196 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:13,760 Speaker 7: I am, And let me tell you something, I am 197 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:16,599 Speaker 7: not unprepared. I don't appreciate the court telling me that, 198 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 7: and you don't. And I asked you tell the jury 199 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:23,160 Speaker 7: that you were wrong when you when you admonished me 200 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 7: last time, you said you wouldn't do that. 201 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 4: This is the second time. And you know what it 202 00:10:27,559 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 4: does to me. I don't care. 203 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 7: I'm hurt because you're a court but I really don't care. 204 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,960 Speaker 2: But what does it do to mister Williams, mister Steele. 205 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 6: I'm not trying to personally insult you or hurt your feelings? 206 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 4: Okay again, who are you? 207 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 3: Are? 208 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 2: A grown professional advocate? 209 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that's adding to I guess, like, thanks for 210 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: reminding me, Tommy. There was a motion to disqualify Daadan 211 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 1: Love from the whole proceedings. That's how testing things have 212 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 1: just got in court in general. And of course like 213 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 1: that was denied, but still that kind of speaks to 214 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: like the acrimonious nature that has really been bogging down 215 00:10:58,440 --> 00:10:59,119 Speaker 1: the trial. 216 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:03,559 Speaker 2: Right, And I don't see that changing until Fanni Willis 217 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 2: puts the hammer down. And I think that moment is 218 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 2: coming if this is still going on in the way 219 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 2: it is when the Trump case is also absorbing the 220 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 2: attention of the court and of the Sheriff's office and 221 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:24,080 Speaker 2: everybody else. I think she's going to make a trioge decision. 222 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:29,959 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's been interesting to see. I mean, with Glanville 223 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 3: getting so frustrated. We've talked about this a little bit 224 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 3: in our preparation for this episode. It's just like, he's 225 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 3: really where the buck stops, right, I mean, he's the 226 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 3: conductor of the orchestra here, So for him to get 227 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 3: so mad at how slow things are, it's like, bro, like, 228 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 3: what are you doing here? This is your show. You're 229 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 3: the one running this. So if I'm a jur and 230 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 3: I'm sitting in there and this is happening, and I'm 231 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:54,079 Speaker 3: just like, oh great, I get to give up my 232 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 3: weekends now too, Awesome. I'm gonna be here till super 233 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 3: Bowl twenty six, twenty seven or whatever the hell of 234 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 3: a date is that they can keep saying this thing 235 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:02,199 Speaker 3: is going to go too and I got to come 236 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 3: in on weekends, Like get out of here. 237 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 2: That number for like twenty twenty seven didn't come out 238 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,719 Speaker 2: of nowhere. It's simply taking a look at how many 239 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:13,960 Speaker 2: witnesses have been heard and how long each witnesses take, 240 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 2: and then looking at the one hundred and sixty more 241 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 2: witnesses to go in that order. Judge Gladville also like 242 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:26,240 Speaker 2: there was an attachment for all of the witnesses yet 243 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 2: to come, and we're actually starting to edge into the 244 00:12:29,880 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 2: evidence that if you've been a listener to this podcast, 245 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:38,760 Speaker 2: would be very interesting to you. Kenneth Copeland is on 246 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 2: the witness list, probably fifteen or twenty names down. He's 247 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 2: only listed by initials KC, but it's got to be him. 248 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 2: Some of the investigators that we've spoken with on like 249 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 2: Investigator Gaither is coming. 250 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:57,840 Speaker 1: Up, Marsa riverto Marsa. 251 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:01,800 Speaker 2: Viverrito is coming up that we've spoken to that are 252 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 2: coming up soon. And when you do, when they come in, 253 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 2: you're going to start hearing some more of the evidence 254 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 2: that's much more substantial and much more relevant than a 255 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 2: twenty thirteen car chase. 256 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 3: Then, yeah, than nine weeks of red Nissan testimony, right exactly. 257 00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 4: But I was going to say, like, no matter how 258 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:23,120 Speaker 4: many thirty minute breaks get shortened to ten minutes, or 259 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:25,920 Speaker 4: even how many weekends you come in, like the amount 260 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 4: of time we've spent so far on essentially witnesses sort 261 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:34,840 Speaker 4: of superfluous to the main facts of the case. Plus however, 262 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 4: many witnesses are to come, you know, one hundred and 263 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:42,240 Speaker 4: fifty plus. As George said, like, this trial is going 264 00:13:42,280 --> 00:13:46,319 Speaker 4: to take forever, no matter how many how much fat 265 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 4: is cut from it, you know what I mean, like 266 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:52,719 Speaker 4: or this jury is in for many many more months realistically. 267 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, and the pipeline for the rest of Fulton County 268 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 3: is getting clogged like crazy. I mean there was another 269 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,000 Speaker 3: and Matthews has another client I read about this a 270 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 3: few weeks ago who is a waiting trial and will 271 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 3: not go to trial because he's defended by Carton Matthews 272 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:12,200 Speaker 3: and you know, so they've made special accommodations so he 273 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 3: won't go to trial for another year at least. I mean, 274 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 3: whenever this thing wraps is basically when this guy's going 275 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 3: to go to trial. They're just waiting for that, which 276 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 3: seems crazy. I mean it's it's like, so you've got 277 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 3: this family who's relative was allegedly murdered by this guy, 278 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 3: who has to wait for justice for that long. Plus 279 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 3: you've got this guy who has to sit in jail 280 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:33,880 Speaker 3: and await his time because of something that has nothing 281 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 3: to do with him. So in addition to you know, 282 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:40,400 Speaker 3: young thug and you know, all the all of his 283 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 3: co defendants being caught in this system for so long, 284 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 3: you have this trickle down effect that's really crazy, and 285 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 3: I think we'll be I think we'll start hearing a 286 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:50,520 Speaker 3: lot more about that soon. 287 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 2: Name that wasn't on the witness list, Ghana. 288 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 4: Is what do you make of that? 289 00:14:56,480 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 2: George just this that our sort of initial law at 290 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 2: what Gunda was charged with, and the evidence that they 291 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 2: might have was probably on the spot, that they didn't 292 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 2: have a lot, and that they wrapped him in because 293 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:12,240 Speaker 2: he had money and they wanted to take him off 294 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 2: the table for a little while, Like that's the only 295 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:19,240 Speaker 2: plausible explanation for why they would have bothered with him 296 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:20,160 Speaker 2: in the first place. 297 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 4: What do you think, Joe, Yeah, I mean his charges. 298 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 4: As George said, we're so far from again the main 299 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 4: crux of this case, specifically, you know, the murder of 300 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 4: donovand Thomas and some of the more intense weapons charges 301 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 4: that came later. And there was a lot made about 302 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 4: the nature of gunns plea, you know, whether the Alfred 303 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 4: plea actually differentiated him from some of the people who 304 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 4: took deals. The DA's office was very adamant that if 305 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 4: called to testify, he would in fact be required to 306 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 4: testify as the other people who took please and yeah, 307 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 4: and then Gunner's lawyer was a very adamant on the 308 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:02,720 Speaker 4: other side. I'm sure you know, multiple people on this 309 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 4: podcast have had unpleasant phone calls regarding these issues, potentially 310 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 4: that that Ghana was would never be asked to testify. 