Young Thug Names Hip-Hop Experts On Witness List In YSL RICO Case

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Young Stoner Life Meet & Greet
EAST POINT, GEORGIA - APRIL 22: Rapper Young Thug attends Young Stoner Life Meet & Greet at DTLR Camp Creek on April 22, 2021 in East Point, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Young Thug's team submitted a witness list including hip-hop experts and academics.

As Young Thug's court date nears, the Atlanta rapper revealed his witness list in his RICO case. Per AllHipHop, Thug's legal team submitted their list of witnesses on Sunday. The list included hip-hop academics and experts to take the stand to help his case.

His team will call hip-hop historian Dr. Erik Nelson to testify. He co-authored, Rap on Trial: Race, Lyrics and Guilt in America, which explores the intersection of hip-hop and mass incarceration. Thug's defense team will also call on two professors, Dr. Adam Dunbar, who teaches at the University of Nevada – Reno and Dr. Charis Kubrin from the University of California – Irvine. The rapper's team listed both Dr. Kubrin and Dr. Dunbar as experts in hip-hop lyrics.

Thug's team will also call on a cell phone expert, a counselor for drug treatment, and a video analysis expert.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 17: Rapper Young Thug performs at halftime during the Boston Celtics v Atlanta Hawks game at State Farm Arena on November 17, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

Thug's team previously filed a motion to have the rapper's lyrics, music, and social media posts dismissed in the case. Prosecutors previously cited a slew of Thug lyrics from songs like "Anybody," "Ski" and "Take It To Trial."

"The admission and use of these lyrics/poetry/artistry against [Young Thug] in his upcoming trial would be a Constitutional violation and an abuse of discretion, too prejudicial and unconstitutional,” the motion reads. “Moreover, using these lyrics/poetry/artistry/speech against [Young Thug] is racist and discriminatory because the jury will be so poisoned and prejudiced by these lyrics/poetry/artistry/speech.”

Prosecutors handed out deals to several people involved in the YSL RICO case. Gunna copped an Alford plea, followed by the alleged co-founder of YSL, Walter Murphy. Since then, Slimelife Shawty and Young Thug's brother, Unfoonk, also copped deals in the case. As part of his conditions, the court prohibited Unfoonk from contacting his brother until the trial ends.

We'll keep you posted on anymore updates on Young Thug's case as it unfolds.

About The Author
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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