Fat Joe defends Young Thug, Advocates for Artistic Freedom

 

Fat Joe argues that rappers should have the freedom to express their imagination through lyrics without facing legal consequences. Speaking to TMZ Hip Hop in NYC while supporting the United Justice Coalition at the Jacob Javitz Center, the Bronx-bred rap legend advocates for justice in Young Thug's ongoing RICO trial. He contends that prosecutors are unfairly using generic lyrics against Thug, emphasizing that hip hop serves as a storytelling platform akin to fictional books and movies.

Joe asserts that his songs are not crafted with the intention to deceive, highlighting the role of emotions in guiding his lyrical content. He draws parallels between expressing a bad day through an aggressive track like "Take A Look At My Life" and capturing a good mood in a Grammy-nominated piece like "All The Way Up."

During a recent appearance on CNN, Joe shared his estimate that 95% of rappers use hyperbole in their lyrics, particularly relevant to Young Thug's trial where lyrics are presented as evidence for murders and corruption. He strongly believes that freedom of speech should not lead to prison sentences or the censorship of artistic expression.

In defense of the genre, Joe compares the use of violent themes in rap to the depiction of crime in movies, referencing Martin Scorsese's mafia films and recent Netflix releases involving killers. He underscores the inconsistency of legal consequences for artists creating fictional content and expresses concern about the potential repercussions for Young Thug in this context.