Young Thug

Jeffery Lamar Williams II, known professionally as Young Thug, is an American rapper and songwriter who has reshaped hip-hop with his eccentric vocal style and fearless fashion. Born August 16, 1991, in Atlanta, Georgia, he rose from the city's trap scene to become one of the most influential figures in modern rap. His slurred, melodic delivery and unpredictable cadences helped popularize the mumble rap microgenre and inspired a generation of artists.

Young Thug's career took off in 2014 with viral hits like "Stoner" and "Danny Glover," along with scene-stealing guest verses on tracks like Rich Gang's "Lifestyle." He signed with 300 Entertainment and released a string of acclaimed mixtapes, including Barter 6 and the Slime Season series. His debut album So Much Fun (2019) hit number one on the Billboard 200, and he earned a Grammy for his work on Childish Gambino's "This Is America." He has also scored multiple number-one singles as a featured artist, including Camila Cabello's "Havana" and Drake's "Way 2 Sexy."

Beyond music, Young Thug is known for his gender-fluid fashion, often wearing dresses and skirts on red carpets and album covers. He launched his label YSL Records and has mentored artists like Gunna and Lil Baby. After a high-profile RICO case that kept him incarcerated from 2022 to 2024, he returned with the album UY Scuti in 2025 and continues to push creative boundaries. Fans connect with his raw honesty, resilience, and refusal to conform.[edit]

Young Thug grew up in the Jonesboro South projects of Atlanta, a low-income housing complex in Clayton County. His father, a Baptist deacon and musician, passed away when he was a teenager, a loss that deeply affected him. His mother worked as a nurse to support the family. Thug attended Jonesboro High School but dropped out in the 11th grade, turning to selling drugs to help make ends meet.

His first musical steps came in 2010, recording songs on a basic computer setup at a friend's house. He rapped under the nickname "Young Thug," given by his uncle for his mischievous behavior. In 2011, he independently released his debut mixtape I Came from Nothing, which gained modest local attention. The breakthrough came in early 2013 when Gucci Mane heard his music through mutual connections in Atlanta's trap scene. Impressed, Gucci signed him to 1017 Records, and Thug released his label debut 1017 Thug in February 2013, introducing his unconventional style to a wider audience.[edit]

Young Thug's mainstream breakthrough arrived in 2014 with the singles "Stoner," which peaked at number 47 on the Hot 100, and "Danny Glover." His guest appearances on T.I.'s "About the Money," Tyga's "Hookah," and Rich Gang's "Lifestyle" (which hit number 16) cemented his rising profile. In July 2014, he signed a solo deal with 300 Entertainment and released the critically acclaimed Rich Gang: Tha Tour Pt. 1.

Throughout 2015 and 2016, Thug released a prolific run of mixtapes, including Barter 6, the Slime Season trilogy, and Jeffery, which showcased his genre-blending and experimental production. "Pick Up the Phone" with Travis Scott became his first solo Hot 100 hit. In 2017, he featured on Camila Cabello's "Havana," which spent seven weeks at number one and became a global smash. The next year, he contributed to Childish Gambino's "This Is America," winning the Grammy for Song of the Year.

His debut album So Much Fun (2019) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and spawned hits like "The London" and "Hot." In 2020, he released the collaborative mixtape Slime & B with Chris Brown, and the single "Go Crazy" peaked at number three. He appeared on Travis Scott's "Franchise" and Drake's "Way 2 Sexy," both number-one hits. His second album Punk (2021) also debuted at number one. While incarcerated in 2023, he released Business Is Business, which debuted at number two. Following his release in October 2024, he dropped his fourth album, UY Scuti, in 2025.[edit]

Young Thug is widely regarded as a polarizing and innovative force in hip-hop. His vocal style, marked by slurred, melodic cadences and unpredictable ad-libs, has been both praised as groundbreaking and criticized as unintelligible. He is known for his gender-fluid fashion, often wearing dresses, skirts, and oversized jewelry, challenging traditional masculinity in rap. Media outlets have called him "the most influential rapper of his generation" and "the future of hip-hop." His fans, known as the Slime Family, are fiercely loyal and celebrate his eccentricity. On social media, Thug is casual and humorous, frequently interacting with fans through Instagram Live and Twitter.[edit]

