Young Thug

Young Thug emerged as one of rap's most singular figures by sidestepping standard hip-hop norms and challenging fixed ideas around gender and sexuality, first reaching listeners when "Stoner" hit the charts in 2014. Amid a flurry of mixtapes, the offbeat Atlanta rapper accumulated numerous gold and platinum releases, which paved the way for the Top Ten placements of JEFFERY (2016) and Beautiful Thugger Girls (2017) before his initial studio effort, So Much Fun, reached number one in 2019. An avid collaborator, he has lent his voice to scores of tracks, among them Camila Cabello's "Havana," Childish Gambino's Grammy-winning "This Is America," and Post Malone's "Goodbyes," while also scaling the upper chart tiers via the joint commercial mixtapes Super Slimey (with Future) and Slime & B (with Chris Brown), plus the crew project Slime Language 2. His second number-one studio album, Punk, arrived in 2021, with Business Is Business following in 2023.

Born Jeffery Lamar Williams in Atlanta, the rapper issued three installments of the I Came from Nothing mixtape series before linking with Gucci Mane's 1017 Brick Squad collective toward the close of 2012. Early 2013 brought the 1017 Thug mixtape, highlighted by the offbeat street cut "Picacho." Later that year "Stoner" surfaced, gaining traction only after an official Wale remix in 2014 sparked a wave of unofficial versions from Jim Jones, Iamsu!, and Trick Trick; the original climbed to its April peak and later earned RIAA gold status.

Also in 2014, Thug joined 300 Entertainment—the Atlantic-backed label established by Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles—and kept issuing mixtapes. Barter 6, his first project on the imprint, entered the Billboard 200 at number 22 in 2015. The following January's I'm Up matched that position, and Slime Season 3 landed in the Top Ten months afterward. Prior to the next tape, his 2015 recording "Best Friend" received platinum certification. Near summer's end he surprise-released what was initially called No, My Name Is Jeffery before quickly retitling it JEFFERY; the set's striking artwork and track titles honoring personal heroes incorporated reggae and dub textures alongside guest spots from Migos' Offset and Quavo, Gucci Mane, Travis Scott, and Wyclef Jean.

Shifting sonic directions without warning, Beautiful Thugger Girls surfaced in June 2017, blending country and pop elements yet keeping Thug's signature eccentricity front and center. That year he also dropped two joint releases—the Young Martha EP with producer Carnage in September and the October mixtape Super Slimey with Future—while appearing on Camila Cabello's chart-topping "Havana." Early 2018 introduced the A-Trak-featured "Ride on Me" ahead of the April Hear No Evil EP. Following another number-one placement on Childish Gambino's "This Is America," which later claimed Song of the Year at the 61st Grammy Awards, he unveiled the Young Stoner Life Records compilation Slime Language featuring Lil Duke, Gunna, and Lil Uzi Vert. The subsequent On the Rvn EP, which reached the Top 20 on both the Billboard 200 and R&B/hip-hop charts, included 6LACK, Jaden Smith, and Elton John, the latter approving Thug's "Rocket Man"-sampling "High."

Thug's 2019 began with the J. Cole and Travis Scott collaboration "The London," his first headlining Top 40 pop single (peaking at number 12 on the Hot 100) and a track later included on So Much Fun, the August debut album that led the Billboard 200. Before its follow-up single "Hot" climbed to number 11, he joined Post Malone's Top Three hit "Goodbyes," and "The London" earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap/Sung Performance. Throughout 2020 he appeared on charting cuts by Migos, Gunna, DaBaby, and JackBoys while issuing the commercial mixtape Slime & B with Chris Brown; he then secured a second number-one credit via Travis Scott's "Franchise."

Opening 2021, the Young Stoner Life compilation Slime Language 2 marked Thug's initial chart-topper of the year, boasting contributions from Travis Scott, Drake, Lil Uzi Vert, Big Sean, Skepta, Future, Kid Cudi, and more than a dozen additional notables. By year's close he delivered Punk, his second studio LP, which leaned back toward experimental terrain and featured Doja Cat, Post Malone, Gunna, J. Cole, and further guests, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200. In 2022 authorities arrested Thug and several Young Stoner Life associates on gang and racketeering charges. Issued during his incarceration, Business Is Business, his third full-length, emerged the next year carrying appearances from Travis Scott, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, and Drake. "From a Man" closed out 2023, while 2024 brought further collaborations and features such as "pop ur shit" (with 21 Savage and Metro Boomin), "Lightyears" (with Juice WRLD), and "Dope Boy" (with Nigo).