History of Young Thug in Timeline
Young Thug, born Jeffery Lamar Williams II, is an influential American rapper recognized for his unique vocal delivery, fashion, and impact on hip hop and trap music. He's considered a pioneer of mumble rap. Beginning his career in 2011 with the 'I Came from Nothing' mixtape series, he gained prominence after signing with Gucci Mane's 1017 Records in 2013 and releasing the acclaimed mixtape '1017 Thug'.
August 16, 1991: Young Thug's Birth
On August 16, 1991, Jeffery Lamar Williams II, known professionally as Young Thug, was born.
2010: Musical Career Debut
In 2010, Young Thug began his musical career with a guest appearance on rapper TruRoyal's song "She Can Go".
2011: Beginning of Music Career
In 2011, Young Thug embarked on his musical career, initiating the release of a series of mixtapes with 'I Came from Nothing'.
2011: Release of 'I Came from Nothing' Series
Throughout 2011 and 2012, Young Thug released the first three installments of his mixtape series 'I Came from Nothing'.
2012: Release of 'I Came from Nothing' Series
Throughout 2011 and 2012, Young Thug released the first three installments of his mixtape series 'I Came from Nothing'.
July 2013: Included in '25 New Rappers to Watch Out For'
In July 2013, Complex included Young Thug in their list of 25 New Rappers to Watch Out For.
October 2013: Appearance on '19 & Boomin'
In October 2013, Young Thug appeared on several tracks on Metro Boomin's '19 & Boomin', including "Some More", his first collaboration with Alex Tumay.
October 2013: Release of 'Stoner'
In October 2013, Young Thug released his commercial debut single "Stoner".
December 2013: Performance at Fool's Gold Day Off Show
In December 2013, Young Thug performed at the Fool's Gold Day Off show in Miami.
2013: Signing with 1017 Brick Squad Records
In 2013, Young Thug caught the attention of Gucci Mane and signed with his label 1017 Brick Squad Records, releasing his fourth mixtape, '1017 Thug'.
2013: Critical Acclaim for '1017 Thug'
In 2013, Young Thug's mixtape '1017 Thug' received positive reviews and was included in several year-end lists, with FACT calling it the best mixtape of the year. The song "Picacho" was also noted as a standout track.
January 2014: Offer from Freebandz Record Label
In January 2014, Young Thug revealed he received an $8.5 million offer to sign with Future's Freebandz record label.
March 11, 2014: "Stoner" Serviced to Rhythmic Contemporary Radio
On March 11, 2014, Young Thug's debut single "Stoner" was serviced to rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States by Asylum and Atlantic Records.
March 2014: Collaboration with Kanye West
In March 2014, Young Thug recorded several songs with Kanye West and announced upcoming mixtapes with Rich Homie Quan, Chief Keef, and Bloody Jay. He also appeared on the cover of The Fader.
March 2014: Speculation about signing with Cash Money Records
In March 2014, Young Thug's association with Cash Money Records and Birdman led to speculation about him signing with the label, which was later denied.
March 24, 2014: Announcement of Debut Album Title
On March 24, 2014, Young Thug announced that his debut album would be titled Carter VI, referencing Lil Wayne's 'Tha Carter' series.
March 28, 2014: Management Deal with Rich Gang
On March 28, 2014, it was clarified that Young Thug signed a management deal with Birdman's Rich Gang, while still signed to 1017 Brick Squad.
April 2014: Collaborative Album with Metro Boomin and Release of "Eww"
In April 2014, Young Thug worked on a collaborative album with Metro Boomin titled 'Metro Thuggin' and released a new song called "Eww", produced by 808 Mafia.
June 17, 2014: Signing to 300 Entertainment
On June 17, 2014, Kevin Liles confirmed that Young Thug had officially signed to his and Lyor Cohen's label, 300 Entertainment.
July 1, 2014: Release of "2 Bitches" and "Old English"
On July 1, 2014, Asylum and Atlantic Records released "Danny Glover" as "2 Bitches", and Mass Appeal Records released "Old English" featuring Young Thug, ASAP Ferg, and Freddie Gibbs.
