Young Thug is set to hit the stage for the first time since he was released from jail, and fans all around the world can't wait to witness the moment.
The Atlanta native took to social media on Wednesday, June 18, and posted a teaser for his upcoming performance at Lyrical Lemonade's Summer Smash festival in Chicago. The brief trailer features a compilation of news clips from the YSL RICO trial before it says "THUGGER RETURNS" toward the end. Thug will close out the three-day Hip-Hop music festival on Sunday, June 22, following a special performance from Chance The Rapper.
“In a weird way, all of that happened with Summer Smash being one of the shows he was about to do before he went away for a little bit, and now Summer Smash being the first show [he’s doing] fresh out, it is full circle," Elliot Montanez, director of operations for Lyrical Lemonade, told Chicago Sun Times. “I just think it’s interesting. I’m definitely glad that moment will be at Summer Smash, where fans will interact with him in person for the first time in a minute. But it’s a beautiful, full-circle moment.”
Young Thug was announced as the final headliner of Summer Smash 2025 back in March. He was originally booked to headline the festival with Gunna in 2022 before the YSL co-founder was arrested in Georgia. His performance could also put the rollout for his anticipated album into high gear. Young Thug has been teasing the album, Uy Scuti, over the past few months. He released the first single "Money On Money" featuring Future in April, but hasn't confirmed an exact release date for the album yet.
Summer Smash 2025 kicks off today with headlining performances from Don Toliver, Yeat and Future. See the full lineup of performers below.