Young Thug Encourages Teens To Read The Bible During Community Cookout

Young Thug walked into the Next Level Boys Academy in Atlanta with something most rappers don’t have: a real story about what happens when you ignore the warnings.

The Grammy-winning artist spent the weekend connecting with teens and young men court-mandated to attend the program, and he wasn’t there to perform or sell anything. He was there to tell them the truth about where the road leads.

The Next Level Boys Academy works with young men who’ve already been through the criminal justice system, trying to steer them away from the same traps that nearly consumed him.

Young Thug knows that world intimately.

He spent nearly thirteen months in the courtroom as part of one of Georgia’s longest and most expensive criminal trials in state history, facing racketeering conspiracy charges, gang activity allegations, drug possession counts, and firearm charges stemming from a 56-count RICO indictment filed in May 2022.

When he addressed the group, Young Thug didn’t sugarcoat anything.

“It ain’t working, bro. I’m telling you, bro. I sat in the courtroom almost 3 years. I feel like a lot of y’all need to get in touch with the Bible for real. Guns kill people no matter what,” he told them.

His words carried weight because they came from someone who’d actually lived through the system, not someone preaching from the outside.

On October 30, 2024, Young Thug pleaded guilty to six counts, including gang activity, drug possession, and firearm charges. The sentence: 40 years total, with five years in prison commuted to time served, 15 years of probation, and a backloaded 20-year sentence if he violates probation. His release came with strict conditions.

He’s banned from Metro Atlanta for ten years except for specific family events and required anti-gang presentations.

He can’t make gang references in his music and must complete four annual anti-violence presentations or concerts for Atlanta youth.

Beyond his words at the academy, Young Thug showed his commitment by sponsoring a cookout for the participants and their families.

He served hot dogs and hamburgers, creating space for real conversations.

According to CBS Atlanta, the gesture was about presence and accountability, not charity.

It was about showing young men that someone who’d been through the system could come out the other side and still care about his community.