311 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:15,000 Speaker 4: So I think it's possible there was a little bit 312 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 4: of you know, a wink wink, like, we don't really 313 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 4: need the guy because whatever he's copying to in his 314 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:25,640 Speaker 4: plea is going to be proven ten times over by 315 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 4: the time we get to trial. And yeah, the facts 316 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 4: of the of the you know, the counts that he 317 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:35,320 Speaker 4: was in first hand, I just don't think I don't 318 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:37,720 Speaker 4: think would require him, especially if he was going to 319 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 4: be the sort of difficult states witness that we've seen 320 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:43,800 Speaker 4: thus far in which people even people have taken pleaser, 321 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 4: trying to say as a little as possible to fulfill 322 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 4: their their duties. 323 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 1: Okay, so we've talked so much about like how this 324 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 1: trial might be perceived in the eyes of the jury, 325 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 1: right because they are the ones who are ultimately going 326 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 1: to roll on this. But one thing we wanted to 327 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: ask you about, Joe is how this trial is being 328 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: looked at at the eyes of other artists, you know, 329 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: the sort who might have been afraid that rap music 330 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:12,360 Speaker 1: was really going to be put on trial in regards 331 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 1: to why I sell, Could you give us some insight 332 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:18,360 Speaker 1: into that reaction and how that's evolved as it's continued 333 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 1: to stretch on and on in ways that we've talked about, you. 334 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:27,679 Speaker 4: Know, I would say overall, my main surprise, sense of 335 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:32,560 Speaker 4: surprise is how quiet the music industry has been about 336 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 4: this trial. I think, you know, you have your free 337 00:17:35,359 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 4: Thugs here and there, you have songs on albums that 338 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 4: seem to allude to him, which maybe we'll get to 339 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:43,880 Speaker 4: you later in this conversation, But at the same time, 340 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:49,120 Speaker 4: there's not a huge galvanized effort, you know, like there 341 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:51,119 Speaker 4: may have been in past hip hop trials. And I 342 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:53,120 Speaker 4: think part of that has to do with, as we've 343 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 4: alluded to, both the fractured state of media and news 344 00:17:56,840 --> 00:18:00,880 Speaker 4: like even Trump news comes and goes like multiple times 345 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 4: a week at this point, and Trump is, you know, 346 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:10,200 Speaker 4: degrees more famous and potentially consequential compared to Young Thug, 347 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:14,560 Speaker 4: But also the facts of the case are unwieldy. I 348 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:18,120 Speaker 4: think people don't exactly know what to make of it 349 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:21,680 Speaker 4: and where THUG fits in. I think people see, you know, artists, 350 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:26,119 Speaker 4: industry people, local Atlanta music seeing people you know, they 351 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 4: have a deeper understanding both of the facts of the case, 352 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 4: but then a surface level understanding. I think as most 353 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 4: people who have lives and fast paced careers, like rappers 354 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:40,679 Speaker 4: or musicians or managers or label people like, I think, 355 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 4: their understanding of the facts of the case itself are quick, cursory, 356 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:46,360 Speaker 4: and you might you know that you see you see 357 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 4: headlines on social media, you get the viral moments when 358 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 4: someone's testimony goes above and beyond. I think people know. 359 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:55,159 Speaker 4: I think the overarching feeling is that this case is 360 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:59,000 Speaker 4: a mess, and maybe that's going to help THUG in 361 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 4: the long term, I think, But I think most people 362 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 4: are just sort of going to wait and see, and 363 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:08,240 Speaker 4: we may see, you know, like I said earlier, a 364 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 4: rise in the profile of the case as we get 365 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 4: closer to jury deliberations and a verdict, and then I 366 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 4: think is when we'll see people really come out of 367 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 4: the woodwork and respond. But I do think overall the 368 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:20,560 Speaker 4: reaction has been fairly muted. 369 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: I don't know, do you agree, Yeah, I feel like 370 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: I haven't seen a whole lot. I guess. First, as 371 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:32,919 Speaker 1: we were reporting this podcast, we did speak with profit 372 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 1: with Black Music Action Coalition and who positive that maybe 373 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 1: there is fear in the music industry from wanting to 374 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:44,800 Speaker 1: speak out, especially given the strong reaction toward gonna one 375 00:19:44,840 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 1: way or the other. It just seemed like they would 376 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:51,760 Speaker 1: rather just not be involved in something like that whatsoever, 377 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: and so that they don't get bogged bogged down by 378 00:19:55,040 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 1: that as well. But so he was alluding to the 379 00:19:58,119 --> 00:20:00,400 Speaker 1: fact that there might be fear in people speak out. 380 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:03,879 Speaker 1: But then on the other hand, it's like, yeah, we 381 00:20:03,960 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 1: had a lot of trouble I think reporting the podcast, 382 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,400 Speaker 1: even just getting people to comment on the whole thing. 383 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:12,639 Speaker 1: It seemed like even from three hundred's perspective, like so, 384 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: like one person that I really really wanted to feature 385 00:20:16,320 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 1: on the podcast was anybody from three hundred Entertainment, especially 386 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 1: as they were like ramping up, you know, the rap 387 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:24,120 Speaker 1: on Trial campaign and everything and wanting to get people 388 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 1: to sign a petition. I thought that would actually be 389 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:28,399 Speaker 1: the easiest thing in the world on our behalf, But 390 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 1: I was shocked by how much I was like, shut down, 391 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:32,760 Speaker 1: shut down, shutdown. So I wonder if they've even sort 392 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 1: of like tammed down on the response, you know, just 393 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 1: to not make such a big deal out of it. 394 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 1: But yeah, it was. It's been really challenging. I feel 395 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:43,000 Speaker 1: like in one way or the other, it's been really 396 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:45,720 Speaker 1: hard to hear, like from any sort of artist's perspective 397 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: on what this is. Like, Like the studios didn't want 398 00:20:47,800 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 1: to touch the news, Like none of the artists who 399 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:53,359 Speaker 1: maybe even have a tangential relationship to Young Thug wanted 400 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:55,640 Speaker 1: to comment on it. I thought it was really interesting. 401 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 3: So we're not seeing a ton of people like comment 402 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:00,400 Speaker 3: on it directly or I mean occasionally, I guess we've 403 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 3: seen a few, like Drake obviously wide in when that 404 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 3: phone call was the jail phone call was leaked with 405 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:07,880 Speaker 3: Mariah scientists, he was pretty pissed off about that. 406 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 2: He also did a video early like which was like 407 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:11,600 Speaker 2: where he flashed freewise. 408 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:13,160 Speaker 3: Well, so this is what I was going to say. 409 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 3: So the freehy I sell stuff'sbviously been out there quite 410 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 3: a bit. But Joe, I'm wondering we have seen Young 411 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:20,359 Speaker 3: Thug featured in a bunch of songs since his arrest 412 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 3: came out of the full album has been featured in 413 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 3: a bunch of songs, and I'm wondering what that shows. 