"Only two and a half years passed between the day Young Thug and his YSL crew were indicted on RICO charges and the day he was released, but in that time the world underwent a massive transformation. Streamers started acting as reporters; TikTok and Instagram Reels became the way the average young person got their news; candidates on the 2024 presidential ballot appealed to their base by doing bits on podcasts."
"In 2019, Young Thug got a taste of superstardom with So Much Fun, his first No. 1 album after years of pumping out some of the greatest and most eccentric Atlanta rap ever. It was like when your favorite mid-budget director starts making $100-million Hollywood blockbusters, and Thug pulled it off by still having a good-ass time amid all the polish. He's been on a mission to keep that status and fame intact ever since, watering down his music in the process."
"Then, in 2022, came jail and, in 2023, the YSL trial circus, during which Young Thug seemingly went through considerable mental and financial strain. Meanwhile, salacious Instagram blogs fanned the flames, treating the trial like reality television, as minor YSL members turned into YouTube stars. In 2022, Gunna, the co-face of YSL, took a plea deal, which has been endlessly interpreted by his rap peers, internet personalities, and internet bots as "snitching" on Thug."
Only two and a half years passed between Young Thug's RICO indictment and his release, during which streaming platforms and short-form social media transformed how audiences consume news and celebrity. He achieved mainstream success with 2019's So Much Fun but then diluted his music to maintain fame, admitting he had to 'dumb it down.' Jail and the 2023 YSL trial imposed mental and financial strain, while Instagram blogs sensationalized the case. Gunna's 2022 plea fueled accusations of 'snitching.' The post-RICO comeback album feels engineered for virality, delivering wounded Southern pain rap marked by irony and defensiveness rather than sincerity or style.
Read at Pitchfork
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