Young Thug’s rise and legal issues to be subject of Rolling Stone docuseries

It’s a case that the hip-hop community has been keeping their eyes on and now, it’s getting even more attention.

Last month, Atlanta rapper Young Thug, whose legal name is Jeffery Williams, was charged with fellow rapper Gunna and 26 others on several counts of racketeering in connection to Young Slime Life. According to Thug and his associates, YSL Records is an Atlanta-based record label founded by Thug, yet the legal case against him accuses YSL of being a gang and accuses him of co-founding the gang that allegedly went on to commit murders, shootings and carjackings – crimes they say he then bragged about in his music videos. Both Thug and Gunna remain in jail without bond.

Rolling Stone Films and Jigsaw Productions announced that they’re in the early stages of producing both an audio podcast and docuseries about the increasing legal problems of Young Thug and his label, YSL, which a Georgia court said in an indictment was, in essence, a “criminal street gang.”

The companies say “the projects seek to separate the fact from the fiction of the criminal charges against YSL members, while also interrogating the controversial practice of prosecutors using rap lyrics as evidence of criminal activity. The result will be a wild, enthralling story of music, money, crime and hip-hop on trial.”

“We’re thrilled to partner with the talented team at Jigsaw to tell this ambitious and important story about one of the most compelling and controversial music scenes of the moment,” said CEO of Rolling Stone, Gus Wenner.

“Rolling Stone’s deep coverage of Atlanta hip-hop gives us unique access and perspective on this story, and we’re excited to tell one of the most fascinating cultural stories today as it unfolds in real-time,” said Jason Fine, SVP of Rolling Stone Films.

The productions have yet to announce a release date but with continuous developments in this high-profile case, I’m sure there will be no shortage of content for the companies to work with.