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. Atlanta rapper, born Jeffery Williams, he was released from prison on October 31, after pleading guilty to a number of charges in the long-running RICO lawsuit against his label, YSL. (He pleaded nolo contendere, or no contest, to the central RICO charge and a gang leader charge, and his lawyers continue to challenge the claim that YSL is a criminal street gang.) Thug was sentenced to five years in prison, commuted time was up, allowing him to be released on his no-deal plea. Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported he left the Fulton County Jail the night after his plea and sentencing. In court, his lawyer 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 bunch of terms. He has a 20-year prison term “loaded” after probation, which will be commuted if he completes the terms of his probation. During sentencing, Judge Paige Reese Whitaker reminded Thug that the loaded sentence “can be served in custody and will be served in custody if you fail to have probation.” Thug must also pay a $40,000 fine.

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

As part of his probation, Young Thug must leave the Atlanta metro 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. He will be allowed to return for family weddings, funerals and graduations. (At Steel’s request, Whitaker added family medical emergencies.) The judge 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 his probation.

Thug had originally offered to serve the first three years of his probation under house arrest, which Whitaker did not request. She said the state “doesn’t appear to be particularly concerned about Mr. Williams, if he’s on the streets, he would be a danger to society,” given that they previously offered a sentence commuted to time served. During his presentation, Steel noted that Thug also has residences and recording studios in California, so he’ll likely be living there while he’s away from Atlanta. Thug will be able to travel and is allowed to keep his passport.

According to Steel, the sticking point in the plea negotiations that led to Thug’s no-deal plea was what the state wanted Thug to say about YSL. Steel said in court that Thug told him, “I don’t meet these conditions and I admit that I’m the ringleader and that I’m involved in the crime and my music promoted everybody to do that.” So Thug pleaded nolo contendere to one count of conspiracy to violate the RICO Act and one count of conducting criminal street gang activity, over the state’s objections. Also known as no contest, these pleas work like guilty pleas without admitting guilt. That means Thug didn’t admit to being a gang leader, as Steel went on to note in his presentation. “He doesn’t need the Cleveland Avenue drug deals for $15,” Steel said. “He doesn’t need shots.” (Thug pleaded guilty to one count of criminal street gang activity. Whitaker said she “wouldn’t allow” the nolo plea to the driving charge “unless you plead guilty to at least one of them.”) Nothing in plea. or probation now requires Thug to testify about YSL.

Thug cannot have contact with known gang members, including those named in the YSL indictment, while on probation. 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 probation after previously pleading guilty in the YSL case. But Gunna, born Sergio Kitchens, is currently on probation after pleading in December 2022. (He entered an Alford plea, in which he pleaded guilty for self-interest while maintaining his innocence.) Gunna has returned to releasing music since then, dropping 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 play music together”. Thug will be able to continue working with Gunna “as long as they are contractually obligated,” according to the terms of his probation.

In each year of probation, Thug will be required to perform 100 hours of community service, including those required presentations. But as part of the proposed sentence, Steel noted that Thug wanted to contribute to the Atlanta community in additional ways. “He’ll do it anyway, Your Honor, but I made it part of the sentence,” Steel said. This includes an annual benefit concert with proceeds donated to a nonprofit organization and the commitment 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’ve always done that,” Thug later said in court, noting that he’s raised money for single parents and breast cancer patients with benefit shows. “I put millions of dollars back into my community, for real,” he added. Whitaker did not include these suggested terms as part of Thug’s sentence and probation, but still encouraged him to do so.

As is typical during probation, Thug will not be allowed to use drugs or be near firearms. He will have to sign a Fourth Amendment waiver and undergo random background checks. However, Whitaker made an exception for Thug to be around members of his security team, who legally carry guns.

Thug had already released an album from behind bars – 2023’s Business is business — and signs point to him continuing his music career outside of prison. However, it will be under new control. Thug’s probation does not allow him to promote gang activity, make gang signs or use gang language. So far, it is unclear whether YSL is considered a gang in these terms, given that this is the question at the heart of the still ongoing lawsuit. For example, the state argued that the word milk, which Thug used in his music, is gang lingo, meaning “Slime Love All the Time”. Could Thug be in trouble if he says slat on a future song? What if he raps an old song with the word slat? And although it would be a drastic decision, there is even a precedent for rappers who have their lyrics approved during the trial period.

Steel continually argued against considering the rap lyrics in that casearguing that they are fictitious and do not actually condone violence. However, Thug himself told Judge Whitaker that he hoped to move on from rapping about violence in the future. “I understand, you know, rap lyrics, I understand how they could be twisted, I understand what people’s minds could do,” he told the court. “I understand all of this and I promise I’m changing this 100%.” He said the process helped him become aware of his influence as a rapper. “I came to my senses; I understand what it means to this world,” he said. Thug added that he now also has “more to rap about.” “I’m older, now I’m grown,” he said.

Before handing down his sentence, Whitaker instructed Thug to continue to be aware of his role as a rapper. “Whether it’s fake or not, it has a tremendous impact on children and young people who think, It’s cool. That’s what I want to do. Look at him, he’s a millionaire. I can do that being, you know, a gangster on the streetsshe said. “And that’s not true.” Whitaker acknowledged that Thug was “talented” while encouraging him to be “more of the solution and less of the problem. “If you choose to continue rapping, you have to try to use your influence to let kids know that’s not the way to go,” she said.