Young Thug currently holds no placement in the published iFANN Global Top 1,000 rankings or any scope-specific Top-100 lists, a status confirmed by the August 2026 evaluation cycle. While the iFANN Global Fame Engine has assessed his standing, he does not currently secure a numbered rank among the world's most famous figures, reflecting a complex landscape where cultural influence sometimes outpaces traditional metric-based positioning. His audience remains a massive, decentralized collective rather than a group with a formalized identity. Extensive research into fan culture reveals no official name for his supporters, nor are there records of organized campaigns, streaming parties, or specific rituals unique to Young Thug that distinguish them from general hip-hop fandoms. The search data offers no evidence of fan-funded projects, charity drives in his name, or viral folklore regarding crowd disruptions during his performances with Bankroll Mafia. While the collective itself produced notable work like the self-titled album *Bankroll Mafia* and tracks such as "Out My Face," the mythology surrounding these efforts focuses on the music and the group's formation rather than extraordinary interactions between the artist and his listeners. There are no documented stories of streets shutting down due to his presence or fans fainting at shows that have entered the realm of legend within this specific context.[edit]

Jeffery Lamar Williams II carries a stage name bestowed by his uncle, who dubbed him "Thug" during childhood for his mischievous spirit. A crying eye tattoo adorns his left cheek, serving as a permanent marker of his pain and struggles. In July 2016, he made history as the first rapper to grace the cover of Rolling Stone while wearing a dress, challenging gender norms in the genre. He suffers from a fear of heights and strictly refuses to fly on small planes. Possessing a photographic memory for lyrics, he can recall entire songs after a single hearing. His career faced significant hurdles when he was banned from the United Kingdom in 2016 following visa revocation due to a criminal record. Within the collective Bankroll Mafia, formed in 2015 alongside T.I. and Shad da God, the group released their debut album in April 2016, featuring hits like "I Want Her" which includes 21 Savage. While some legends surround PeeWee Roscoe's legal troubles involving a 2015 incident with Lil Wayne's tour bus, these remain matters of public record rather than viral folklore or iconic performance moments attributed directly to Young Thug's personal mythos.[edit]

Young Thug was born to Jeffrey Williams Sr., a Baptist deacon and musician, and Erika Williams, a nurse. His father passed away when Thug was a teenager. He has an older sister, LaTonya "Toni" Williams, and a younger brother, Quantavious "Quan" Williams, who also pursues music. Thug has six children from multiple relationships. He is close to his mother, who supported him during his legal battles. He owns two properties in Atlanta and has a pet dog named Slime, which he frequently posts about on social media.[edit]

Young Thug is closely associated with Gucci Mane, who signed him to 1017 Records and mentored him early in his career. He frequently collaborates with Travis Scott, appearing on tracks like 'Pick Up the Phone' and 'Franchise.' He has worked extensively with Gunna, both as a collaborator and label signee on YSL Records. Other frequent collaborators include Future, Drake, J. Cole, and Chris Brown. He is also the leader of the collective Bankroll Mafia.[edit]

Young Thug's first known relationship was with a woman named Jerrika, whom he dated from around 2013 to 2015; they share a son. He then dated Mariah, a model, from approximately 2015 to 2017, with whom he has a daughter. His most high-profile relationship was with fashion designer Karlae (Karla Brown), whom he dated from 2017 and became engaged to in 2018. The engagement ended in 2021, with Thug citing irreconcilable differences; they have no children together. Around 2018 to 2020, he had a private relationship with the mother of two of his children; her identity has not been publicly confirmed. As of 2026, Young Thug is reportedly single, focusing on his career and children following his release from jail.[edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Young Thug's net worth stands at $8 Million as of 2026, marking a substantial shift from his peak valuation of $20 million in 2021. This decline stems largely from legal fees associated with his RICO trial, which consumed an estimated $5-10 million, alongside lost earnings during his incarceration from 2022 to 2024. Revenue streams continue to include music royalties from a catalog exceeding 500 songs, generating approximately $2-3 million annually. Before legal challenges arose, touring contributed $1-2 million per cycle. Past endorsement partnerships included Calvin Klein in 2016, Puma in 2018, and Beats by Dre in 2019, though current income from such deals is minimal. He retains ownership stakes in YSL Records and holds real estate assets in Atlanta valued near $1.5 million. Following his release in October 2024, annual income has recovered to roughly $2 million, fueled by the album UY Scuti and the March 2026 launch of his clothing line, Slime Life.[edit]

Young Thug has won multiple awards, including a Grammy for Song of the Year for his contribution to Childish Gambino's "This Is America." He has won four BET Hip Hop Awards, including Best Mixtape for Barter 6 and Jeffery, and Best Album for So Much Fun. He also won a BET Award for Best Collaboration for "Havana," an MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year for "Havana," and a Billboard Music Award for Top Hot 100 Song for "Havana." Additionally, he has won an American Music Award and an iHeartRadio Music Award for Collaboration of the Year.[edit]