This week marks the start of Young Thug’s RICO trial, and even though it’s only been in proceedings for less than a full two days, a lot has happened.

On Monday (November 27), a prosecutor from Fani Willis’ office, the same one litigating Donald Trump’s criminal case, made a rather stunning error when she mistakenly suggested that her team would not present evidence that the Atlanta rapper is part of a criminal enterprise.

“What you will not hear any evidence of is that the defendants were not involved in a criminal street gang,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Adriane Love to the jury, according to Law & Crime reporter Meghann Cuniff.

This is known as burden-shifting – an attempt by the prosecution to sway the burden of beyond a reasonable doubt away from their duty. Criminal defendants do not have the same burden when it comes to proving their innocence, may sit through trial, and then argue to the jury in closing arguments that the prosecution hasn’t met its burden. According to MSNBC, this then had the presiding judge sustain a defense objection to that apparent burden shifting. 

Issues also presented themselves during Love’s PowerPoint presentation as it potentially violated judicial orders. The defense subsequently moved for a mistrial, which is not a good start for any case for the prosecution. That request was denied.

The prosecution accused Thug of asserting himself as the leader of a gang – both in his actions and own song lyrics, which were ruled admissible in court earlier this month. Love, on Monday, referred to the rapper as “King Slime” and portrayed him as the clear leader of the alleged criminal enterprise.

“The evidence will show that the members of YSL knew who their leader was, and they knew the repercussions of not obeying him,” said Love, according to Billboard.

Warner Music’s 300 Entertainment CEO Kevin Liles attended Monday’s opening arguments and continued alleging that the case is an attack on hip-hop music. “If this were country music, rock music…we wouldn’t be here,” Liles told reporters outside the courtroom before opening arguments began.

On Tuesday (November 28), Young Thug’s defense attorney Brian Steel noted in court that the definition of Thug in the rapper’s moniker stands for “Truly Humbled Under God.”

"'Thug' meant and means to Jeffery something very personal,” he told the judge and jury. “It was his pact, if he could ever make it as a musical artist and help his family, himself and many others, out of this endless cycle. "He would be truly humbled under God. That's what 'Thug' means."

Fulton County prosecutors indicted Young Thug and several other affiliates In May 2022, alleging that YSL (aka Young Stoner Life) was not really a record label/music collective but rather a violent Atlanta gang called “Young Slime Life” that committed murders, carjackings, drug dealing and other crimes over a decade.

Thug stands accused of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a law based on the federal RICO statute previously used to target the mafia, drug cartels and other forms of organized crime. He also faces other related charges.

A full explainer of Young Thug’s case, including the admission of his lyrics to be used against him, is available here.