December 4, 2014: Recognition from Rolling Stone
In the December 4, 2014, issue, Rolling Stone called Young Thug the "most exciting new voice of hip-hop" and "hip-hop's new crown prince".
2014: Mainstream Recognition
In 2014, Young Thug gained mainstream recognition with singles "Stoner" and "Danny Glover" and guest appearances on tracks like T.I.'s "About the Money". He also released 'Rich Gang: Tha Tour Pt. 1' and signed with 300 Entertainment.
April 2015: Controversy over Album Title and Lil Wayne's Reaction
In April 2015, Lil Wayne expressed his disapproval of Young Thug's planned debut album, 'Carter 6', leading to Thug changing the title to Barter 6.
April 2015: Engagement to Jerrika Karlae
In April 2015, Young Thug became engaged to Jerrika Karlae.
April 2015: Sued in Lil Wayne Tour Bus Shooting Case
In April 2015, Young Thug was sued by a bus driver following a shooting at Lil Wayne's tour bus.
April 18, 2015: Announcement of 'Hy!£UN35' Album Title
On April 18, 2015, Young Thug announced that his official debut album would be titled 'Hy!£UN35', read as "HiTunes".
May 2015: Clarification of Record Deal and Management
In May 2015, Young Thug clarified that he manages himself and is signed with Atlantic Records.
June 2015: Discussion of Joint Album with Kanye West
In late June 2015, Young Thug and Kanye West discussed the possibility of creating a joint album together after Kanye was impressed by Young Thug's unreleased music.
July 2015: Release of Promotional Single "Pacifier"
In July 2015, 300 Entertainment released "Pacifier" as a promotional single for Young Thug's debut album 'Hy!£UN35'.
2015: Critical Acclaim with Mixtapes
In 2015, Young Thug released several critically acclaimed mixtapes, including Barter 6 and the first two installments of the Slime Season series.
February 4, 2016: Release of 'I'm Up' Mixtape
On February 4, 2016, Young Thug released a mixtape titled 'I'm Up'.
March 26, 2016: Release of 'Slime Season 3'
On March 26, 2016, Young Thug released 'Slime Season 3', marking the end of a phase with leaked material.
April 2016: Lawsuit for Failure to Perform at Concert
In April 2016, a Texas production company filed a lawsuit against Young Thug for not appearing at a concert.
May 2016: HiTunes Tour
In May 2016, Young Thug toured the United States on his HiTunes tour, featuring artists Dae Dae, TM88, and Rich The Kid.
July 9, 2016: Announcement of 'Jeffery' Mixtape
On July 9, 2016, Young Thug announced his self-titled mixtape 'Jeffery' was coming out soon.
August 16, 2016: Name Change and Release of 'Jeffery'
On August 16, 2016, Young Thug announced he would change his name to "No, My Name Is Jeffery" for the week of 'Jeffery's' release. The album art featured him in a dress, sparking viral responses.
September 2016: Purchase of First Home
In September 2016, Young Thug bought his first home in Buckhead, Atlanta.
November 2016: Start of YSL Records
In November 2016, Young Thug announced he was starting his own record label imprint called YSL Records.
December 2016: Joins #fightpovertyagain Campaign
In December 2016, Young Thug joined the #fightpovertyagain campaign.
2016: Appears on Kanye West's album
In 2016, Young Thug appeared on Kanye West's album 'The Life of Pablo', with West hinting at further collaborations on Tidal.
2016: Continued Success with Commercial Mixtapes
In 2016, Young Thug continued his success by releasing the commercial mixtapes I'm Up, Slime Season 3, and Jeffery.
January 2017: Lawsuit for Failure to Appear at Concert
In January 2017, Young Thug faced a lawsuit for failing to appear at a concert in Sahlen's Stadium after signing a $55,000 contract.