414 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 3: Like that's obviously I would think some level of support too, right, 415 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 3: like continuing to put Young Thug in your music. 416 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think there's two levels of it. There's the 417 00:21:35,480 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 4: implicit or explicit show of solidarity of either appearing on 418 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 4: Thug's album, which seems to have been mostly put together 419 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 4: from stuff he'd recorded previously. If we know anything about 420 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 4: Young Thug as an artist, it's that he's extremely extremely 421 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:54,879 Speaker 4: prolific and recording at all times, you know, in the 422 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 4: mold of his idols like Gucci Man or Lol Wayne, 423 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 4: both of whom had stints in prison. We're also very 424 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:05,120 Speaker 4: uh you know, ultimately very productive for them musically and creatively. 425 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 4: So I think I think there's that, And then I 426 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:09,320 Speaker 4: think there's probably a business reality of it too, which 427 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:14,520 Speaker 4: is if you're either buying paying for, you know, a 428 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:18,720 Speaker 4: Young Thug verse or contributing to his his eventual royalty 429 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 4: statements by featuring him on you know, a big album 430 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 4: or two, you know, that's a that's a form of 431 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 4: of of material support, uh for somebody who you know, 432 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 4: has had most of his avenues for making money frozen 433 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 4: by sitting in copp County jail for you know, going 434 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:39,120 Speaker 4: on going on two years now. 435 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 3: So you think that most of the music that has 436 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:43,719 Speaker 3: been released since then was stuff that Young Thug had 437 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 3: already recorded. 438 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 4: Uh, that that's my assumption, you know, I think there hasn't. 439 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:52,760 Speaker 4: There's been a little whispers here and there, you know, 440 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 4: going back to the first song on the original release 441 00:22:56,240 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 4: of Business Business, uh, which features Drake and has a 442 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 4: call between Drake and Young Thug on the jail. 443 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:09,399 Speaker 8: Phone, y'all's brother brother taught to me, what's the word? Oh, 444 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:13,959 Speaker 8: I ain't going ship man, just pushing more, Peter more sweeter, 445 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:17,400 Speaker 8: welcompleter Amy, Peter pushing around. 446 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:21,159 Speaker 4: And then when Thugs verse comes in, it sounds to 447 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:24,640 Speaker 4: me to my ear as somebody who uses voice memos 448 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:26,920 Speaker 4: a lot to record interviews. It sounds like it could 449 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:29,159 Speaker 4: have been recorded on an iPhone and it seems to 450 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:34,560 Speaker 4: refer to being in jail or something about his his 451 00:23:35,040 --> 00:23:39,520 Speaker 4: current situation. Uh. So that may be a new or 452 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 4: newer or newish verse since the since the arrest, most 453 00:23:44,480 --> 00:23:47,280 Speaker 4: of the other stuff, you know, seems a bit evergreen. 454 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 2: Uh. 455 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 4: And again like there are countless producers, engineers, I'm sure, 456 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:54,399 Speaker 4: with hard drive upon hard drive upon hard drive of 457 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 4: unreleased Thug music. You know, there's a real history of 458 00:23:57,560 --> 00:24:00,480 Speaker 4: this in rap, you know, Gucci being the best example. 459 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 4: But even this past week, Uh Thug put out a 460 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 4: song with Lil Wayne, which to me was like, was 461 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:12,560 Speaker 4: extremely noteworthy because Wayne is in this in the details 462 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:15,400 Speaker 4: of this case, in between the lines as somebody who 463 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:19,959 Speaker 4: may have had, you know, potentially almost fatal static with 464 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 4: Thug and his allies at some point. You know, I 465 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:26,920 Speaker 4: think they've only done one one song together previously, maybe two, 466 00:24:27,520 --> 00:24:30,199 Speaker 4: So I felt like Wayne putting something out with at 467 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 4: this moment that's like a real that's a real show 468 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:35,119 Speaker 4: of like sort of almost reaching across the aisle to 469 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:37,119 Speaker 4: say like we may have had our differences in the past, 470 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:40,160 Speaker 4: but with you against the criminal justice system, like I'm 471 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:40,439 Speaker 4: with you. 472 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Going back to what you said, Joe, 473 00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:45,000 Speaker 1: I mean, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts because 474 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 1: you kept alluding to Gucci Maine. I think what I 475 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:50,440 Speaker 1: remember from those Gucci Maine days, especially when he was 476 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 1: dropping tape after tape and then just prefacing it with 477 00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:57,760 Speaker 1: like jailhouse calls after the other. You would get like 478 00:24:57,800 --> 00:25:00,280 Speaker 1: the long, extended, like two minute intro like call from 479 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 1: Fulton County Jail, and then it's just like completely garbled 480 00:25:02,760 --> 00:25:04,560 Speaker 1: on the other end. I feel like there was so 481 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:08,560 Speaker 1: much more mystique around how that was possible, and Gucci 482 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 1: wasn't even the first. He was just the most prolific 483 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:13,680 Speaker 1: and the most brazen about it, Whereas I think now 484 00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 1: fans have such a bigger understanding of the fact that 485 00:25:17,200 --> 00:25:20,880 Speaker 1: artists are just constantly producing and therefore had this backlock 486 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:23,879 Speaker 1: to be able to produce even when they are being jail. 487 00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 1: So maybe now I think maybe the muted fan response 488 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:30,840 Speaker 1: toward all this comes from just fans like understanding, like 489 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:33,720 Speaker 1: you know, like this isn't new, Like it's not all 490 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 1: that interesting to hear from Thug at this point in time, 491 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:39,240 Speaker 1: just because we've seen how this has happened before. 492 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, and there are also rappers who have taken it 493 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:44,440 Speaker 4: to an even greater level, like someone like Draco the 494 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 4: Ruler who's since passed, but when he was when he 495 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:51,359 Speaker 4: was in jail in LA he recorded an entire album 496 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:54,600 Speaker 4: using the jail phone and it was called Thank You 497 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:57,200 Speaker 4: for Using GTL, which is like the message that comes 498 00:25:57,240 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 4: up when you're on the phone, so he recorded you know, 499 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:04,160 Speaker 4: entire versus through that. So you know, we could still 500 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:06,480 Speaker 4: see something like that from Thug. You know, there's also, 501 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 4: as we know from this trial and many others, like 502 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 4: a ton of illegal phones going around in in jails 503 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:17,720 Speaker 4: across the country. So there there are ways that I think, like, 504 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:20,439 Speaker 4: you know, who knows how long this thing goes on, 505 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 4: and at some point he maybe he might be itchy 506 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 4: to put something out, So there are you know, there 507 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:27,160 Speaker 4: are stunts. I think there are a lot of eyes 508 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:29,639 Speaker 4: on him, so that probably limits what he can and 509 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:32,679 Speaker 4: can't do. But at a certain point you could see 510 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:34,960 Speaker 4: someone like Thug rebelling against. 511 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:38,399 Speaker 3: Those strictures in terms of support and just sort of 512 00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:42,680 Speaker 3: like a view on perspective on young Thug Joe. You've 513 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:45,720 Speaker 3: got sort of an interesting viewpoint because you obviously have 514 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:47,560 Speaker 3: spent a lot of time on the streets in Atlanta 515 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 3: and in the studios to write your book, and just 516 00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 3: somebody who can't come to Atlanta for I mean, you're 517 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:55,040 Speaker 3: basically living here for a couple of years I would 518 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 3: assume writing that book, and but you also obviously work 519 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:02,280 Speaker 3: for the National Record and so you've got this this 520 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 3: wide lens view as well. Do you think there's a 521 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:07,800 Speaker 3: difference between how people in Atlanta see Young Thug in 522 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:10,480 Speaker 3: this trial and how people nationwide sea Young Thug in 523 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:10,920 Speaker 3: this trial? 524 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:15,960 Speaker 4: Definitely? I think to the extent that Thug is known nationally. 525 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:18,879 Speaker 4: You know, he played the Grammys with Camilla Cabeo, he 526 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:22,359 Speaker 4: played SNL with you know, the guy from Fun and Gunna, 527 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:26,160 Speaker 4: like right before the indictment. I think Thug is known 528 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 4: as this sort of like uh outray mystical creature. Right. 529 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:33,600 Speaker 4: People know the dress from early on, you know, the 530 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:37,400 Speaker 4: couple dresses, you know, the cover of the mixtape and 531 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:39,840 Speaker 4: and the fashion shoots he did. You know, they know 532 00:27:39,960 --> 00:27:42,560 Speaker 4: him as as this sort of whimsical guy with the 533 00:27:42,600 --> 00:27:45,080 Speaker 4: crazy voice and you never quite know what he's saying. 534 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:47,879 Speaker 4: You know, it comes on the radio and you know, like, 535 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 4: who's this guy? And you know he played he played 536 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:56,720 Speaker 4: with Travis Barker, you know, on NPR like he's he's 537 00:27:56,440 --> 00:28:02,040 Speaker 4: he has this you know, chameleon like persona and is 538 00:28:02,080 --> 00:28:06,320 Speaker 4: almost like funny and playful in this way. But there's 539 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:08,679 Speaker 4: another side of Thug that I think the prosecution is 540 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:11,480 Speaker 4: trying to paint in this and that also people who 541 00:28:11,480 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 4: may have known him longer or seen him on a 542 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 4: more street level are familiar with which is like, you know, 543 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:19,360 Speaker 4: and it's there in the music if you're really listening. 544 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:20,120 Speaker 5: Uh. 545 00:28:20,160 --> 00:28:23,320 Speaker 4: Whether or not that's that's true or not is obviously 546 00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:26,000 Speaker 4: what's what's at stake in this trial. But that's like 547 00:28:26,119 --> 00:28:28,800 Speaker 4: the you know, the tough guy thug that's uh, a 548 00:28:28,800 --> 00:28:32,800 Speaker 4: thug who's like not to be messed with. And he 549 00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:38,160 Speaker 4: he built up that persona you know, both himself and 550 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:40,120 Speaker 4: with the people he was around. You know, you have 551 00:28:40,720 --> 00:28:44,240 Speaker 4: characters in this trial. You know, someone someone like Pee 552 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:47,480 Speaker 4: like uh, like Peelie Roscoe, who was convicted in the 553 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:50,720 Speaker 4: Little Wing tour bus shooting that I alluded to earlier 554 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:55,000 Speaker 4: and who's once again wrapped up in this rico. You know, 555 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:58,760 Speaker 4: people people testifying now who have been in and out 556 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 4: of prison, or people you know, indicted alongside Doug who 557 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 4: were already incarcerated. Like there is there's a sense that 558 00:29:06,480 --> 00:29:09,920 Speaker 4: you know, there's there's a street level lore about him 559 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 4: that I think Atlanta knows that didn't really trickle up 560 00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:14,240 Speaker 4: into the mainstream. 561 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:16,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that even came up in a reporting so 562 00:29:17,440 --> 00:29:19,960 Speaker 1: like as you were talking Joe. I was thinking about 563 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:23,000 Speaker 1: a comment that Bain Joiner gave us that, unfortunately I 564 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 1: don't think actually made the episode. I don't know how 565 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:26,920 Speaker 1: I let this slip, but I. 566 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:27,440 Speaker 3: Might have cut it. 567 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:33,360 Speaker 1: Sorry, No, you're you know you're good. Those So Bain Joiner, 568 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:35,960 Speaker 1: for those who don't remember, he is one third of 569 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 1: a creative consultancy that created like this unofficial slogan for Atlanta, 570 00:29:39,280 --> 00:29:42,600 Speaker 1: which is that Atlanta influences everything, and he's an Atlanta native. 571 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:47,240 Speaker 1: He was talking about how a whole decade ago, like 572 00:29:47,280 --> 00:29:50,560 Speaker 1: specifically around the Little Waned tour bus incident, how there 573 00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:52,720 Speaker 1: was that lore that you were talking about, Joe, and 574 00:29:52,760 --> 00:29:55,120 Speaker 1: that really it was from people like you had to 575 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:57,520 Speaker 1: be on the pavement. You're not driving your car through 576 00:29:57,560 --> 00:30:00,479 Speaker 1: seventy five eighty five traffic, if you were going through Marta, 577 00:30:00,600 --> 00:30:03,240 Speaker 1: if you're going to the public library. That's where people 578 00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 1: were having these conversations about young Thug and this outsized 579 00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 1: reputation of his, not necessarily for music, but for what 580 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:14,360 Speaker 1: was supposedly like happening in the streets. So it's interesting. 581 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 1: It feels like you're our sources check. 582 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:20,960 Speaker 3: So they say we'll be back to have the break. 583 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:31,520 Speaker 2: So I'm sort of sitting here thinking and I want 584 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:34,719 Speaker 2: to I'm sorry to take this in a random direction, 585 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:37,880 Speaker 2: but I've I've been thinking a lot about the cost 586 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:42,000 Speaker 2: of all of this. The uh. I'm sort of as 587 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:44,760 Speaker 2: we're talking, I'm going through the numbers for what the 588 00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:50,280 Speaker 2: judge makes, what the what every sheriff's deputy makes, whatevery. 589 00:30:50,680 --> 00:30:52,800 Speaker 3: Some of the defense attorneys are on the you know, 590 00:30:53,040 --> 00:30:55,160 Speaker 3: on the Fulton County YEP tab. 591 00:30:55,880 --> 00:30:57,880 Speaker 2: The number that I keep coming up in my head 592 00:30:57,920 --> 00:30:59,120 Speaker 2: is five thousand dollars a day. 593 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:01,800 Speaker 3: That's seems low, though you think it's only five thousand 594 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:02,280 Speaker 3: dollars a day. 595 00:31:02,360 --> 00:31:04,680 Speaker 2: I'm being generous, but still. 596 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:07,400 Speaker 3: You multiply five thousand a day times times that's the 597 00:31:07,440 --> 00:31:11,600 Speaker 3: lowest it could possibly be. Yeah, times, you know, times 598 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:14,560 Speaker 3: four years or whatever. This could be every day. 599 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:19,120 Speaker 2: Like, it's a minimum cost for ten sheriffs deputies making 600 00:31:19,160 --> 00:31:21,080 Speaker 2: fifty five grand a year, plus a judge, we had 601 00:31:21,080 --> 00:31:24,760 Speaker 2: one hundred and fifty plus a court reporter or the 602 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:28,960 Speaker 2: court administrator making you know, eighty, and another like the 603 00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:32,480 Speaker 2: person taking the notes making fifty you know, plus two 604 00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:38,880 Speaker 2: prosecutors sitting at the table. A minimum of five thousand 605 00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:43,200 Speaker 2: a day, So five thousand a day and they've been 606 00:31:43,240 --> 00:31:47,600 Speaker 2: in court I want to say, about three hundred days 607 00:31:47,640 --> 00:31:48,520 Speaker 2: since the start of. 608 00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:51,960 Speaker 3: The trial, including the jury selection. Yeah, and I. 609 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:55,600 Speaker 1: Can't like to your point, Tommy about stuff being delayed. 610 00:31:55,840 --> 00:31:59,360 Speaker 1: As you're talking about that cost, I'm wondering about how 611 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:04,320 Speaker 1: that costs multiplies the more cases get delayed. Right because 612 00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:08,480 Speaker 1: as I'm watching this trial specifically with testimony regarding I mean, 613 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:12,440 Speaker 1: it could have been anybody, investigator David Quinn, Miss Bennett, 614 00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 1: all these Walter Murphy, Everybody's talking about how like it's 615 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:19,160 Speaker 1: been ten years since like this happened, and when they 616 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:22,560 Speaker 1: say they don't remember, like honestly, it sounds believable in 617 00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:24,840 Speaker 1: that moment, no matter how much you know, we may 618 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:26,840 Speaker 1: think that they're trying to dodge like giving the truth. 