Young Thug indictment spotlights controversial use of rap lyrics as evidence in court

Young Thug's artistry, which made him distinctive in the rap world, is on trial in a sweeping indictment that sparked a debate about artistic freedom in rap music.

Young Thug is a burgeoning rapper known for pushing the envelope, both musically and as a fashion icon.

He became an influential voice in his generation of artists -- blowing up on the national scene in 2014 with “Stoner,” which according to Billboard is one of the songs that defined the decade.

And now some of the lyrics and images that made him distinctive in the rap world and beyond are part of a criminal case that has sent shockwaves through the hip–hop community and sparked a debate about artistic freedom in rap music.

The rapper, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, was hit with gang-related charges on May 9 after being named in a sweeping 56-count grand jury indictment in Fulton County, Georgia.