March 2017: Features on Drake's 'More Life' and Calvin Harris' 'Heatstroke'
In March 2017, Young Thug was featured on Drake's 'More Life' and Calvin Harris' song 'Heatstroke' with Ariana Grande and Pharrell Williams.
April 2017: Announcement of 'Beautiful Thugger Girls'
In April 2017, Young Thug announced the commercial mixtape 'Beautiful Thugger Girls', executive-produced by Drake.
April 2017: Cleared of Battery Charges
In April 2017, Young Thug was cleared of battery charges after he was accused of slapping a woman outside a nightclub.
April 2017: Gun and Drug Charges Dropped
In April 2017, Young Thug's gun and drug charges were dropped following a raid on his home due to lack of a warrant, with only felony marijuana possession remaining. He was also sued by Heritage Select Homes for owing almost $2.2 million in house payments.
June 16, 2017: Release of 'Beautiful Thugger Girls'
On June 16, 2017, Young Thug released the commercial mixtape 'Beautiful Thugger Girls', executive-produced by Drake.
June 29, 2017: Concert Proceeds Donation to Planned Parenthood
On June 29, 2017, Young Thug donated all proceeds from a sold-out concert to Planned Parenthood.
September 2017: Release of Joint EP with DJ Carnage
In September 2017, Young Thug released a joint EP with DJ Carnage titled 'Young Martha'.
September 24, 2017: Arrested on Drug and Firearm Charges
On September 24, 2017, Young Thug was arrested in Brookhaven, Georgia, on multiple drug possession charges and possession of a firearm and released on bond three days later.
October 2017: Release of 'Super Slimey' with Future
In October 2017, Young Thug released a collaborative mixtape with Future titled 'Super Slimey', featuring guest vocals from Offset.
2017: First Number-One Single
In 2017, Young Thug featured on Camila Cabello's hit song "Havana", which became his first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100.
February 2018: Rebrands Himself as "SEX"
In February 2018, Young Thug rebranded himself as "SEX".
April 2018: Release of Hear No Evil EP
In April 2018, Young Thug released the EP 'Hear No Evil'.
May 19, 2018: Contribution to 'This Is America'
On May 19, 2018, Childish Gambino's "This Is America," which Young Thug co-wrote and provided background vocals for, debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
August 2018: Release of Slime Language
In August 2018, Young Thug released another compilation album, 'Slime Language'.
September 7, 2018: Charged with Possession and Intent to Distribute
On September 7, 2018, Young Thug was charged with possession and intent to distribute multiple drugs and possession of a firearm related to his 2017 arrest.
2018: Release of Slime Language
In 2018, Young Thug released 'Slime Language' with YSL Records.
May 23, 2019: Release of "The London" and Album Announcement
On May 23, 2019, Young Thug released his single "The London" featuring J. Cole and Travis Scott, and also announced his debut studio album, originally titled Gold Mouf Dog.
July 19, 2019: Album Renamed to So Much Fun
On July 19, 2019, Young Thug announced that his forthcoming debut album, previously named Gold Mouf Dog, had been renamed to So Much Fun.
August 10, 2019: Album Release Date and Cover Art Announcement
On August 10, 2019, Young Thug announced the release date and cover art for his album, So Much Fun.
August 16, 2019: So Much Fun Album Release
On August 16, 2019, Young Thug released his album "So Much Fun" on his 28th birthday, featuring many guest appearances and debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200.
October 20, 2019: Appearance on The Tonight Show
On October 20, 2019, Young Thug appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with Gunna.
October 31, 2019: "Hot" Remix Release
On October 31, 2019, a remix of "Hot" from So Much Fun, featuring Gunna and Travis Scott, was released.
December 20, 2019: So Much Fun Deluxe Edition Release
On December 20, 2019, the deluxe edition of the album "So Much Fun" was released, featuring extra collaborations and the "Hot" remix.
2019: Release of 'So Much Fun'
In 2019, Young Thug's debut studio album, 'So Much Fun', peaked at the top of the US Billboard 200 and featured the hit singles "The London" and "Hot".
