Known for his eccentric vocal style and fashion,[7] he is considered an influential figure in modern hip hop and trap music, and a pioneer of the mumble rap microgenre.

In 2013, he signed with fellow Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane's 1017 Records[9] and gained further attention and praise for his debut mixtape with the label, 1017 Thug, released in February of that year.

[11] In 2017, Williams guest performed on the worldwide hit "Havana" by singer Camila Cabello, which became his first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100.

[15] Williams was arrested in May 2022 alongside 27 members of YSL and was charged with 63 counts of illegal substance trafficking or firearm possession and for violating the Georgia RICO Act.

[17] Williams was released in October 2024 after accepting a deal which saw him plead no contest to several charges;[18][19] it resulted in him being sentenced to time served and 15 years of probation.

"[40] His song "Danny Glover" received a number of remixes by Waka Flocka Flame[citation needed] and Nicki Minaj,[41] among others.

[citation needed] In December 2013, Thug performed at Fool's Gold Day Off show in Miami, among Danny Brown, Trick Daddy and Travis Scott.

[47] On March 11, 2014, his debut single "Stoner" was serviced to rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States by Asylum and Atlantic Records.

[48] On March 24, 2014, Young Thug stated his debut album would be titled Carter VI,[49] referencing the highly acclaimed Tha Carter album series by American hip hop superstar Lil Wayne,[citation needed] who has been the biggest influence in Young Thug's music career.

[54][55] On October 16, 2014, "Take Kare" featuring Young Thug and Lil Wayne was released; it was the first single from Cash Money Records's Rich Gang 2 compilation.

[57] At the end of the year, music critic Robert Christgau named Black Portland—Young Thug's collaborative mixtape with Bloody Jay—the fourth best album of 2014.

[59] Young Thug's planned debut album was set for release in 2015, and was said to be named Carter 6, in homage to Lil Wayne's upcoming album, Tha Carter V.[60][61] Lil Wayne was not happy about the tribute, telling the audience of a show in April 2015 to "stop listening" to Young Thug.

[83] In August, Thug featured on Camila Cabello's single "Havana", which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, marking his first number-one hit.

[87] Young Thug co-wrote[88] and provided background vocals[89] on Childish Gambino's "This Is America", which debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for May 19, 2018.

On October 20, 2019, Young Thug appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon alongside rapper and fellow labelmate Gunna.

The deluxe edition of the album was released on December 20, 2019, with extra guest appearances from Gunna and Travis Scott as well as the "Hot" remix.

[citation needed] On April 29, 2020, Young Thug and American singer Chris Brown announced their collaborative mixtape, Slime & B.

The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and included guest appearances from Travis Scott, Drake, Rowdy Rebel, Lil Baby, YTB Trench, Lil Uzi Vert, Coi Leray, Big Sean, Nav, Skepta, Future, YNW Melly, BSlime, Sheck Wes, and Kid Cudi, with production mainly handled by Southside, Wheezy, and Turbo.

In September 2021, Thug reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for the third time in his career with his feature alongside Future on "Way 2 Sexy", the lead single off Drake's album Certified Lover Boy.

[17][104] Young Thug has received both praise and criticism for his eccentric vocal style,[30] which has been described as departing from traditional rap lyricism and sometimes intelligible meaning.

"[8] According to The Fader, "in a typical Young Thug verse, he slurs, shouts, whines and sings, feverishly contorting his voice into a series of odd timbres like a beautifully played but broken wind instrument.

"[10] Pitchfork called his style "extraordinarily distinctive" and "a weird, experimental approach to rapping" while praising his "presence, persona, mystique, and, potentially, star power".

[106] Billboard wrote that "Thug uses this multiplicative vocal delivery to his advantage: where another rapper might lapse into repetition, he finds a new way to distress and warp his tone, to burrow resourcefully into rhythmic cracks and crevices.

[108] XXL called him a "rap weirdo", stating that "Thug's charisma, unhinged flow and hooks make his music intriguing.

"[110] Young Thug has been noted for his fast working method,[111] with several collaborators observing his tendency to freestyle tracks live in the studio or quickly develop lyrics on the spot.

[112] Consequence of Sound stated that "his work is constantly rooted in improvisation, an inherently thrilling concept that's embedded itself in black music.

In April 2020, during a concert livestream, Thug revealed a recent near-death experience of his, stating: I kinda just stayed in the bed and I was like, 'Yo, call the ambulance.

[142] Thug's lawyers argued that police conducted the search without a warrant which led to the district attorney dropping all charges except felony marijuana possession.

[149] Thug and Gunna were among the 28 people associated with YSL who were charged in a 56-count Georgia RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act indictment filed by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

[157] On December 12, 2023, it was agreed that the continuation of the trial would be delayed until January 2024 after his co-defendant Shannon Stillwell was stabbed multiple times during a fight that occurred in the Fulton County Jail.