How ThuggerDaily Became the Go-to Source For the YSL Trial

Few people realize that the most dependable source for updates on Georgia’s longest criminal trial comes from a 24-year-old Texan who juggles a corporate job and reports on the case as a hobby.

What began as a modest Young Thug fan account with just over a thousand followers on X (formerly Twitter) has grown into ThuggerDaily, a powerhouse account with over 70K followers, known for its surprisingly up-to-date and generally accurate reporting on the sprawling YSL trial.

The state's complex RICO case against Young Thug (Jeffery Lamar Williams) has been criticized by both fans and legal experts since the indictment was revealed in May 2022. A significant part of the state’s evidence against Young Thug, who is accused of leading a criminal enterprise, was derived from his song lyrics.

Since then, the trial has been plagued by numerous delays and prosecutorial mishaps, making it Georgia's longest criminal trial to date, with no clear end in sight.

Illustrating the case's dysfunction, former presiding Judge Ural Glanville was ordered to recuse himself from the trial, with the court citing the need to "preserve public confidence in the judicial system." (Just as this story was about to go live, Glanville’s replacement, Judge Shukura Ingram, also stepped down due to a prior relationship between her courthouse deputy and Christian Eppinger, a co-defendant in the case.)

Young Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel, filed a motion to remove Judge Glanville from the case in mid-June, alleging misconduct and arguing that Young Thug could not receive a fair trial under Glanville's supervision.

Steel, who has garnered attention for representing high-profile clients like 21 Savage and Playboi Carti, was found in contempt after he refused to disclose his source in relation to an alleged meeting between the prosecutors and the judge.

Throughout this chaotic legal battle, ThuggerDaily's follower count has surged, directly tied to the increasingly bizarre developments in the YSL trial. The account has been covering the case since December 2022, shortly after Gunna accepted a controversial plea deal, and is known for its fervent coverage of even the most minor developments, much like a traditional fan account.

Legal journalist Meghann Cuniff, who gained recognition for her reporting on Megan Thee Stallion’s assault trial against Tory Lanez, told Complex that ThuggerDaily demonstrates the value of taking a stance and presenting information in an engaging way.

“It’s clear where his loyalties lie, and that helps him cultivate an authentic voice in his coverage, which really draws people in,” Cuniff said. “There’s a real journalistic quality to what he does, even though it’s Stan journalism. He’s good at it and gets the information out there. It shows that having a passion for a subject can really enhance your coverage.”

However, Cuniff also noted a potential downside to an account like ThuggerDaily, which exists solely on X—it can become an echo chamber, excluding reporting from more traditional outlets like The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that have also covered the YSL trial.

“You might forget that there are other media platforms besides Twitter, and while he’s reaching a large audience, only a small fraction of society is on Twitter,” Cuniff said. “But it’s true that minute-by-minute updates like his were hard to find, especially during the jury selection process.”

ThuggerDaily's journey began a few years ago when he joined a Discord channel linked to the Young Thug Reddit page. Initially, he was seeking leaks related to the release of the *Beautiful Thugger Girls* album but ended up staying for the community.

“When Young Thug and 28 others were arrested in May 2022, ThuggerDaily became the go-to voice in the Discord channel for dissecting the indictment and keeping other users informed about the trial. Eventually, another member offered up what was then a defunct Young Thug Stan account on X, which had just over 1,000 followers before ThuggerDaily took it over in December 2022.

Since then, his reporting has been cited by legal experts and music outlets, including Complex and The Fader, who rely on ThuggerDaily for updates when no one else is covering minor developments. He remains anonymous due to his corporate job.

“My employer wouldn’t be pleased to know I’ve been monitoring court proceedings during work hours,” ThuggerDaily told Complex.

In a phone interview in July, ThuggerDaily discussed the latest trial updates and his experience as an anonymous hobbyist reporter.

When asked about his musical preferences, ThuggerDaily admitted, “It’s strange, but for a long time, the only rappers I listened to were Young Thug, Eminem, and Future. I wasn’t into rap before, and now I’m mainly a fan of Thug and Future. It’s a specific niche.”

Regarding his involvement in the Young Thug Discord, he said, “The Discord was connected to the Young Thug Reddit at one point. I joined around the time *Beautiful Thugger Girls* was being hyped. The Discord was the place to find leaks, snippets, and speculation about the album.”

On the topic of leaks, ThuggerDaily expressed mixed feelings, saying, “Leaking something right before it’s released is dumb. But if a song has been unreleased for years and the artist never planned to drop it, I don’t see the harm. Fans get more music while waiting for official releases.”

ThuggerDaily attributes his understanding of complex legal jargon to the quality of the lawyers involved in the case. “The lawyers are incredibly skilled and make their arguments so compelling that it’s easy to follow along. I also practiced explaining legal documents to people in the Discord before starting the page, which helped me understand common misconceptions.”

One major misconception, according to ThuggerDaily, is the belief that Young Thug is involved in a central murder case, when in reality, he faces no murder charges. Another is the idea that Gunna’s plea deal will negatively impact Young Thug’s case, a notion he disputes despite the ongoing debate.

When asked about Judge Glanville and the effort to remove him from the case, ThuggerDaily stated, “He’s dug himself into a hole. It’s a common opinion among lawyers and my own that he’s confused and will be removed either by another judge or on appeal. The hole he’s in is inescapable.”

After Judge Glanville’s recusal, ThuggerDaily told Complex that while he’s glad the decision was made, it leaves many questions unanswered. He wondered about the practicalities of continuing the trial with the same jury or the possibility of starting over and issuing bonds.

As for whether the judge’s recusal benefits Young Thug, ThuggerDaily said, “That’s the big question. Brian Steel is a top-tier lawyer, and whatever he’s trying to achieve in the case is likely the right move. The general opinion is that the state hasn’t been performing well in this trial, so a new judge could give them another chance. It might also increase Young Thug’s chances of being granted bond, which would help him fight his case.”

Reflecting on his experience running the account, ThuggerDaily said, “It’s not life-changing, but it’s been a great hobby. I feel like I’m doing something more productive than I would otherwise. I’ve learned a lot and met some really cool and smart people, including Thug’s friends, family, and local lawyers. It’s broadened my circle in ways I never expected. Other than that, I wouldn’t say it’s changed my life—at least not yet.”