A shocking accusation claims that a rapper used his music to fund illegal activities and control a gang. This challenges the traditional view of gangs as hierarchical organizations fueled by crime. The indictment suggests that the rapper's success allowed him to control others and fund their exploits, rather than the other way around. While there are accusations of drug dealing and robbery, rap is seen as the main business. This revelation sparked intrigue and discussion within the hip hop community.
As a racketeering trial begins in Atlanta, much of the focus is on the high-profile defendant, the best-selling rapper Young Thug.
Joe Coscarelli, a culture reporter for The New York Times, explains why, in a sense, hip-hop itself is on trial.
Guest: Joe Coscarelli, a culture reporter for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- A judge ruled in November that at least 17 specific sets of lines from the Atlanta artist and his collaborators could be used by prosecutors in the racketeering trial of YSL, a chart-topping hip-hop label and collective.
- Here’s what to know about the trial.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.