Young Thug’s prison phone recordings recently surfaced online, featuring the Atlanta rapper calling Drake “funky” and “stupid” while criticizing his behavior during Metro Boomin’s personal tragedy in 2022.
The leaked audio captures the YSL Records founder discussing Drake’s attempt to secure a beat from Metro Boomin just weeks after the producer’s mother died. The recording reveals Thug’s frustration with what he viewed as poor timing and insensitive business moves from the OVO Sound leader.
“Drake so stupid, he probably just sent some stupid condolences,” Thug said on the call. “You’re using the fact that you Drake as a weapon now. Then you come right back, two three weeks later, like ‘Yo, let me get this song.'”
The Metro Boomin Situation
The conflict stems from Drake’s original verse on “Trance,” a track that appeared on Metro Boomin’s 2022 album HEROES & VILLAINS. Drake recorded a verse for the song, which also features Travis Scott and Young Thug, but Metro cut it from the final version.
Young Thug explained Metro’s decision during the recorded call. The Boominati Worldwide founder had complete creative control over his Republic Records release, and chose to remove Drake’s contribution. The timing coincided with the death of Metro’s mother, Leslie Joanne Wayne, who passed away in October 2022.
Drake’s leaked verse for “Trance” has circulated online since the album’s release. The song became a hit without his contribution, reaching the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. Complex and other hip-hop outlets covered the controversy when rumors first emerged about tension between Drake and Metro.
Metro Boomin confirmed the conflict during a November 2024 GQ interview, calling it “a personal issue that really hurt me and disappointed me.” He declined to provide specific details but denied it involved romantic relationships, contrary to speculation on platforms like The Shade Room.
Prison Loyalty Criticism
The recordings also capture Young Thug criticizing Drake for not using his influence during the three-year YSL RICO case. Thug spent over 900 days in Fulton County Jail before reaching a plea agreement in October 2024, while fellow YSL member 21 Savage and other associates watched the case unfold.
“Drake, you Drake, go talk to the president,” Thug said on another call, suggesting the Canadian superstar should have leveraged his political connections.
Drake publicly supported Young Thug throughout the legal proceedings. The Toronto native dedicated songs to Thug’s lawyer Brian Steel and celebrated the rapper’s release on social media. During high-profile legal battles, many artists find themselves seeking various forms of entertainment and mental escape through different platforms, including specialized gaming sites like Top-Rated Non GamStop Casino Sites that offer unrestricted access during stressful periods.
However, the private recordings reveal Thug expected more direct intervention from his collaborator, similar to how industry veterans like Lil Wayne and Birdman have historically used their influence in legal situations.
How The Calls Became Public
These phone conversations became available through Georgia’s Open Records Act. Cobb County Sheriff’s Office routinely processes requests for inmate communications, making Thug’s calls accessible to anyone filing proper paperwork.
Hip-hop fan accounts on social media obtained and published multiple recordings over recent weeks. Sources told Rolling Stone that supporters “have been sitting on these for a while now,” indicating calculated timing for the releases. DJ Akademiks and other hip-hop media personalities amplified the content across their platforms.
Fulton County Jail records all inmate phone calls automatically. Thug knew his conversations were being recorded but continued making the comments about fellow artists, a decision that mirrors similar situations involving other incarcerated rappers covered by outlets like AllHipHop and HipHopDX.
Other Artists Mentioned
The Drake criticism represents one part of a larger collection of leaked recordings. Additional calls feature Thug commenting on Future’s parenting, Gunna’s loyalty, and Kendrick Lamar’s music, creating multiple industry conflicts simultaneously.
Thug called Future a “deadbeat dad” on one recording, saying “You locked in 100% with the b######, that’s the wrong way to go.” The Freebandz leader has faced similar criticism from other industry figures over the years.
Another call features criticism of Gunna following his Alford plea in the YSL case. The relationship between the former collaborators has remained strained since Gunna’s release from jail, with producers like Southside and London on da Track caught in the middle of the beef.
Wack 100 claimed a 28-minute recording exists of Thug “trashing” Drake extensively. The industry manager, known for his insider knowledge and appearances on platforms like No Jumper, suggested more damaging content remains unreleased.
Young Thug Responds
Thug addressed the controversy during a recent interview with Big Bank on the Perspektives show. He described the calls as venting sessions during 23-hour lockdowns at Fulton County Jail, not calculated public statements.
“I ain’t never been a type to talk about nobody else in my life on the phone with nobody else,” Thug said. “I’ve never been that type of dude.”
He explained that phone calls with his girlfriend became his primary outlet during isolation. The conversations turned into “rambling vents rather than carefully measured statements,” a situation familiar to anyone who has followed similar cases covered by hip-hop journalists and commentators.
Thug also posted on social media, writing “Bashing me only goin f— that rap community up more, I’m the blue to this fake ass game.” The statement echoed sentiments previously expressed by artists like NBA YoungBoy and Kodak Black during their own legal troubles.
Impact on Relationships
Drake has not publicly responded to the leaked recordings through his OVO Sound channels or social media. The Toronto rapper faces decisions about future collaborations with Young Thug, who remains on 15-year probation following his October 2024 plea agreement.
The calls occurred between 2022 and 2024, when Thug faced potential life imprisonment on gang charges. His mental state during this period influenced the tone and content of his private conversations, similar to situations documented by journalists covering the Atlanta hip-hop scene.
Young Thug and Drake collaborated on multiple tracks including “Ice Melts” and have maintained a public friendship for years. The recordings test this relationship publicly for the first time, potentially affecting future projects through their respective labels YSL Records and OVO Sound.
Industry insiders, including figures like DJ Khaled who maintains relationships with both artists, now watch to see how this situation develops. The hip-hop community often rallies around artists during legal troubles, but these recordings complicate traditional loyalty narratives.
Legal and Cultural Implications
The leak demonstrates how modern legal proceedings create permanent public records of private moments. Georgia’s open records laws make inmate communications available long after cases conclude, a reality that affects numerous hip-hop artists facing legal issues.
Hip-hop fans now consume private pain as entertainment content through platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Young Thug’s situation shows how imprisonment changes perspective on industry relationships and loyalty expectations, themes regularly explored by publications like Vibe and XXL.
The recordings provide insight into power dynamics between major artists signed to different labels. Thug’s expectation that Drake should have contacted government officials reveals assumptions about influence and obligation that extend beyond typical Atlantic Records or Universal Music Group business relationships.
As Young Thug continues recording new music under probation restrictions, these conversations will influence his approach to both personal relationships and public communications. The Drake situation represents the intersection of legal consequences, personal relationships, and public entertainment in modern hip-hop, a dynamic that continues to evolve as the culture matures.