Fat Joe is coming to Young Thug’s defense as the controversial YSL RICO trial pushes on.
The case has attracted much attention, mainly since some of Thug’s lyrics are being used, as well as those of other YSL rappers. When the trial got underway this week, some of Thug’s music had already started being dissected in the courtroom, something Joe disagreed with.
“I’ve been rapping professionally for 30 years — I’ve lied in almost 95 percent of my songs. I’m being honest. I write like I feel that day. I’m just being creative,” Joe said during a sit-down with Gayle King.
According to Joe, rap music should only be seen as entertainment, not actual accounts of the artist’s life. Last year, California famously signed into law a bill banning the use of lyrics in trials, forcing other states to re-evaluate how much they rely on them to build their cases. As the “What’s Luv” rapper explained, he is a family man and philanthropist, which is a message that his music doesn’t always convey.
“So the music would never amount to the actual person, Joseph Cartagena. What’s even more horrible is that the district attorneys, they know those lyrics ain’t real. They know that’s creativity. But if it helps their case, they’ll use it to put these guys in jail,” he added.
Thug is facing decades behind bars if he is convicted of the many allegations against him, which include being the leader and shotcaller of the YSL gang. Thug has maintained his innocence.