Young Thug’s First Show Back Was a Tightrope Walk

Young Thug’s headlining set at Summer Smash in Chicago on Sunday was a high-stakes balancing act. The Atlanta rapper took the stage at SeatGeek Stadium for the third and closing night of the music festival under the combined weight of lofty fan expectations and tight legal constraints.

This was Thug’s first major live performance following a sprawling RICO case against his label YSL and the first time he’d hit a stage in nearly 1,200 days. To say anticipation for this set had been building over the weekend would be an understatement. As thousands of fans packed onto the festival grounds, I wondered how Thug and his team would craft an experience that delivered for die-hards without jeopardizing his freedom. No easy task when your artistry has long blurred the line between reality and performance.

What followed was a set that revealed just how much has changed—and how much hasn‘t. From the song selection to the stage presence, every choice felt loaded. These were the biggest takeaways: which classics made the cut, what was noticeably missing, and how Thug held the crowd in the palm of his hand in spite of circumstances that could rob him of his freedom.

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The setlist was for the die-hard fans

The crowd erupted the moment Thug emerged from the center of the stage, dressed in a black-and-white sleeveless shirt, his face marked with dark shadow makeup around his eyes and mouth, giving off an almost clown-like aura that was not so much playful as it was eerie. As the opening notes of “Take it to Trial” blared through the speakers, energy skyrocketed, phones shot up, and, for a moment, it was like Thug had never left.

Instead of pandering to the crowd with mostly radio hits or a bunch of new material post-release, he leaned into deep cuts and fan favorites, the kinds of songs that reward you for knowing the mixtape eras by heart. The setlist went from dance-ready ‘Ski” to “Bad Bad Bad” to “Just How It Is.” It made for a niche performance that might’ve left casual listeners scratching their heads, but for devotees, it was a quiet flex. At times, Thug slowed the momentum with left-field picks that puzzled even some seasoned fans. But the crowd stayed locked in, trusting his choices and chanting along anyway, particularly to “Digits,” a classic from Slime Season 3.

His relationship with Gunna is still shaky at best

During his performance of “Ski,” Young Thug noticeably muted Gunna’s name—a small omission that speaks volumes. The two haven’t shared a stage or expressed any sentiment publicly since the YSL RICO case fractured both their musical bond and possibly their real-life ties. While Gunna took a plea deal and was released early, Thug remains on probation. Many speculated their brotherhood wouldn’t survive the courtroom, and this subtle censorship only confirmed suspicions: Whatever closeness once existed is now complicated, maybe permanently.

No mention of YSL

Young Thug never once said “YSL” during his Summer Smash set—a glaring omission for an artist who helped turn those three letters into a movement. Though he still used words like “slatty” and didn’t totally avoid violent bars, it was clear parts of the performance were carefully scrubbed.

A few lines were mumbled, others slightly rewritten. Songs like “Take It to Trial” felt lighter on specifics. It wasn’t a complete overhaul, but there was a clear effort to keep things as safe as possible.

Given his current probation conditions, the editing made sense. He’s likely under pressure to avoid any lyrics that could be interpreted as threats, admissions, or ties to criminal activity. Even if longtime fans missed the rawness of certain lines, most seemed to understand the tightrope he’s walking.

With UY Scuti, Thug will likely tap into new sounds

Midway through his set, Young Thug brought out Ken Carson to perform an unreleased track—an unexpected but strategic move. The song’s dark, chaotic, rage-adjacent energy pointed to a possible shift in sound for Thug’s upcoming album, UY Scuti, aligning him with the current wave rather than trying to reclaim past glory.

It feels like a calculated pivot. By tapping into Ken’s scene, Thug is signaling that he’s paying attention to what’s moving younger crowds, even if it means stepping outside his own sonic blueprint. Whether the collab lands or not, it’s clear UY Scuti won’t be an attempt at recreating Barter 6—and that’s probably intentional.

This was a cool set—maybe not a headliner set

As missed as Young Thug has been, it’s hard to ignore that this set didn’t fully land like a headliner should. It wasn’t bad—the most dedicated fans had plenty to chew on—but something was off. Thug skipped obvious crowd-pleasers like “Check,” “Mamacita,” and “Best Friend,” songs that could’ve injected real energy into the set. Instead, the pacing lagged at times, and the decision to close with a lukewarm Future collab felt anticlimactic. It wasn’t a victory lap, and it wasn’t quite a comeback statement.

There’s also the reality of what Thug is juggling: legal restrictions, performance pressure, and public scrutiny. It’s clear he’s being cautious, and the show reflected that. The energy was measured, the setlist curated with restraint, and the flashes of brilliance felt more like glimpses than a full return to form. He didn’t bomb, but he didn’t dominate, either.

Still, this is a man newly reacquainted with the stage, navigating a different landscape than the one he left. For now, the bigger win might simply be showing up. And while this set won’t go down as legendary, it could be a warm-up—signaling that better, freer performances are still to come.

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