619 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:31,480 Speaker 1: So I wonder how that effect multiplies, like over time. So, 620 00:32:31,640 --> 00:32:34,760 Speaker 1: if for example, a trial gets delayed by an entire year, 621 00:32:35,080 --> 00:32:37,960 Speaker 1: how does that affect the justice system from being able 622 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:41,440 Speaker 1: to deliver a speedy trial. Where if the more time passes, 623 00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:44,800 Speaker 1: the more their memory continues to fade. And so like, 624 00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:47,920 Speaker 1: I wonder how much longer trials after this, even the 625 00:32:47,920 --> 00:32:50,360 Speaker 1: ones that are supposed to be expedient, just like grow 626 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:52,200 Speaker 1: to where like I don't know, I just feel like 627 00:32:52,240 --> 00:32:56,080 Speaker 1: there's probably some horrifying looking graph that's gonna, you know, 628 00:32:56,160 --> 00:32:57,960 Speaker 1: come up over the next couple of years about like 629 00:32:58,000 --> 00:32:59,920 Speaker 1: how much the justice system is just costing us pero. 630 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:03,560 Speaker 2: And it's why I keep coming back to this idea 631 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:08,360 Speaker 2: that because Fannie Willis said at the start of Oliver 632 00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:10,800 Speaker 2: of her term, I'm going to be doing a lot 633 00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:13,440 Speaker 2: of ricos on gangs in Atlanta, and I don't care. 634 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:15,960 Speaker 1: The papers were going to be clear from the office. 635 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:17,040 Speaker 1: That's what she told us. 636 00:33:17,160 --> 00:33:20,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, and so here we are. And there have been 637 00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:23,760 Speaker 2: a couple of other racketeering cases and gang cases that 638 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:27,840 Speaker 2: have come through office, but mostly it's not her, Like 639 00:33:27,880 --> 00:33:30,840 Speaker 2: I'm seeing stuff into cab County and Gwynad like one 640 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:35,040 Speaker 2: in Cobb, a bunch of stuff around the state, none 641 00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:41,040 Speaker 2: involving marquee name rappers, like no bear in mind, like 642 00:33:41,160 --> 00:33:43,680 Speaker 2: I am unaware of any meaningful accusation. 643 00:33:44,000 --> 00:33:44,280 Speaker 1: George. 644 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:47,720 Speaker 4: Yeah, well you even think of yf and Lucci like 645 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:52,160 Speaker 4: he was sitting from a year before the YSL case 646 00:33:52,240 --> 00:33:54,000 Speaker 4: and then he got a plea deal. You know, is 647 00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:57,959 Speaker 4: that plea related to how long the YSL trial was 648 00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:00,880 Speaker 4: obviously they were waiting for that to to clear up 649 00:34:00,920 --> 00:34:05,040 Speaker 4: before they they tried Lucci and his crew for what 650 00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:07,800 Speaker 4: is basically the flip side of the beef that at 651 00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:10,600 Speaker 4: the center of this thing. So even that you know 652 00:34:11,160 --> 00:34:13,680 Speaker 4: it's been it's been years and years. 653 00:34:14,160 --> 00:34:17,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, Like my thumbnail, guess is from the first indictment 654 00:34:18,160 --> 00:34:21,520 Speaker 2: on the y A cell case. Sitting here, I'm saying 655 00:34:21,520 --> 00:34:22,520 Speaker 2: it's about two million. 656 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:24,839 Speaker 3: Oh man, I think you're low. I think that's low. 657 00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:27,640 Speaker 4: Yeah. Also, and think of the incarceration costs on top 658 00:34:27,680 --> 00:34:27,960 Speaker 4: of it. 659 00:34:28,000 --> 00:34:32,239 Speaker 3: I did not They've been investigating this through twelve years too, so. 660 00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:34,920 Speaker 2: You just from the arrest it would. 661 00:34:34,719 --> 00:34:37,920 Speaker 1: Be fascinating to sit down and figure out magic Lulu that. 662 00:34:38,160 --> 00:34:40,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't think you got to charge that to 663 00:34:40,719 --> 00:34:43,200 Speaker 3: the court. They had to pay for that out of pocket. 664 00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:48,280 Speaker 2: So the cost per inmate at Fulton County is about 665 00:34:49,200 --> 00:34:58,399 Speaker 2: eighteen grand a year, so six left but six times. Yeah, 666 00:34:58,400 --> 00:35:00,000 Speaker 2: Like that's another you're right, that's another. 667 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:00,600 Speaker 4: Yeah. 668 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:03,560 Speaker 3: I think it's it's going to be tens of millions 669 00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:04,120 Speaker 3: at least. 670 00:35:04,440 --> 00:35:06,040 Speaker 2: So I don't think it's going to be tens of millions, 671 00:35:06,120 --> 00:35:08,720 Speaker 2: but it doesn't have to be to throw the whole 672 00:35:08,840 --> 00:35:10,000 Speaker 2: system into chaos. 673 00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:11,360 Speaker 3: You really don't think it's going to be tens of 674 00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:14,160 Speaker 3: millions for like, if you've taken all the total costs 675 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:16,120 Speaker 3: of this, I don't know. It's it seems like it's 676 00:35:16,160 --> 00:35:17,399 Speaker 3: going to be a ton well, and. 677 00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:19,279 Speaker 4: There's one person who really has is going to have 678 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:22,240 Speaker 4: to answer for this on the ballot. 679 00:35:21,920 --> 00:35:24,640 Speaker 1: Right, and that and that's fine, funny, Yeah, I mean 680 00:35:24,680 --> 00:35:27,640 Speaker 1: this is all for the sake of crime, right, targeting. 681 00:35:27,239 --> 00:35:29,120 Speaker 3: Crime, targeting crime, And that's the thing. I mean they'll 682 00:35:29,120 --> 00:35:31,000 Speaker 3: point to the numbers and they'll say crime is down, 683 00:35:31,000 --> 00:35:34,080 Speaker 3: and we've talked about this a million times, and right, like, 684 00:35:34,120 --> 00:35:36,799 Speaker 3: the numbers basically show that, yeah, crime's fall in a bunch. 685 00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:39,000 Speaker 3: But also the numbers they're pointing back to, and they 686 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:42,120 Speaker 3: did this in our interviews are were artificially spiked because 687 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:44,360 Speaker 3: of COVID. I mean, there was a big rise in crime, 688 00:35:44,520 --> 00:35:45,760 Speaker 3: violent crime during COVID. 689 00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:48,520 Speaker 2: I want to put that couple of million dollar number 690 00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:53,160 Speaker 2: in perspective. The District Attorney's office has a budget of 691 00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:58,440 Speaker 2: about forty one million dollars, and so one case, one 692 00:35:58,560 --> 00:36:00,120 Speaker 2: trial is taking. 693 00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:03,120 Speaker 3: Up you know, a significant portion. 694 00:36:02,840 --> 00:36:05,959 Speaker 2: Two and a half percent of the entire budget, which 695 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:09,440 Speaker 2: is to say they could only do twenty of these 696 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:12,279 Speaker 2: and nothing else, not to. 697 00:36:12,239 --> 00:36:15,160 Speaker 4: Mention the other blockbuster case leaving yeah. 698 00:36:15,640 --> 00:36:19,080 Speaker 2: Right, And so I mean we're not talking about insignificant 699 00:36:19,239 --> 00:36:24,640 Speaker 2: amounts of staff, attention and the resources of the the agency. 700 00:36:24,840 --> 00:36:28,919 Speaker 2: It's like, I mean, it really is. It's like there's 701 00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:32,480 Speaker 2: nothing left. Like once you start getting at all of 702 00:36:32,480 --> 00:36:36,160 Speaker 2: the essential necessary doesn't matter what's going on expenses that 703 00:36:36,200 --> 00:36:40,920 Speaker 2: the District Attorney's office is going to rack up just 704 00:36:41,480 --> 00:36:43,799 Speaker 2: at the cost of doing business. They don't have forty 705 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:47,440 Speaker 2: one million dollars to spend on cases they've got like twenty. 706 00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:50,960 Speaker 3: Well, and what what happens if young Thug either gets 707 00:36:51,040 --> 00:36:55,840 Speaker 3: off or negotiates a settlement like you know, Wife and 708 00:36:55,880 --> 00:36:58,919 Speaker 3: Luci did where he's time served or something like that. 709 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:02,000 Speaker 3: I mean, what happens to his reputation? It seems like 710 00:37:02,040 --> 00:37:03,839 Speaker 3: as a figure, and Joe, I want to actually ask 711 00:37:03,920 --> 00:37:07,120 Speaker 3: you this, but it seems to me that that would 712 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:10,800 Speaker 3: potentially embolden him and make him even even a stronger 713 00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:13,520 Speaker 3: player if they think he's in this like allegedly in 714 00:37:13,560 --> 00:37:15,360 Speaker 3: this street gang stuff, but also in the music scene, 715 00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:17,360 Speaker 3: just like a bigger presence overall right, I mean we 716 00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:19,840 Speaker 3: saw we've seen this happen with artists who have have 717 00:37:19,960 --> 00:37:21,640 Speaker 3: beaten the system. 718 00:37:21,719 --> 00:37:24,680 Speaker 4: You know, Oh, I mean America loves an outlaw, and 719 00:37:24,840 --> 00:37:28,840 Speaker 4: hip hop loves an outlaw. And that's behind these personas 720 00:37:29,080 --> 00:37:32,279 Speaker 4: real or fictional in the first place. Right the you know, 721 00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:37,680 Speaker 4: think back to Tupac or you know, Snoop beating beating 722 00:37:37,680 --> 00:37:39,960 Speaker 4: a murder trial early on in his career. You know, 723 00:37:40,719 --> 00:37:43,000 Speaker 4: you know jay Z sort of being tough on in 724 00:37:43,040 --> 00:37:45,799 Speaker 4: his way. You know this this only adds. Like this 725 00:37:45,920 --> 00:37:48,920 Speaker 4: is if if Thug gets off, you know, and think 726 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:51,520 Speaker 4: of the peak he was at. You know, even when 727 00:37:51,520 --> 00:37:54,200 Speaker 4: he was arrested, people thought Thug's career was over five 728 00:37:54,280 --> 00:37:57,160 Speaker 4: years before that and he'd hit like a whole new level. 729 00:37:57,560 --> 00:37:59,640 Speaker 4: If he gets out again, you know, it's it's like 730 00:37:59,760 --> 00:38:03,359 Speaker 4: it's John Gotti the first few times when when when 731 00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:05,720 Speaker 4: you get a you get a hung jury or not guilty, 732 00:38:05,880 --> 00:38:10,399 Speaker 4: like you know, then then his his his persona. Yeah, 733 00:38:10,440 --> 00:38:13,120 Speaker 4: it only grows. And I think the interests that people 734 00:38:13,160 --> 00:38:15,239 Speaker 4: will have in whatever he does next. I mean, even 735 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:18,239 Speaker 4: look at Gunna, people said by taking this plea deal, 736 00:38:18,400 --> 00:38:21,520 Speaker 4: Gunna was gonna was dead and gone in hip hop 737 00:38:21,560 --> 00:38:27,200 Speaker 4: and he's bigger than he's ever been. Uh, not only musically, 738 00:38:27,719 --> 00:38:29,839 Speaker 4: but sort of like persona wise. People want to know 739 00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:32,160 Speaker 4: what's going on with this guy, how he how he 740 00:38:32,280 --> 00:38:34,520 Speaker 4: sort of slithered his way out of this, even if 741 00:38:34,560 --> 00:38:37,360 Speaker 4: it was in a way that people initially thought was 742 00:38:37,400 --> 00:38:40,160 Speaker 4: going to harm his credibility. I think you know, we've 743 00:38:40,160 --> 00:38:44,000 Speaker 4: seen now that people's memories are short, and this trial 744 00:38:44,120 --> 00:38:47,719 Speaker 4: is long. It's so long that Ghanna has been both 745 00:38:47,880 --> 00:38:51,400 Speaker 4: dead and reincarnated at the top of the charts before 746 00:38:51,640 --> 00:38:53,920 Speaker 4: before we being even gotten to the good witnesses. 