April 2020: Near-Death Experience Revelation
In April 2020, Young Thug revealed he had a recent near-death experience during a concert livestream.
April 29, 2020: Slime & B Mixtape Announcement
On April 29, 2020, Young Thug and Chris Brown announced their collaborative mixtape, Slime & B.
May 5, 2020: Slime & B Mixtape Release
On May 5, 2020, Young Thug and Chris Brown released their collaborative mixtape, Slime & B, which included the hit single "Go Crazy".
December 2020: Breakup with Jerrika Karlae
In December 2020, Young Thug broke up with his fiancée Jerrika Karlae.
2020: Success with 'Go Crazy' and 'Franchise'
In 2020, Young Thug's single "Go Crazy" with Chris Brown reached number three on the charts, becoming his first top-ten single as a lead artist. He also appeared on Travis Scott's "Franchise," which topped the chart.
April 16, 2021: Slime Language 2 Album Release
On April 16, 2021, YSL Records, Young Thug, and Gunna released their compilation album Slime Language 2, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
July 2021: Punk Album Advertisement
In July 2021, Young Thug advertised his second studio album Punk with a release date of October 15, 2021.
August 20, 2021: "Tick Tock" Release
On August 20, 2021, Young Thug released "Tick Tock" as the intended lead single from the album Punk, though it was later excluded from the track listing.
September 2021: Number One on Billboard Hot 100 with "Way 2 Sexy"
In September 2021, Young Thug reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for the third time in his career with his feature on "Way 2 Sexy" alongside Future, the lead single off Drake's album Certified Lover Boy.
October 15, 2021: Punk Album Release
On October 15, 2021, Young Thug released his album Punk.
November 2021: Global Publishing Deal with Kobalt Music Group
In November 2021, Kobalt Music Group announced a new global publishing deal with Young Thug to handle his publishing administration, global sync, and creative services.
2021: Continued Chart Success and Album Releases
In 2021, Young Thug appeared on Drake's "Way 2 Sexy", which topped the charts. His second studio album, 'Punk', was released in October to continued success, and YSL Records released 'Slime Language 2', which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
2021: Relationship with Mariah the Scientist
In 2021, Young Thug began dating Atlanta singer Mariah the Scientist.
May 9, 2022: Arrested on Gang-Related Charges
On May 9, 2022, Young Thug was arrested in Atlanta on gang-related charges as part of a RICO indictment, and was later charged with additional felonies.
May 2022: Arrest and Charges
In May 2022, Young Thug was arrested along with 27 members of YSL and faced 63 counts of illegal substance trafficking or firearm possession and for violating the Georgia RICO Act.
June 2023: Business is Business Album Release
In June 2023, Young Thug's third studio album, Business is Business was released, marking his first project since his arrest in May 2022.
November 2023: Trial Begins
Young Thug's trial began in November 2023, following his arrest in May 2022, on charges related to illegal substance trafficking, firearm possession, and violation of the Georgia RICO Act.
November 27, 2023: State RICO Criminal Trial Begins
On November 27, 2023, Young Thug's state RICO criminal trial began, with five co-defendants.
December 12, 2023: Trial Delayed After Co-Defendant Stabbing
On December 12, 2023, Young Thug's trial was delayed until January 2024 after co-defendant Shannon Stillwell was stabbed in jail.
2023: Release of 'Business Is Business'
In 2023, Young Thug's third studio album, 'Business Is Business', was released.
January 2, 2024: Trial Resumes
On January 2, 2024, Young Thug's RICO trial resumed after a delay.
October 2024: Release After Plea Deal
In October 2024, Young Thug was released after accepting a deal where he plead no contest to several charges, resulting in a sentence of time served and 15 years of probation.
October 31, 2024: Plea Deal Acceptance and Sentencing
On October 31, 2024, Young Thug accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 40 years, including time served, probation, and potential further imprisonment, with restrictions.
2024: Release from Cobb County Jail
Young Thug was released from the Cobb County Jail on October 31st, 2024.
