Young Thug

Jeffery Lamar Williams (born August 16, 1991), popularly known as Young Thug, is an innovative rap artist from Atlanta known for his experimental vocal styles on versatile production, ranging from hard trap beats to experimental pop records. Thug is recognized as one of the 2010’s most influential artists due to many people who tried to mimic his successful style. He was a pioneer for much of the 2010s generation of rap, with his constant cosigns, features, and chart presence cementing his status as a leader in the streaming era and the current rap scene.

Thug may have dropped his first mixtape in 2011, but it wasn’t until 2013, when fellow ATL trap icon Gucci Mane took him under his wing, that he started gaining major traction with his debut mixtape on the 1017 Records, 1017 Thug. That same year, Thug scored his breakout hit with “Stoner,” followed by “Danny Glover,” which propelled him even further into the spotlight.

After Gucci Mane went to prison in 2013, Thug aligned himself with Cash Money Records’s owner Birdman and his newly-formed Rich Gang collective. Young Thug & the late Rich Homie Quan went on to release the hit single “Lifestyle” and a collaborative mixtape with Birdman in 2014. However, their time making music together was short-lived, and Thug officially signed with 300 Ent. in 2015. Under 300, Thug continued dropping singles, mixtapes, and features, steadily growing his fanbase.

After 2015’s “Best Friend” became Thug’s first platinum single, his 2016 collaboration with Travis Scott on “pick up the phone” became his highest-charting song at that time on the Billboard Hot 100. This was later surpassed by “Havana,” his 2017 collaboration with Camila Cabello, which was named the best-selling single of 2018. However, his current highest-charting song as a lead artist is “Hot,” which topped the Rolling Stone 100 and peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, surpassing his previous biggest hit, “The London,” which peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 2017, Young Thug officially founded his own label, Young Stoner Life Records, featuring artists such as Lil Duke, Gunna, the late Lil Keed, Strick, T-Shyne, Karlae, and producer Wheezy. The label has released two compilation albums: 2018’s Slime Language and 2021’s Slime Language 2, the latter of which more prominently featured newer YSL signees Yak Gotti, Unfoonk, BSlime, Yung Kayo, YTB Trench, and FN DaDealer. As of 2025, only Young Thug, T-Shyne, and 1300SAINT still release music under Young Stoner Life Records.

Thug has also released official collaboration projects with Bloody Jay, Future, and Chris Brown. Additionally, he played a major role in group projects like the 2013 release of Lobby Runners and the 2016 release of Bankroll Mafia.

Young Thug has been cited as an inspiration for many popular artists outside of YSL, including Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Baby, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, 03 Greedo, James Blake, and Kanye West. While many have dubbed Thug as a huge musical inspiration, Jeffery himself consistently cites Lil Wayne as his biggest idol and influence, even though they have both publicly spoken about their past issues with one another, which have since been resolved.

Young Thug’s frequent collaborators outside of YSL also include Drake, Migos, Travis Scott, Lil Baby, and 21 Savage, along with producers London On Da Track, Metro Boomin, Supah Mario, TM88, and Southside.

In 2019, he released his debut album, So Much Fun, which topped the Billboard 200. He followed up with his sophomore album, Punk, in 2021.

In May 2022, Young Thug and 28 other YSL associates were arrested and charged in a RICO indictment filed by Fulton County. In June 2023, while incarcerated awaiting trial, Thug released his third studio album, BUSINESS IS BUSINESS, an album composed of various songs Thug had recorded from 2018 through his arrest, executive produced by Metro Boomin. On October 31, 2024, Young Thug pleaded guilty to his charges and received a sentence of 15 years of probation before being released.

11 months after his release, Young Thug released his fourth album, UY SCUTI on September 26, 2025.