747 00:38:54,200 --> 00:38:56,440 Speaker 1: Georgia, I thought this would interest you because I guess 748 00:38:56,480 --> 00:39:00,600 Speaker 1: prior to young Duggud and friends being being arrested, there 749 00:39:00,680 --> 00:39:02,799 Speaker 1: was a show at Stave Farm Arena, right, you were 750 00:39:02,840 --> 00:39:06,840 Speaker 1: closely monitoring it. You were closely monitoring it trying to 751 00:39:06,840 --> 00:39:08,880 Speaker 1: see whether the show would still go on in the 752 00:39:08,920 --> 00:39:12,560 Speaker 1: aftermath of everything. Ghana is going on tour in May. 753 00:39:13,320 --> 00:39:16,880 Speaker 1: It wraps in June in Atlanta at State Farm Arena. 754 00:39:17,120 --> 00:39:19,200 Speaker 3: Oh my word, that is all. 755 00:39:19,239 --> 00:39:20,719 Speaker 1: I just wanted to point out the irony too. 756 00:39:21,000 --> 00:39:21,280 Speaker 3: Circle. 757 00:39:21,400 --> 00:39:24,439 Speaker 2: Yeah, and nobody is saying, oh God, we can't have this. 758 00:39:25,080 --> 00:39:29,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, we need to foil the extra security costs paid 759 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:29,960 Speaker 4: by the county for that one. 760 00:39:29,960 --> 00:39:33,799 Speaker 2: There you go, Oh, I would love to see paid 761 00:39:33,800 --> 00:39:36,200 Speaker 2: for by the county. So that's the thing. I doubt it. 762 00:39:36,280 --> 00:39:39,400 Speaker 2: I think state farm folks would be like, no, like 763 00:39:39,440 --> 00:39:42,960 Speaker 2: write a check, like just raise the ticket price by 764 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:46,920 Speaker 2: a dollar and hire all the off duty sheriff's deputies 765 00:39:46,960 --> 00:39:48,400 Speaker 2: in town all. 766 00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:50,879 Speaker 4: But it would be interesting to see how Atlanta hip 767 00:39:50,880 --> 00:39:53,120 Speaker 4: hop responds to that. I assume it's It's goin his 768 00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:56,200 Speaker 4: first rail show in the city since since his plea. 769 00:39:56,320 --> 00:39:59,080 Speaker 4: But he's but people are slowly coming back to his side. 770 00:39:59,120 --> 00:39:59,319 Speaker 3: You know. 771 00:39:59,360 --> 00:40:02,120 Speaker 4: He's as a video with offset from Egos that came 772 00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:04,360 Speaker 4: out a couple of weeks ago. They appeared together live. 773 00:40:05,640 --> 00:40:05,880 Speaker 3: You know. 774 00:40:06,040 --> 00:40:10,440 Speaker 4: I think you got to imagine people are starting to 775 00:40:10,680 --> 00:40:12,480 Speaker 4: come out of the wings and think like, okay, Like 776 00:40:12,600 --> 00:40:14,839 Speaker 4: is it is it cool to collaborate with Ghanna again? 777 00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:15,160 Speaker 2: Like that? 778 00:40:15,320 --> 00:40:17,239 Speaker 4: You know it? Only it only takes one and then 779 00:40:17,280 --> 00:40:19,720 Speaker 4: two and then three and then and then people forget. 780 00:40:19,840 --> 00:40:22,920 Speaker 1: It's like a domino effect. So that's so interesting because 781 00:40:23,280 --> 00:40:26,560 Speaker 1: we've been wondering this entire time and making the podcast one, 782 00:40:27,080 --> 00:40:29,160 Speaker 1: what sort of chill effect this trial would have on 783 00:40:29,200 --> 00:40:31,640 Speaker 1: crime in Atlanta? And then two, what sort of chill 784 00:40:31,640 --> 00:40:34,719 Speaker 1: effect this might have on music that is coming out 785 00:40:34,760 --> 00:40:37,200 Speaker 1: of Atlanta. So, I mean, Joe, I've kind of had 786 00:40:37,200 --> 00:40:39,000 Speaker 1: my head buried under the sand and trying to keep 787 00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:41,680 Speaker 1: up with all the trial proceedings. So I'm mostly steeped 788 00:40:41,680 --> 00:40:44,799 Speaker 1: in Alanta trapp nostalgia at the moment. But what's been 789 00:40:44,840 --> 00:40:49,000 Speaker 1: going on in Atlanta. It seems like shit's more breezing 790 00:40:49,040 --> 00:40:49,759 Speaker 1: than it's ever been. 791 00:40:51,040 --> 00:40:55,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think the idea that you know, rap lyrics 792 00:40:55,880 --> 00:40:59,319 Speaker 4: would be would come from a come from a more 793 00:40:59,360 --> 00:41:03,440 Speaker 4: guarded place now that they were being used in criminal indictments, 794 00:41:03,480 --> 00:41:05,480 Speaker 4: like the issue is, And I think this goes to 795 00:41:05,520 --> 00:41:09,720 Speaker 4: the broader question of crime. One Rico case against one 796 00:41:10,400 --> 00:41:14,200 Speaker 4: alleged gang and one part of Atlanta does not rid 797 00:41:14,239 --> 00:41:18,240 Speaker 4: the city of the circumstances that birth this kind of music. 798 00:41:18,480 --> 00:41:21,839 Speaker 4: There are always going to be kids from nothing who 799 00:41:21,920 --> 00:41:24,800 Speaker 4: feel like they have nothing to lose, who want to 800 00:41:24,920 --> 00:41:28,480 Speaker 4: let out, you know, the basest, you know, most vicious 801 00:41:28,520 --> 00:41:32,439 Speaker 4: emotions over a beat. That's what hip hop is. That's 802 00:41:32,480 --> 00:41:35,080 Speaker 4: what Atlanta rap is. And if you pay attention at 803 00:41:35,120 --> 00:41:38,799 Speaker 4: all to the underground, to the unsigned talent coming out 804 00:41:38,840 --> 00:41:41,759 Speaker 4: of Atlanta, as Christina said, like it is. It is 805 00:41:41,800 --> 00:41:46,279 Speaker 4: as vicious as you know, lyrically and sonically violent as 806 00:41:46,280 --> 00:41:49,760 Speaker 4: it's ever been. I think the drill effect around the country, 807 00:41:49,880 --> 00:41:52,920 Speaker 4: you know, ten years on from Chief Keef in Chicago, 808 00:41:53,120 --> 00:41:58,319 Speaker 4: Like is that sound and that super hyper local, nihilistic 809 00:41:58,440 --> 00:42:01,760 Speaker 4: violent subject matter is like still what is extremely popular? 810 00:42:01,800 --> 00:42:03,880 Speaker 4: I thought, you know, maybe we were coming out the 811 00:42:03,880 --> 00:42:06,680 Speaker 4: other side of it, probably unrelated to the thug trial, 812 00:42:07,600 --> 00:42:09,840 Speaker 4: but you think of someone. You know, there's a buzzing 813 00:42:09,920 --> 00:42:13,000 Speaker 4: artist out of out of Atlanta right now called Baby 814 00:42:13,080 --> 00:42:16,040 Speaker 4: Kia and his viral song is called crash Him. 815 00:42:16,120 --> 00:42:17,879 Speaker 2: Yeah, qualking down? 816 00:42:18,280 --> 00:42:18,880 Speaker 3: What that says? 817 00:42:19,120 --> 00:42:21,400 Speaker 2: Ask a bullet said, so I can't white it. 818 00:42:21,480 --> 00:42:23,200 Speaker 4: Let a hate please put up walking down? 819 00:42:23,239 --> 00:42:24,600 Speaker 1: Ask do you love that being type? 820 00:42:24,640 --> 00:42:26,560 Speaker 2: Put off mask and sud and tell him not Dan 821 00:42:26,640 --> 00:42:27,360 Speaker 2: walk them down. 822 00:42:27,800 --> 00:42:28,520 Speaker 7: On what happened? 823 00:42:28,760 --> 00:42:30,600 Speaker 4: And the first line in the song is like I'm 824 00:42:30,600 --> 00:42:33,919 Speaker 4: walking on Cleveland with that stick like it's straight out 825 00:42:33,920 --> 00:42:36,960 Speaker 4: of this trial, you know, And he's naming names, you 826 00:42:36,960 --> 00:42:39,719 Speaker 4: know there there's there's specifics in this song. I don't know, 827 00:42:40,280 --> 00:42:42,320 Speaker 4: you know, if they do or don't refer to to 828 00:42:42,520 --> 00:42:46,160 Speaker 4: real situations. But but the idea that a song like 829 00:42:46,200 --> 00:42:50,680 Speaker 4: this exists with the thug indictment as headline news in 830 00:42:50,719 --> 00:42:53,080 Speaker 4: the city. Like, I think that's a that's as much 831 00:42:53,120 --> 00:42:57,560 Speaker 4: of a middle finger to the system as you could imagine. 832 00:42:57,880 --> 00:43:01,480 Speaker 2: Let me tell you. I like, so, I guess I've 833 00:43:01,520 --> 00:43:03,839 Speaker 2: got to like the folks who care about what I 834 00:43:03,880 --> 00:43:07,800 Speaker 2: think come from a particular demographic. Like they are older 835 00:43:08,200 --> 00:43:12,000 Speaker 2: black guys who can shout at clouds and get off 836 00:43:12,000 --> 00:43:14,000 Speaker 2: my lawn a little bit, a little bit, not all 837 00:43:14,040 --> 00:43:15,880 Speaker 2: of them, not most of them, but enough enough that 838 00:43:15,880 --> 00:43:19,040 Speaker 2: they will come up to me and say, this drill music. 839 00:43:20,120 --> 00:43:24,680 Speaker 2: I am worried about this drill music, and to some degree, 840 00:43:24,719 --> 00:43:27,120 Speaker 2: to the degree that the street is talking to me. 841 00:43:27,200 --> 00:43:30,880 Speaker 2: And please don't assume that the street is talking to me. 842 00:43:32,000 --> 00:43:36,160 Speaker 2: But like, I think there's a disconnect between the industry, 843 00:43:36,719 --> 00:43:41,400 Speaker 2: the music industry, and the underground music that you're talking about. 844 00:43:41,440 --> 00:43:43,480 Speaker 2: You don't have to have a label to make music 845 00:43:43,560 --> 00:43:47,600 Speaker 2: like baby Kia, Like anybody can put that up and 846 00:43:47,760 --> 00:43:51,759 Speaker 2: so like, even though the labels in the industry may 847 00:43:51,800 --> 00:43:56,560 Speaker 2: be like whatever I would, I would here. 848 00:43:56,560 --> 00:43:58,880 Speaker 4: So I wouldn't be so sure about that. Though, I 849 00:43:58,920 --> 00:44:02,480 Speaker 4: think the amount of the amount of Atlanta rappers, you know, 850 00:44:03,280 --> 00:44:07,000 Speaker 4: with one hundred thousand YouTube views, who I see on Instagram, 851 00:44:07,040 --> 00:44:11,800 Speaker 4: in in label offices, taking meetings. You know, there's there's 852 00:44:11,920 --> 00:44:15,319 Speaker 4: there's never going to be a shortage of business people 853 00:44:15,360 --> 00:44:18,680 Speaker 4: who want to make money off of street level talent. 854 00:44:18,800 --> 00:44:20,960 Speaker 4: I think, you know, you might be quieter than it 855 00:44:21,040 --> 00:44:22,759 Speaker 4: used to be. You know, you're not gonna You're not 856 00:44:22,800 --> 00:44:25,040 Speaker 4: gonna They're not going to pop a bottle of champagne 857 00:44:25,080 --> 00:44:28,640 Speaker 4: and post it to Sony Corporate Instagram. Maybe it's done 858 00:44:28,680 --> 00:44:31,800 Speaker 4: through an imprint or you know, a JV label or whatever, 859 00:44:31,960 --> 00:44:34,520 Speaker 4: or it's a distribution deal, you know, with a company 860 00:44:34,880 --> 00:44:37,319 Speaker 4: like Empire. You know, like there there are there are 861 00:44:37,320 --> 00:44:39,839 Speaker 4: a lot of different ways to do this more creatively 862 00:44:40,080 --> 00:44:40,920 Speaker 4: I think than there. 863 00:44:40,840 --> 00:44:41,160 Speaker 2: Used to be. 864 00:44:41,239 --> 00:44:44,640 Speaker 4: But also, the labels have never really been held responsible 865 00:44:44,719 --> 00:44:47,280 Speaker 4: for for any role that they have in this Uh 866 00:44:47,320 --> 00:44:49,200 Speaker 4: you know, we've we've heard from the beginning of this 867 00:44:49,280 --> 00:44:52,360 Speaker 4: trial people saying, well, you know, why isn't anyone holding 868 00:44:52,360 --> 00:44:56,279 Speaker 4: the white executives responsible? And that continued. I was one 869 00:44:56,280 --> 00:44:59,920 Speaker 4: of those mostly mostly that's a mostly rhetorical questions. 870 00:45:00,360 --> 00:45:03,120 Speaker 3: You know, Well, it's interesting because HYSL, you know, is 871 00:45:03,239 --> 00:45:06,440 Speaker 3: obviously a label and I signed up a long time 872 00:45:06,480 --> 00:45:08,520 Speaker 3: ago for these text messages, it would like update you 873 00:45:08,600 --> 00:45:12,080 Speaker 3: and they had new YSL things, and I get those still, 874 00:45:12,120 --> 00:45:14,360 Speaker 3: and it's kind of weird to get like a regular 875 00:45:14,480 --> 00:45:19,360 Speaker 3: marketing text about whysl's stuff when all this stuff's going on, 876 00:45:19,440 --> 00:45:22,480 Speaker 3: And I wonder, like, is the label still basically functioning 877 00:45:22,560 --> 00:45:26,120 Speaker 3: the same way or has it been impacted dramatically by this? 878 00:45:27,239 --> 00:45:27,520 Speaker 3: Do you know? 879 00:45:28,440 --> 00:45:32,040 Speaker 4: I think a label like YSL is so dependent on 880 00:45:32,160 --> 00:45:35,799 Speaker 4: its principle on young Thug basically, you know, it's like 881 00:45:35,960 --> 00:45:38,640 Speaker 4: it's basically a miracle when you can get a second 882 00:45:38,719 --> 00:45:42,719 Speaker 4: artist on an artist's imprint to pop at the level 883 00:45:42,719 --> 00:45:45,120 Speaker 4: of Gunna, you know, and the fact that they got 884 00:45:45,280 --> 00:45:47,760 Speaker 4: gonna to be as big as he is and continue 885 00:45:47,760 --> 00:45:49,960 Speaker 4: to be, you know, presumably he still has some sort 886 00:45:50,000 --> 00:45:54,080 Speaker 4: of contractual relationship with YSL despite the whatever distance there 887 00:45:54,239 --> 00:45:59,160 Speaker 4: there there may be personally, but between the people involved. 888 00:46:00,080 --> 00:46:02,440 Speaker 4: So I think, like often, you know, you think of 889 00:46:02,520 --> 00:46:07,160 Speaker 4: someone like Unfun Thug's brother who who who was involved 890 00:46:07,200 --> 00:46:09,600 Speaker 4: in this case, and I think as back in back 891 00:46:09,600 --> 00:46:12,279 Speaker 4: in prison, having violated his probation. You know, most of 892 00:46:12,320 --> 00:46:18,480 Speaker 4: the artists under HYSL, other than Gunn, are Thug's closest friends. 893 00:46:18,480 --> 00:46:21,480 Speaker 4: And collaborators. You know, there are people who are attached 894 00:46:21,480 --> 00:46:24,040 Speaker 4: directly to him and who he was giving a chance 895 00:46:24,120 --> 00:46:28,080 Speaker 4: to directly, you know. So I think it's very hard 896 00:46:28,239 --> 00:46:31,520 Speaker 4: for a label that exists because of one man to 897 00:46:31,840 --> 00:46:34,280 Speaker 4: succeed without that man. But that doesn't mean there aren't 898 00:46:34,440 --> 00:46:38,400 Speaker 4: artists trying, you know. You think of someone like Strick 899 00:46:39,040 --> 00:46:41,280 Speaker 4: who's out here, I think, trying to carry the torch. 900 00:46:42,000 --> 00:46:44,879 Speaker 4: You know, there are people, there are always people like that. 901 00:46:44,960 --> 00:46:47,960 Speaker 4: But I think thug was was the engine and HYSL 902 00:46:48,200 --> 00:46:51,040 Speaker 4: only exists. You know, a label gives Thug YSL as 903 00:46:51,080 --> 00:46:53,680 Speaker 4: basically like a bonus to say not only do we 904 00:46:53,719 --> 00:46:56,000 Speaker 4: want you, but we want your friends and family too. 905 00:46:56,520 --> 00:46:58,319 Speaker 3: And I guess on that same note, George, is why 906 00:46:58,480 --> 00:47:02,399 Speaker 3: sell the gang leged gang? Is that still functioning if 907 00:47:02,400 --> 00:47:03,680 Speaker 3: they believe it's out there? 908 00:47:04,200 --> 00:47:10,160 Speaker 2: From what folks have told me, And again take this 909 00:47:10,200 --> 00:47:14,120 Speaker 2: with a grain of salt, like YSL is a function 910 00:47:14,760 --> 00:47:19,080 Speaker 2: of Cleveland Avenue. Like as long as Cleveland Avenue exists, 911 00:47:19,440 --> 00:47:21,120 Speaker 2: a kid who's growing up there is going to call 912 00:47:21,200 --> 00:47:24,000 Speaker 2: himself a YSL gang member if they're going to be 913 00:47:24,160 --> 00:47:25,080 Speaker 2: ganging at all. 914 00:47:25,840 --> 00:47:28,280 Speaker 3: So it's just like saying where you're from basically, but 915 00:47:28,440 --> 00:47:31,000 Speaker 3: that's that runs counter to everything that the proces. 916 00:47:34,600 --> 00:47:37,320 Speaker 4: But that's why this is such a tricky case because 917 00:47:37,440 --> 00:47:42,239 Speaker 4: these hybrid these hybrid gangs, these these clicks, you know, 918 00:47:42,480 --> 00:47:45,799 Speaker 4: the way the way this culture works in Atlanta. It 919 00:47:45,920 --> 00:47:49,520 Speaker 4: is not the typical way that people think of, you know, 920 00:47:49,600 --> 00:47:53,239 Speaker 4: a top down organization, a mafia style organization. That is 921 00:47:53,320 --> 00:47:56,000 Speaker 4: not what this is. And I think that's the struggle 922 00:47:56,320 --> 00:48:00,200 Speaker 4: that the prosecutor's office has here, is explaining this sort 923 00:48:00,200 --> 00:48:04,080 Speaker 4: of amorphous thing in a way that tracks for a 924 00:48:04,200 --> 00:48:07,080 Speaker 4: jury while also saying that thug is at the top 925 00:48:07,080 --> 00:48:07,800 Speaker 4: of this pyramid. 926 00:48:08,080 --> 00:48:10,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's gonna be really interesting to see how the 927 00:48:10,080 --> 00:48:13,560 Speaker 1: jury responds to DK's testimony, in particular, because he did 928 00:48:13,600 --> 00:48:16,200 Speaker 1: touch on this right so so much of that testimony 929 00:48:16,280 --> 00:48:19,880 Speaker 1: was about, okay, so like how many of these defendants 930 00:48:19,880 --> 00:48:22,480 Speaker 1: are YSL? How do they become part of YSL? And 931 00:48:22,520 --> 00:48:24,720 Speaker 1: how does this how does all this shit work? First 932 00:48:24,719 --> 00:48:26,839 Speaker 1: he looks around the courtroom and he's like, Okay, I 933 00:48:26,880 --> 00:48:29,160 Speaker 1: know maybe like two or three people here. The rest 934 00:48:29,160 --> 00:48:33,200 Speaker 1: of them, I have no clue. And like, literally, let's 935 00:48:33,200 --> 00:48:36,279 Speaker 1: see Dae Simone Hilton, She's going through she's going through 936 00:48:36,280 --> 00:48:37,880 Speaker 1: the list. She's like, Okay, well, how do you know 937 00:48:37,920 --> 00:48:40,800 Speaker 1: this person? Well? I know them from the studio versus 938 00:48:40,960 --> 00:48:44,040 Speaker 1: Cleveland Avenue versus. Like if somebody was on the west side, 939 00:48:44,120 --> 00:48:46,160 Speaker 1: like DK like would scrunch up his face and be like, 940 00:48:46,200 --> 00:48:47,880 Speaker 1: I have no fucking clue. I never go to that 941 00:48:47,920 --> 00:48:51,080 Speaker 1: side of town. And then meanwhile, is this amazing quote 942 00:48:51,120 --> 00:48:53,480 Speaker 1: about how like how do you like? I guess the 943 00:48:53,560 --> 00:48:57,080 Speaker 1: question was how do you become part of YSL? And 944 00:48:57,160 --> 00:48:59,280 Speaker 1: dude was like, I don't know, Like you could literally 945 00:48:59,320 --> 00:49:01,680 Speaker 1: just go and say it. You know, you could say 946 00:49:01,680 --> 00:49:03,759 Speaker 1: your WHI sold as much as much as you could 947 00:49:03,760 --> 00:49:06,000 Speaker 1: say that you were like Muslim or Christian? Was why 948 00:49:06,120 --> 00:49:09,520 Speaker 1: sell affiliated with any national monkeys? 949 00:49:12,360 --> 00:49:12,600 Speaker 2: Yeah? 950 00:49:14,239 --> 00:49:15,000 Speaker 4: Who or what? 951 00:49:16,520 --> 00:49:19,680 Speaker 8: I don't think it's just blood. I don't think it's 952 00:49:19,760 --> 00:49:24,080 Speaker 8: like no particular individual. 953 00:49:27,840 --> 00:49:28,960 Speaker 4: So you said it was just blood. 954 00:49:30,000 --> 00:49:31,200 Speaker 3: It was blood. Cryops. 955 00:49:31,920 --> 00:49:35,000 Speaker 8: You could be anything. Wise, you could be Muslim, Christian? 956 00:49:36,000 --> 00:49:39,400 Speaker 8: Why I say it wasn't no you gotta be the 957 00:49:39,600 --> 00:49:41,680 Speaker 8: to be wise. No, it was just you want to 958 00:49:41,719 --> 00:49:43,080 Speaker 8: be wise, be wise here. 959 00:49:43,160 --> 00:49:44,880 Speaker 4: Nobody said you can't be wise here. 960 00:49:45,440 --> 00:49:47,360 Speaker 1: And I'm just thinking about like how the jury's going 961 00:49:47,400 --> 00:49:49,239 Speaker 1: to receive all that now, Granted, they don't have to 962 00:49:49,280 --> 00:49:52,040 Speaker 1: take his word on it. But if that's going to 963 00:49:52,080 --> 00:49:54,920 Speaker 1: be coupled with all these explanations about what a hybrid 964 00:49:54,960 --> 00:49:57,880 Speaker 1: gang is, like that's a really tall order. 965 00:49:58,280 --> 00:49:58,480 Speaker 2: Yeah. 966 00:49:58,480 --> 00:50:00,200 Speaker 3: I mean we talked about that when we were looking it, 967 00:50:00,840 --> 00:50:03,799 Speaker 3: like we were listening to these witnesses describe what a 968 00:50:03,840 --> 00:50:07,400 Speaker 3: hybrid gang is, you know, these police officials and these detectives, 969 00:50:07,760 --> 00:50:10,560 Speaker 3: and it sounded really squishy. It was like, Oh, it's this, 970 00:50:10,680 --> 00:50:12,640 Speaker 3: it's also this, it's also this, it's it felt like 971 00:50:12,640 --> 00:50:16,280 Speaker 3: a very convenient, you know, hole that you could basically 972 00:50:16,280 --> 00:50:19,440 Speaker 3: put any type of peg into. And I feel like 973 00:50:19,480 --> 00:50:21,440 Speaker 3: that if I was a jur I mean, we've talked 974 00:50:21,440 --> 00:50:23,200 Speaker 3: about this already, but if I was a juror, I 975 00:50:23,239 --> 00:50:25,799 Speaker 3: would be like, reasonable doubt is what I'm holding this too. 976 00:50:25,880 --> 00:50:27,880 Speaker 3: And I don't know forgetting there. 977 00:50:27,920 --> 00:50:30,760 Speaker 2: Right, I want to come back to something really quick. 978 00:50:31,000 --> 00:50:36,840 Speaker 2: So you referenced baby Kia and Strict and you are, again, 979 00:50:37,680 --> 00:50:42,600 Speaker 2: a mighty journalist with the mighty New York Times, and 980 00:50:42,640 --> 00:50:47,640 Speaker 2: you were referencing street rappers who like I mean, you'd 981 00:50:47,680 --> 00:50:49,680 Speaker 2: have to google, Like I mean, if you were like 982 00:50:49,880 --> 00:50:51,440 Speaker 2: Joe Listener from Marietta. 983 00:50:51,800 --> 00:50:53,960 Speaker 4: Sure, yeah, I'm saying, I'm like, I might as well 984 00:50:54,000 --> 00:50:55,000 Speaker 4: be making these guys. 985 00:50:54,840 --> 00:50:59,040 Speaker 3: Up like three million views on YouTube though. That is 986 00:50:59,080 --> 00:50:59,880 Speaker 3: what I saw that. 987 00:51:00,000 --> 00:51:04,160 Speaker 2: It's just like this distance between a signed member of 988 00:51:04,320 --> 00:51:09,120 Speaker 2: the label YSL who's got a distribution deal and is 989 00:51:09,160 --> 00:51:12,160 Speaker 2: getting pushed by like Sony Records or something like that, 990 00:51:12,600 --> 00:51:16,520 Speaker 2: and a baby Kia who's got you know, a bunch 991 00:51:16,560 --> 00:51:20,879 Speaker 2: of YouTube views like is small if they can, if 992 00:51:20,920 --> 00:51:24,000 Speaker 2: they're both capable, if you are a person who is 993 00:51:24,080 --> 00:51:27,920 Speaker 2: capable of registering that they are culturally relevant, and somebody 994 00:51:27,960 --> 00:51:30,760 Speaker 2: that a New York Times news reporter could talk about 995 00:51:31,640 --> 00:51:35,560 Speaker 2: like baby like this, the distance between the street and 996 00:51:35,719 --> 00:51:39,800 Speaker 2: some boardroom in New York is not is not great anymore. 997 00:51:40,960 --> 00:51:45,239 Speaker 4: And that's wrapped today. That's impot today. That's and specifically 998 00:51:45,320 --> 00:51:48,880 Speaker 4: in the streaming era, in the digital in the digital time, 999 00:51:49,080 --> 00:51:51,960 Speaker 4: like this is. And this is why I think we've 1000 00:51:52,040 --> 00:51:58,480 Speaker 4: seen so much death and violence and court cases and 1001 00:51:58,520 --> 00:52:03,400 Speaker 4: indictments within him. It's like the bar has fallen to 1002 00:52:03,719 --> 00:52:06,560 Speaker 4: where you can call yourself a rapper, you know, and 1003 00:52:06,560 --> 00:52:10,640 Speaker 4: and you can have a viable career with no guidance 1004 00:52:10,680 --> 00:52:14,319 Speaker 4: and no chance to move out of your bad neighborhood, 1005 00:52:14,360 --> 00:52:16,279 Speaker 4: and you know, like this is this is what I 1006 00:52:16,320 --> 00:52:19,440 Speaker 4: wanted to document in my book Rap Capital, Like this, 1007 00:52:19,440 --> 00:52:22,440 Speaker 4: this stuff happens, and especially in a city like Atlanta, 1008 00:52:22,800 --> 00:52:26,080 Speaker 4: which is known for creating stars over and over again, 1009 00:52:26,320 --> 00:52:28,200 Speaker 4: there was this gold rush when all of a sudden 1010 00:52:28,239 --> 00:52:31,200 Speaker 4: the music business was booming again, and any kid on 1011 00:52:31,239 --> 00:52:33,479 Speaker 4: the street who appears in the background of a little 1012 00:52:33,520 --> 00:52:37,160 Speaker 4: baby video could get a deal for a couple tens 1013 00:52:37,160 --> 00:52:40,440 Speaker 4: of thousands of dollars, hundreds of thousands of dollars, and 1014 00:52:40,880 --> 00:52:43,120 Speaker 4: even more. You know, you get a verse from young 1015 00:52:43,160 --> 00:52:45,440 Speaker 4: thug and all of a sudden, you're you're signing for 1016 00:52:45,480 --> 00:52:48,200 Speaker 4: a million bucks. But a million bucks is not a 1017 00:52:48,239 --> 00:52:51,320 Speaker 4: lifetime is worth of money, you know, And these things, 1018 00:52:51,440 --> 00:52:55,560 Speaker 4: these things grow quickly, but they crumble just as quickly. 