FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — Jeffery Williams — better known as the rapper Young Thug — likely didn't release his songs with Fulton County jurors in mind.
But state prosecutors cued up several of his hits in Courtroom 1C this week in the ongoing RICO trial against the rapper and the alleged YSL street gang.
One song called "Slime Sh**" includes lyrics referring to a "hundred rounds in a Tahoe" and "YSL sh**."
Another, "Just How It Is," has a line that says "We known to kill the biggest cats of all kitties."
Former Fulton County Detective Kimberly Underwood testified to the similarities between those lyrics and the murder of Donovan Thomas Jr.
"There was a rival between the YSL crew and the Inglewood Blood crew... [Donovan Thomas Jr.] was a big person for the Inglewood Family Bloods," she testified on Monday. "When he was murdered, he was standing outside of his Tahoe."
At least four alleged members of YSL were charged with Thomas' murder: Deamonte Kendrick and Shannon Stillwell — who are currently on trial with Young Thug — as well as Javaris Bradford and Demise McMullen.
"When you rap about stuff that actually happened, we pay attention," Underwood said. "It was only particular songs that stood out, that had certain lyrics."
Attorney Brian Steel, who represents Young Thug, questioned the conclusions Underwood had reached.
"Do you know who actually wrote the lyrics to any of these songs?" he asked.
"I don't," she replied.
"You don't know who wrote them, but you don't know if they're just art, do you? And not autobiographical?" he later asked.
"It could be art. It can be looked at as art," she answered. "I agree that it's art, but I think that when actual crimes are committed and you brag about it in a song or you reference it in song or you taunt your opps in a song, then it causes problems."