Last Thursday (Oct. 31), Young Thug was granted his release from prison after pleading guilty in the YSL Rico Case.
In a shrewd move, Thug’s legal team, spearheaded by Brian Steele, opted for a non-negotiated guilty plea. The plan worked in their favor, as Thug was sentenced to 15 years probation with no time to be served in prison after already having spent two years in custody. Thug’s release sparked shockwaves across social media, resulting in glowing comments from T.I., Travis Scott, Sexxy Red, and more.
Kevin Liles, the former CEO of 300 Entertainment, which houses Thug’s YSL label, said, “Words can’t express the incredible happiness and relief I feel to learn of Jeffery’s freedom. There will be a time to discuss the criminalization of hip-hop lyrics and the use of bond denial as a weapon against defendants, but in this moment everyone should feel nothing but joy that this amazing artist and even better man can hug his children, parents, siblings, and other loved ones tonight.”
With all eyes on Thug, his next moves will be imperative, mainly because of the restrictions of his probation and the limitations on what he can rap about, as well. As 2024 winds down, questions will arise regarding new music, his relationship with Gunna, when will we see him on stage again and more, as Thug returns to a rap world where everyone is waiting to see what he does next.
Billboard broke down the five things we hope will come out of Young Thug’s upcoming comeback run. Check it out below.
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Drop His First Day Out Song
It’s pretty much tradition now that when a rapper leaves prison, they drop their “First Day Out” record. We’ve seen 2Pac (“Ambitionz Az a Ridah”), Tee Grizzley (“First Day Out”), and Kodak Black (“First Day Out”) release their renditions, so it would be amazing to see Thug enter the hip-hop annals with his poignant drop. Knowing that his trial had so many twists and turns, hearing Thug’s perspective on his grueling two-year stint would be a great way to kick off his new chapter. In addition, he already spoke about wanting to link up with Lil Baby for a collaboration. Could Baby be the missing link for Thug’s “Welcome Home” record?
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Perform at Rolling Loud Miami 2024
https://www.instagram.com/p/DB3vFexuIB3
This December, Rolling Loud will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in Miami, and Thugger should enjoy a massive pop at one of hip-hop’s grandest stages. Last year, RL co-founders Tariq Cherif and Matt Ziegler said they were ready to offer Young Thug $1 million once he exited prison. Even if Thug can’t enjoy an entire set, since the performances are already locked in, imagine him coming out during Future’s Friday set and unleashing a fiery trio of signature hits like “Hot,” “Ski” and “Lifestyle.”
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Speak on His Status With Gunna
This is undoubtedly the biggest question mark regarding Thug’s future. Before their arrest, Thug and Gunna had the rap world in a tizzy with the Hot 100 top ten hit “Pushin P,” and were hip-hop’s most indomitable 1-2 punch. When Gunna accepted an Alford Plea in 2022 — which saw him plead guilty to one charge in the YSL Rico case — there were concerns regarding the well-being of his relationship with Thug. Many rappers denounced their affiliation with Gunna, citing his early release as a form of being disloyal to Thugger. Though Gunna has constantly voiced his support for Thug — especially during his concerts where he’d post “Free Thug” graphics — a conversation must be had between both men before we can expect anything music-related from the two.
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Thug’s First Interview
Thug isn’t the easiest person to reel in for an interview, but when he’s secured, he’s a pleasure to watch. Some of his gems include his talk with Gillie and Wallo, his interview on the Breakfast Club, and even our 2022 cover story with him and Gunna. As enthralling as Thug can be, a select few should be able to sit down with him, including Charlamagne Tha God and Wallo. While a 60 Minutes or CBS Mornings interview would heighten Thug’s profile and cache, a conversation with someone of the culture would resonate more. The only concern regarding a Thug interview is how much he can divulge regarding his messy trial.
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Help Drake & Future Make Peace
Before Thug was freed, he tweeted his desire to see Drake and Future call a truce. Now that he’s back outside, seeing this rap triumvirate team up once again would shake the hip-hop sphere. This trio successfully created records like “D4L” and the Hot 100 chart-topper “Way 2 Sexy.” If anyone can bring Drake and Future together after their chaotic skirmish this year, it’s Thugger.