1019 00:52:55,600 --> 00:52:58,239 Speaker 4: And I think that's a lot of the that's a 1020 00:52:58,239 --> 00:53:01,319 Speaker 4: lot of the tension that we see here, especially when 1021 00:53:01,360 --> 00:53:04,960 Speaker 4: you pair that with the lifestyle that you know, people 1022 00:53:05,000 --> 00:53:07,240 Speaker 4: want to see in this kind of music, the od 1023 00:53:07,400 --> 00:53:08,400 Speaker 4: crash and lifestyle. 1024 00:53:08,880 --> 00:53:12,920 Speaker 3: So it's less that more rappers are alleged gangsters and 1025 00:53:13,040 --> 00:53:16,279 Speaker 3: more that alleged gangsters are getting into rap. 1026 00:53:17,600 --> 00:53:21,759 Speaker 4: That's definitely what the what the Prosecutor's office says you 1027 00:53:21,760 --> 00:53:25,520 Speaker 4: know that that increasingly these hybrid gangs are driven by rappers. 1028 00:53:25,560 --> 00:53:28,480 Speaker 4: You know, I have you know, we had my colleague 1029 00:53:28,719 --> 00:53:30,600 Speaker 4: Richard Fosson and I and in the piece we did 1030 00:53:30,640 --> 00:53:34,759 Speaker 4: you know the Marissa you guys mentioned earlier? Gang investigators 1031 00:53:34,760 --> 00:53:38,000 Speaker 4: said the new color way, the new colors are are 1032 00:53:38,040 --> 00:53:40,680 Speaker 4: the rappers and people line up behind them. So that's 1033 00:53:40,719 --> 00:53:43,440 Speaker 4: the case that they are trying to make. But it's 1034 00:53:43,480 --> 00:53:45,960 Speaker 4: not so simple, you know, you think of you know, 1035 00:53:46,480 --> 00:53:48,879 Speaker 4: even trying to explain to the jury what the DA 1036 00:53:48,880 --> 00:53:50,800 Speaker 4: has done here that like some of y s l 1037 00:53:50,960 --> 00:53:52,680 Speaker 4: or bloods and some of them are crips, Like that 1038 00:53:52,719 --> 00:53:57,279 Speaker 4: doesn't compute to people whose version who's you know, who's 1039 00:53:58,760 --> 00:54:02,759 Speaker 4: whose understanding of gangs comes from nineties or early two 1040 00:54:02,800 --> 00:54:06,080 Speaker 4: thousand's popular culture. It's like it's completely at odds. So 1041 00:54:06,120 --> 00:54:09,040 Speaker 4: there's a lot of cognitive dissonance in trying to tell 1042 00:54:09,080 --> 00:54:10,480 Speaker 4: a linear story here. 1043 00:54:13,200 --> 00:54:20,680 Speaker 3: More on the way stay with us. I feel like 1044 00:54:20,719 --> 00:54:22,959 Speaker 3: we're wrapping it up right, guys. It feels like we're 1045 00:54:23,080 --> 00:54:25,879 Speaker 3: taking our final lap here. How do we finish this thing? 1046 00:54:26,640 --> 00:54:27,200 Speaker 3: Two years? 1047 00:54:27,239 --> 00:54:27,799 Speaker 1: What do we do? 1048 00:54:28,400 --> 00:54:29,480 Speaker 3: I don't know what to do at the end. 1049 00:54:29,560 --> 00:54:32,520 Speaker 2: Here, Let's start with this like I will still be 1050 00:54:32,640 --> 00:54:36,240 Speaker 2: writing from time to time for Rolling Stone about this case. 1051 00:54:36,719 --> 00:54:40,560 Speaker 2: I've I've taken a long term, long term like a year. 1052 00:54:40,600 --> 00:54:44,560 Speaker 2: I have a one year contract writing about democracy for 1053 00:54:44,719 --> 00:54:47,640 Speaker 2: The Guardian, and I'm covering the South. That doesn't mean 1054 00:54:47,640 --> 00:54:51,240 Speaker 2: that I'm walking entirely away from watching the Young Thug trial. 1055 00:54:51,280 --> 00:54:54,560 Speaker 2: I'm just not going to be there every day, sitting 1056 00:54:54,600 --> 00:54:58,640 Speaker 2: there listening to testimony. I'm going to catch up, like 1057 00:54:58,800 --> 00:55:02,920 Speaker 2: and as the real the important things come in, like 1058 00:55:02,920 --> 00:55:09,400 Speaker 2: like you know, when Little Duke testifies or if Kenneth 1059 00:55:09,440 --> 00:55:12,839 Speaker 2: Copelnch takes the stand, like I'll know to come in 1060 00:55:13,040 --> 00:55:16,440 Speaker 2: and I'll write something and I hopefully listener you can 1061 00:55:16,520 --> 00:55:20,839 Speaker 2: find that. And like, I'm not sure what Christina's plans are. 1062 00:55:21,040 --> 00:55:22,880 Speaker 1: George, we talked about this. I have no idea. 1063 00:55:23,120 --> 00:55:25,920 Speaker 3: All right, your roll twenty two is still valid. You 1064 00:55:25,960 --> 00:55:28,279 Speaker 3: know you're still going to just hang out for fun in. 1065 00:55:28,280 --> 00:55:31,399 Speaker 4: Court, Christina. I know, I know you'll stay at it too. 1066 00:55:33,520 --> 00:55:36,799 Speaker 1: I mean, yeah, however you can, however I can. I mean, 1067 00:55:36,800 --> 00:55:39,560 Speaker 1: this case has just proven to be so much more 1068 00:55:39,640 --> 00:55:42,279 Speaker 1: than I could have anticipated for when Young Thug was 1069 00:55:42,360 --> 00:55:45,480 Speaker 1: arrested and when Gunna was arrested, I you know, I 1070 00:55:45,680 --> 00:55:53,160 Speaker 1: had this perception of how like this was almost sort 1071 00:55:53,200 --> 00:55:55,600 Speaker 1: of like a this was a trial concerning like a 1072 00:55:55,680 --> 00:55:59,319 Speaker 1: rap superstar and that his music was being scrutinized and that, 1073 00:55:59,400 --> 00:56:01,399 Speaker 1: and like part of that is true, but so much 1074 00:56:01,440 --> 00:56:04,480 Speaker 1: of what this trial is and compass it's been like 1075 00:56:05,000 --> 00:56:08,280 Speaker 1: the most complicated local story in Atlanta that I've certainly 1076 00:56:08,320 --> 00:56:11,319 Speaker 1: tried to follow. Like it covers, like, you know, just 1077 00:56:11,360 --> 00:56:14,000 Speaker 1: a decade's worth of the city trying to wrap its 1078 00:56:14,040 --> 00:56:17,440 Speaker 1: mind around how the city is changing in general, and 1079 00:56:17,480 --> 00:56:19,719 Speaker 1: like who gets left behind as a result, and how 1080 00:56:19,719 --> 00:56:23,880 Speaker 1: the grind dynamics sort of reflect that. I think, you know, 1081 00:56:23,960 --> 00:56:26,200 Speaker 1: my mind is just like completely scrambled up on this 1082 00:56:26,200 --> 00:56:27,880 Speaker 1: whole thing. So I feel like I have no choice 1083 00:56:28,280 --> 00:56:29,840 Speaker 1: in a way than other to keep up with this 1084 00:56:29,880 --> 00:56:32,760 Speaker 1: trial because I literally don't know anything at this point. 1085 00:56:32,800 --> 00:56:38,360 Speaker 4: Is I Yeah, I'll say I took I took parental 1086 00:56:38,440 --> 00:56:41,880 Speaker 4: leave recently in the middle of this trial, and you know, 1087 00:56:42,000 --> 00:56:44,480 Speaker 4: from covering it at the times, which I wasn't doing 1088 00:56:44,480 --> 00:56:46,640 Speaker 4: in the way that you guys are. You know, some 1089 00:56:46,719 --> 00:56:48,600 Speaker 4: of you guys are day in and day out. But 1090 00:56:48,680 --> 00:56:50,359 Speaker 4: I was swooping in and I and you know, I 1091 00:56:50,400 --> 00:56:52,160 Speaker 4: was thinking like, oh, maybe it'll be over by the 1092 00:56:52,160 --> 00:56:54,160 Speaker 4: time I get back, like I'm going to miss writing 1093 00:56:54,160 --> 00:56:57,200 Speaker 4: the Verdict story for the New York Times. And yet 1094 00:56:57,320 --> 00:56:59,560 Speaker 4: here we are. I'm about about ready to come back 1095 00:56:59,680 --> 00:57:02,759 Speaker 4: back to work and we're not even close. But I 1096 00:57:02,800 --> 00:57:05,720 Speaker 4: do just want to shout out the people like you guys, 1097 00:57:05,840 --> 00:57:09,040 Speaker 4: George Christina, you know been covering this at at the 1098 00:57:09,040 --> 00:57:12,000 Speaker 4: ground level. All the local reporters who are doing such 1099 00:57:12,040 --> 00:57:16,240 Speaker 4: a great job. You know, Michael Siden at WSP, you 1100 00:57:16,240 --> 00:57:20,080 Speaker 4: know Joseph Papp and Shaddy Abuse at AJAC, you know 1101 00:57:20,280 --> 00:57:24,800 Speaker 4: Jewel Wicker covering for national outlets, you know, and then 1102 00:57:24,960 --> 00:57:28,520 Speaker 4: people people coming in and out, you know Kathy and 1103 00:57:28,600 --> 00:57:30,800 Speaker 4: Megan who you guys have had on the show, and 1104 00:57:31,160 --> 00:57:33,240 Speaker 4: you know it's there's really I think gonna be a 1105 00:57:34,720 --> 00:57:38,280 Speaker 4: cohort of people who stuck this out and documented it 1106 00:57:38,360 --> 00:57:40,560 Speaker 4: for history, and I do think it is important on 1107 00:57:40,640 --> 00:57:43,840 Speaker 4: multiple levels. So just shout out to you guys for 1108 00:57:43,920 --> 00:57:46,840 Speaker 4: this show, and to everybody else sort of in the 1109 00:57:46,880 --> 00:57:50,400 Speaker 4: courtroom and on the live stream every day, Well. 1110 00:57:50,280 --> 00:57:52,320 Speaker 3: Thank you so much that I mean, you can't really 1111 00:57:52,400 --> 00:57:54,360 Speaker 3: end better than that, right, And I will say we 1112 00:57:54,360 --> 00:57:57,120 Speaker 3: were rewarded for this We really appreciate the listeners because 1113 00:57:57,640 --> 00:57:59,480 Speaker 3: you know this this show. We haven't even mentioned this, 1114 00:57:59,480 --> 00:58:01,520 Speaker 3: but this show is nominated for an amb for Best 1115 00:58:01,520 --> 00:58:04,000 Speaker 3: Documentary Podcast for the year. We just got back. That's 1116 00:58:04,000 --> 00:58:06,479 Speaker 3: why we missed us. That's why we missed a week 1117 00:58:06,600 --> 00:58:09,080 Speaker 3: for the show is because we were out at the 1118 00:58:09,480 --> 00:58:12,520 Speaker 3: ceremony that we lost, of course, but hey, it felt 1119 00:58:12,600 --> 00:58:15,400 Speaker 3: really good to be nominated. And so I think the 1120 00:58:15,480 --> 00:58:19,480 Speaker 3: response to this show, you know, has surprised us as well. 1121 00:58:19,480 --> 00:58:23,120 Speaker 3: We're just three fools that started sitting behind microphones and 1122 00:58:23,760 --> 00:58:26,640 Speaker 3: making something and so we've been really thrilled with everything 1123 00:58:26,640 --> 00:58:27,000 Speaker 3: that we were. 1124 00:58:27,200 --> 00:58:29,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I think people, to Joe's point, might not 1125 00:58:29,400 --> 00:58:32,400 Speaker 1: even fully understand the repercussions of everything that's happening now. 1126 00:58:32,480 --> 00:58:35,440 Speaker 1: But like, I'm confident that a couple of years removed, 1127 00:58:35,560 --> 00:58:38,320 Speaker 1: like we're really gonna like come to terms, which is 1128 00:58:38,360 --> 00:58:41,439 Speaker 1: how much this trial actually means. And then maybe that's 1129 00:58:41,480 --> 00:58:44,800 Speaker 1: when we'll actually win Best Documentary Podcast, once people realize 1130 00:58:44,840 --> 00:59:05,680 Speaker 1: how important we actually are. King Slime is a production 1131 00:59:05,760 --> 00:59:08,160 Speaker 1: of iHeart Podcasts and Heirloom Media. 1132 00:59:08,680 --> 00:59:11,360 Speaker 2: It's written and produced by George Cheaty, Christina Lee, and 1133 00:59:11,480 --> 00:59:12,800 Speaker 2: Tommy Andres. 1134 00:59:12,800 --> 00:59:16,040 Speaker 1: Mixing sound design and original music by Evan Tyre and 1135 00:59:16,120 --> 00:59:16,840 Speaker 1: Taylor Chakoi. 1136 00:59:17,400 --> 00:59:20,200 Speaker 2: The executive producer and editor is Tommy Andres. 1137 00:59:20,320 --> 00:59:21,959 Speaker 1: Our theme music is by Doune Deal. 1138 00:59:22,960 --> 00:59:26,920 Speaker 2: For more shows from iHeart Podcasts, visit the iHeartRadio app, 1139 00:59:27,160 --> 00:59:30,560 Speaker 2: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.