Kevin Liles Teary-Eyed Testimony For Young Thug’s Freedom

SOHH

Early this afternoon, Young Thug had his bond hearing before a judge at the Fulton County court. Testimony was given by a stellar lineup of witnesses, including music executive Kevin Liles. He offered a teary testimony in which he confronted the question of rap lyrics being used in legal cases to convict artists.  0:00 INTRODUCTION 3:30 "Jeffrey is not just an artist, he is an influencer, he’s a person that I think was put here to change the people around him." 5:53 “We sit here on trial, and we talk about lyrics?" 10:04 “It’s not about Jeffrey…"

Transcript

00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]

00:04 >> Before you sit down.

00:06 >> Senator Ryan, you signed a form of testimony in court.

00:09 Truth, I'll let you know what truth is.

00:12 I'm going to take your seat.

00:14 State and spell your first and last name.

00:17 >> Kevin Lyles, K-E-V-I-N-L-I-L-E-S.

00:22 >> Good afternoon, sir.

00:23 >> How do you do, Mr. Steele?

00:25 >> I'll let you know.

00:26 >> Can you do me a favor and give the Samba Court, educate the Samba Court on who you

00:31 are, your background, the court may not be familiar.

00:34 >> Your Honor, I'm a 54 year old father of four.

00:38 I'm kind of emotional because how good this guy is.

00:45 I have Morgan State University.

00:52 I built a stadium in my old school.

00:55 I have a street named after me.

00:57 I have all kind of honorary doctorates.

01:00 I employed probably 5,000 people.

01:03 I was the president and CEO of Def Jam.

01:06 I've been in this music called hip hop for 38 years.

01:11 And for the life of me, I don't understand why I have to testify

01:18 on the good that hip hop has done around the world.

01:23 I've also started a company with Jeffrey called Young Stone Life.

01:29 And I remember what he said to me.

01:33 We're not just starting a company.

01:34 We're going to change some lives.

01:35 And that's what he's done.

01:36 And he's definitely changed mine.

01:41 >> Mr. Lyles, how long have you known Mr. Williams?

01:46 >> For, well, I was a fan for probably 12 years.

01:50 But I personally got to know him over the last 10 years.

01:56 >> And have you signed your company, signed Mr. Williams?

02:01 >> Yes, he signed to us.

02:03 And I hate to say that he signed to us because it's my partner.

02:08 But we have two deals.

02:09 One deal is a deal for him as an artist, solo artist.

02:13 And the other deal is for Young Stone Life.

02:16 And I know this is personal, but financially, there's been testimony that if this trial

02:24 -- and I'm not saying the court would allow it -- but if it doesn't take place for a year,

02:28 there would be over a million dollars in expenses just for 24-hour security of police officers

02:37 to ensure -- off-duty police officers, second jobs to ensure Mr. Williams does not flee,

02:42 does not get types of weapons, does not intimidate a witness.

02:46 Does not endanger community property in the community.

02:49 Can he afford, from your personal knowledge and how much money he earns, can he afford

02:54 that type of undertaking?

02:55 >> Jeffrey can afford it and I can afford it.

02:58 So it will be paid for.

03:00 >> And you are willing to back him as well?

03:01 >> I'm willing to back him personally and professionally.

03:07 >> Please explain, if you can, and discuss fully, how your life intersected with Mr.

03:12 Williams' life.

03:15 >> My job is to seek out talented people.

03:20 And I think God brought us together in a very weird way, but I think we were meant to be

03:29 together.

03:30 Jeffrey is not just an artist.

03:34 He's an influencer.

03:35 He's a person that I think was put here to change the people around him.

03:44 And he's so talented.

03:46 He's creative, he's innovative, and he's fearless.

03:50 He's a risk taker.

03:52 And those kind of people, I call them change agents.

03:57 I'm not signing just artists.

03:58 I'm raising a young man.

04:00 He looks at me as a father figure.

04:05 He's not, like I said, we can't limit it to just his lyrics or his music.

04:12 He's a young man and he will be a contributing citizen to this world.

04:16 And that's what I invested.

04:17 And I truly believe this whole thing that people are talking about, it's not him.

04:24 The Jeffrey I know, the Jeffrey I know will give me clothes off his back.

04:28 The Jeffrey I know, I'm giving my kids, he's giving his kids.

04:31 That's the Jeffrey I know.

04:33 >> You mentioned lyrics.

04:34 There's been a lot of argument by the prosecution about the lyrics and songs.

04:42 Can you explain, if you have the insight, what is selling in the rap industry dealing

04:51 with the lyrics?

04:52 And why are they being promoted and why are people wanting it?

04:55 >> Your Honor, you've, I don't know how old you are, but you know.

05:01 >> Older than you.

05:02 >> So I've been fighting this battle for over 40 years.

05:10 It's not new.

05:11 And it's funny how we're the number one music in the world now and they want to bring this

05:15 back up.

05:17 Now, we don't argue about any of the movies or other genres of music that talk about I

05:27 ran him over in my truck or I got drunk and I went and shot him.

05:33 We don't.

05:34 We don't bring those things to court.

05:37 But quote unquote our music, we've been on trial.

05:40 And we're constantly on trial about who we are, what we are, and why we are.

05:45 Anybody gave us nothing?

05:47 So we sit here on trial.

05:49 We talk about lyrics.

05:50 Lyrics.

05:51 I don't understand the thing.

05:52 I'm going to be here and I'm going to keep fighting for it because I believe self-expression

06:01 and I believe we should protect black art.

06:05 We should protect black art.

06:08 And I'm on trial for lyrics.

06:10 Come on, man.

06:11 >> With regards to Mr. Williams in the court may not be familiar, where does he rank in

06:19 if there is such a ranking in the music industry?

