Photo: Will Heath/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Last night, for the first time in over 900 days, Young Thug didn’t sleep in a concrete cell. The Atlanta rapper, born Jeffery Williams, was released from jail on October 31, after plead guilty to multiple charges in the long-running RICO trial against his label, YSL. (He pleaded nolo contendere, or pleaded no contest, to the central RICO charge and a gang leadership charge, and his attorneys continue to dispute the claim that YSL is a criminal street gang.) Thug was sentenced to five years in prison, commuted to time served, allowing him to be released after his non-negotiated plea. the atlanta Magazine-Constitution reported He was released from the Fulton County Jail the night after his plea and sentencing. In court, his attorney, Brian Steel, said Thug was looking forward to spending time with his family and taking care of his health.

Thug was also sentenced to 15 years of probation, under a number of conditions. He has a “delayed” 20-year prison sentence following his parole, which will be commuted if he complies with the terms of his parole. During sentencing, Judge Paige Reese Whitaker reminded Thug that the delayed sentence “can be served in custody and will be served in custody if he is unsuccessful on parole.” Thug must also pay a fine of $40,000.

The terms of Thug’s probation clear the way for him to continue his music career, under certain stipulations. Speaking to media outside court, his attorneys declined to address specific aspects of his probation. “In any case, there comes a time, if a person is sentenced, that we’re out of the courtroom and now what happens to that person is entirely up to them,” said Keith Adams, who has also represented Thug. “He has the ability, the incentive, to move forward and do whatever it takes to put this behind him, and we are confident he will.” Here’s what we know about what’s next for Young Thug after his guilty plea, based on his probation and what he told the court.

As part of his probation, Young Thug must leave the metro Atlanta area, where the crimes alleged in the indictment took place, within 48 hours of yesterday’s sentencing, and stay away for the next ten years. You will be allowed to return for weddings, funerals and family graduations. (At Steel’s request, Judge Whitaker added family medical emergencies.) Judge Whitaker also requires him to return to give four anti-gang and anti-violence presentations a year to Atlanta children. Presentations may be at schools or other organizations and may include a benefit concert; will count toward the community service requirements of your parole.

Thug had originally offered to serve the first three years of his probation under house arrest, something Judge Whitaker did not require. He said the state “does not seem to be particularly concerned that Mr. Williams, if he were on the streets, would be a danger to society,” considering they previously offered a commuted sentence for time served. During his presentation, Steel noted that Thug also has residences and recording studios in California, so he will presumably live there while he’s away from Atlanta. Thug will be able to travel and will be able to keep his passport.

According to Steel, the sticking point in the plea negotiations that led to Thug’s non-negotiated plea was what the state wanted Thug to say about YSL. Steel said in court that Thug told him: “I’m not going to abide by these conditions and I admit that I’m the leader and I’m involved in the murder and my music just promoted everyone to do that.” Thug then pleaded nolo contendere to one count of conspiracy to violate the RICO Act and one count of leadership in criminal street gang activity, over the state’s objections. Also known as no contest, these pleas function as guilty pleas without an admission of guilt. That means Thug did not admit to being a gang leader, as Steel continued to point out in his presentation. “He doesn’t need Cleveland Avenue’s $15 drug deals,” Steel said. “He doesn’t need the shots.” (Thug pleaded guilty to one count of criminal street gang activity. Judge Whitaker said she “would not allow” his nolo plea to the leadership charge “if he did not plead guilty to at least one of them.”) Nothing in the plea or probation now requires Thug to testify about YSL.

Thug cannot be in contact with known gang members, including those named in the YSL indictment, while he is on probation. Judge Whitaker made exceptions for two YSL defendants: Unfoonk, who is Thug’s brother, and Gunna, who Thug is contractually obligated to work with through Young Stoner Life Records. Unfoonk, born Quantavious Grier, is currently serving a nine-and-a-half-year prison sentence for possession of a firearm on parole, after previously pleading guilty in the YSL case. But Gunna, whose real name is Sergio Kitchens, is currently on parole. after declaring in December 2022. (He made an Alford plea, in which he pleaded guilty to his interest while maintaining his innocence.) Gunna has since returned to releasing music, abandoning the album. a gift and a curse on YSL Records in 2023. Steel called Gunna “a phenomenal artist” in court, noting that Thug and Gunna “frequently perform music together.” Thug will be able to continue working with Gunna “as long as they are contractually obligated,” according to the conditions of his probation.

Each year of his probation, Thug will be required to perform 100 hours of community service, including required appearances. But as part of the suggested line, Steel noted that Thug wanted to contribute to the Atlanta community in additional ways. “He’s going to do this anyway, Your Honor, but we made it part of the sentence,” Steel said. That includes an annual benefit concert, with proceeds donated to a nonprofit, and a pledge of $100,000 over three years to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office to fund an illegal gun buyback program. “You know, I don’t mind doing things like free shows, and I always did,” Thug later said in court, noting that he had raised money for single mothers and breast cancer patients with benefit shows. “I truly gave back millions of dollars to my community,” he added. Judge Whitaker did not include those suggested terms as part of Thug’s sentence and probation, but still encouraged him to follow them.

As is typical with probation, Thug will not be allowed to do drugs or be around firearms. He will have to sign a Fourth Amendment waiver and be subject to random testing. However, Judge Whitaker made an exception for Thug to be around members of his security team, who legally carry weapons.

Thug had already released an album behind bars: 2023 Business is business – and signs point to him continuing his musical career outside of prison. However, it will come under new scrutiny. Thug’s probation does not allow him to promote gang activity, make gang signs or use gang-related language. So far, it is unclear whether YSL is considered a gang under those terms, considering that is the central issue of the ongoing trial. For example, the state has argued that the word “slatt,” which Thug has used in his music, is gang language and means “Slime Love All The Time.” Could Thug get in trouble if he says “slatt” in a future song? What if he raps an old song with the word slatt? And, although it would be a drastic decision, there is even a precedent for rappers whose lyrics are approved while on probation.

Steel has continually argued against considering rap lyrics in the casearguing that they are fictitious and do not actually tolerate violence. However, Thug himself told Judge Whitaker that he hoped to stop rapping about violence in the future. “I understand, you know, rap lyrics, I understand how they can be twisted, I understand what they could do to people’s minds,” he said in court. “I understand all of that and I promise you I will change it 100 percent.” He said the trial helped him become aware of his influence as a rapper. “I have come to my senses, I understand what I mean to this world,” he said. Thug added that he now also has “more things to rap about.” “I’m older, I’m older,” he said.

Before handing down the sentence, Judge Whitaker ordered Thug to remain conscious of his role as a rapper. “Whether it is false or not, it has a tremendous impact on children and young people who think, This is great. This is what I want to do. Look at him, he’s a millionaire. I can do it by being, you know, a gangster on the streets.“, said. “And that’s not true.” Whitaker recognized that Thug had “talent” and encouraged him to be “more of the solution and less of the problem.” “If you choose to continue rapping, you should try to use your influence to let kids know that’s not the way to go,” he said.