Gunna Rumored To Be Plotting YSL Exit Ahead Of New Album
Gunna is rumored to be looking to exit YSL and find a new label home to jumpstart his rap career following his plea deal, according to Akademiks.
In a live stream earlier this week, the Off the Record podcast host speculated that Gunna has a new album on the way, but is waiting to see how Young Thug’s RICO trial plays out before making any moves — which could even involve leaving the label altogether.
“The label side, a lot of people believe that Gunna is going to be seeking to leave YSL just because the relationship is fractured,” Ak explained.
“It’s just no way you go through this and come out on the other side where one guy is apparently looking at decades in jail and you came out in six months with a bad bitch. It’s probably not gonna work.”
YSL, which has released all three of Gunna’s albums, is a subsidiary of 300 Entertainment, whose parent company is Warner Music. Atlantic Records serves as 300’s distributor, so a lateral move within the Warner family might not be out of reach for the DS4Ever rapper.
“What’s probably gonna happen is his contract gets negotiated where there’s either a buyout or he’s gonna go to Atlantic Records,” Akademiks continued.
“A lot of people think Atlantic Records might have Gunna soon whenever he’s gonna release it, just because based on the turmoil and strife between everybody in YSL and what’s going on with Thug. It wouldn’t be in his best interest to have YSL the label still working his project.”
Gunna was released from jail in December after pleading guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge. He entered an Alford plea, which as he explained at the time meant he pleaded guilty “while at the same time maintaining my innocence toward the same charge.”
As a result, Gunna was sentenced to five years with one served, accounting for the time he spent behind bars since being arrested as part of the sweeping RICO indictment last May.
His remaining four-year sentence has reportedly been “suspended,” meaning Gunna will serve it in the form of 500 hours of community service.
The rapper’s legal team doubled down in a public statement earlier this week that their client hasn’t cooperated with authorities.
“Gunna has never been interviewed by or cooperated with law enforcement or prosecutors in the RICO case,” they wrote. “Nor have his attorneys proffered information on his behalf.
“What was said at his Alford plea hearing was solely to resolve his own case. It cannot be used by the prosecution against Young Thug or any other defendant.”
Gunna is far from the only YSL associate to take a plea deal, but he hasn’t exactly been welcomed home with open arms by the Hip Hop community.
The Atlanta native has been branded a “snitch” by the likes of 6ix9ine, Boosie Badazz and Wack 100, while others such as Lil Baby and Meek Mill quietly unfollowed him on Instagram.
As for Young Thug, he remains behind bars as the jury selection process in the YSL RICO case drags on. The trial is expected to last for at least six to nine months.
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