06:23 >> Objection.

06:24 Judge, that's not relevant to anything.

06:27 >> Shows his employment status as part of the Aiella factors and whether the record

06:32 company is going to continue to back him.

06:34 >> I think you've already established that through the witness.

06:37 >> Okay.

06:38 >> Because we all have the means to potentially be on alternative release.

06:45 >> You understand that Mr. Williams was charged in 2018 in DeKalb County with an offense involving

06:57 he was riding in a car with two other people.

07:01 And there was a gun and a small amount of drugs in the car.

07:06 Are you familiar with what I'm talking about?

07:08 >> Yes.

07:09 >> Okay.

07:10 And you know that case is still pending, believe it or not, but it went up to the appellate

07:13 court.

07:14 I don't know.

07:15 Are you familiar with all that?

07:16 >> Yes.

07:17 >> Everything was suppressed by the honorable superior court judge in another county and

07:21 then the state appeal got reversed and it's pending.

07:23 You're aware of that?

07:25 >> Yes.

07:26 >> Okay.

07:27 So Mr. Williams is actually on bond for that case.

07:29 The allegation also entails the fact that when Mr. Williams was arrested at the home

07:36 here in Atlanta, a search warrant was then executed at that home and there were multiple

07:44 firearms.

07:45 One firearm is allegedly illegal.

07:49 It turned into like a machine gun.

07:52 And there was supposedly about two pounds of marijuana and some items in, looks like

08:00 an energy drink, but it supposedly contains either schedule two, three or four drugs in

08:07 it, codeine supposedly.

08:08 Are you familiar with that?

08:10 >> I read it.

08:12 >> Okay.

08:13 Understanding all those facts, the DeKalb County case, current bond and the search of

08:17 the home, you're also aware that many other people were in that house at the time of the

08:21 search warrant, right?

08:22 >> Yes.

08:23 >> Okay.

08:24 I'd like to ask you the following questions in addition to the fact that we are charging

08:30 two counts in this current indictment.

08:32 You're familiar with the Rico conspiracy and the gang?

08:36 >> Yes.

08:37 >> Okay.

08:39 On your oath, would you be willing to back with your own personal property and wealth

08:45 as well as your own company's personal property and wealth the bond for Mr. Williams?

08:51 If the Samba court wanted a high bond.

08:53 >> Objection, Your Honor.

08:54 I just asked to answer.

08:55 The witness actually has already stated that.

08:56 >> Yeah, he already said he put up his own and his company's resources.

09:04 So it's an outstanding objection.

09:07 >> Would you be willing, okay, if it's the same question, I apologize, but I thought

09:11 it's a different question.

09:13 You have to understand that if the court wanted to, you would lose that wealth if Mr. Williams

09:19 violated condition of bond.

09:20 It's not just going by when Mr. Williams in custody, you're released.

09:24 The court could have you signed as a co-signer on that bond and you would actually have a

09:29 lien against your wealth if Mr. Williams violated condition of bond.

09:33 Are you still willing to do that?

09:34 >> I can stand to do that, yes.

09:37 >> Okay, without hesitation?

09:38 >> Without hesitation.

09:39 >> All right.

09:40 Do you believe that if granted bond on your oath, Mr. Williams would intimidate any witness?

09:45 >> No.

09:46 >> Obstruct the administration of justice?

09:49 >> No.

09:50 >> Be a danger to the community or a problem in the community?

09:53 >> Not at all.

09:54 >> And a risk to commit a crime while out on bond?

09:58 >> No, not at all.

09:59 He has too much respect for me and too much respect for the company that we're building

10:03 and too many people that depend on him.

10:05 It's not about Jeffrey.

10:06 It's about the family.

10:07 It's about the community.

10:08 He understands.

10:09 He's inspiring the world right now.

10:10 There's a kid that he changes their life every day.

10:11 I really believe that.

10:12 >> For the better?

10:13 >> For the better.

10:14 >> I have one last question for you.

10:15 If the Sonoma Court granted bond, but it was very, very restrictive, Mr. Williams is not

10:16 coming out to studios, he's not doing videos, speaking with the press, he's not doing anything

10:17 else, what would you do?

10:18 >> I would not be able to do that.

10:19 I would not be able to do that.

10:20 I would not be able to do that.

10:21 I would not be able to do that.

10:22 I would not be able to do that.

10:23 I would not be able to do that.

10:24 I would not be able to do that.

10:25 I would not be able to do that.

10:26 I would not be able to do that.

10:27 I would not be able to do that.

10:28 I would not be able to do that.

10:29 I would not be able to do that.

10:30 I would not be able to do that.

10:55 I would not be able to do that.

11:02 I would not be able to do that.

11:03 I would not be able to do that.

11:04 I would not be able to do that.

11:05 I would not be able to do that.

11:06 I would not be able to do that.

11:07 I would not be able to do that.

11:08 I would not be able to do that.

11:09 I would not be able to do that.

11:10 I would not be able to do that.

11:11 I would not be able to do that.

11:12 I would not be able to do that.

11:13 I would not be able to do that.

11:14 I would not be able to do that.

11:15 I would not be able to do that.

11:16 I would not be able to do that.

11:17 I would not be able to do that.

11:18 I would not be able to do that.

11:19 I would not be able to do that.

11:20 I would not be able to do that.

11:22 I would not be able to do that.

11:23 I would not be able to do that.

11:24 I would not be able to do that.

11:25 I would not be able to do that.

11:26 I would not be able to do that.

11:27 I would not be able to do that.

11:28 I would not be able to do that.

11:29 I would not be able to do that.

11:30 I would not be able to do that.

11:31 I would not be able to do that.

11:32 I would not be able to do that.

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