Morgan Wallen’s Album Remained At No. 1 Despite Young Thug’s Alleged Attempt To Buy Streams
“We still have to deal with Morgan Wallen ‘cause he’s doing 100,000 [streams] every week, no matter what,” rapper 21 Savage allegedly said.
Young Thug replied, “Who?”
Clarifying, 21 Savage said, “Morgan Wallen. The country guy.”
This alleged interaction occurred over the phone while Young Thug was in jail awaiting sentencing in the YSL Records racketeering trial in 2023.
Leaked to the public, this alleged conversation has been making waves in the hip hop community, and popular music at large, as Young Thug allegedly suggests purchasing streams to beat other artists in the charts.
Among the artists he allegedly mentioned trying to best is The Weeknd, with Young Thug reportedly paying $50,000 for bots to stream an album by one of his peers, Gunna.
“You never earned a No. 1 album,” Young Thug can allegedly be heard saying in a leaked phone call. “I spent $50,000 buying streams for you.”
Young Thug also allegedly had his sights on none other than Morgan Wallen.
The Leaked Phone Call
While in the Cobb County Jail before he accepted a plea deal on October 31, 2024, Young Thug, who was born Jeffery Lamar Williams II, can allegedly be heard lamenting his failure to not include Morgan Wallen on his 2023 album Business Is Business.
Released while he was in jail, Business Is Business debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, just behind Morgan’s One Thing At A Time, which spent 19 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1.
“Let’s try to beat [him],” Young Thug can allegedly be heard saying. “You still got that plug, right?”
By “plug,” Young Thug is believed to be referring to a method of paying for bots to stream an album. This would be done with the goal of increasing an album’s streams to gain it a higher ranking on the charts.
Regardless, Business Is Business never went No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Hear the alleged conversation between Young Thug and 21 Savage, here (foul language included):
@datdadatty Young Thug finds out his album might lose to Morgan Wallen so he asked for bots #youngthug #thug #gunna #morganwallen #fyp ♬ original sound – Dat
Young Thug pled guilty to six charges: one gang charge, two gun charges, and three drug charges. He also pled no contest to a separate gang charge and a racketeering conspiracy charge, and was released from prison on a commuted sentence.
Morgan Wallen’s Hip Hop Sound
As a country artist, Morgan Wallen has gained notoriety for his penchant for incorporating rap sounds in his work.
Whether it’s the beat in “Cowgirls,” or the overall style of a song, like “Miami,” Morgan has made this blending of genres a defining characteristic of his music.
Notably, Young Thug is credited as a writer on Morgan’s “180 (Lifestyle),” as the 2023 song samples “Lifestyle” by Rich Gang, Young Thug, and Rich Homie Quan.
Listen to Morgan Wallen’s rereleased version of “Miami,” featuring Lil Wayne and Rick Ross, here:
