Watch Young Thug’s Summer Smash concert featuring Travis Scott and Ken Carson

The performance was his first after being released from jail in November last year.

On Sunday, Young Thug headlined the final night of the Summer Smash festival in Chicago. It was the Atlanta rapper’s highly-anticipated first performance since he was released from jail on November 1, 2024, after accepting a plea deal in his YSL RICO trial that resulted in 15 years on probation.

Thugger greeted the audience with an opening video display where he apologized to fans. “I want to tell my fans I’m sorry for failing. Forgive me, I’m back,” he said before launching into his first song of the night, “Take it to Trial.” The full setlist spanned over two dozen songs with guest appearances from T.I., Travis Scott, and Ken Carson.

While the performance featured YSL classics alongside Young Thug’s most recent releases, he also provided a preview of new music. As Stereogum shows, Ken Carson came onstage to perform a new song. The track may appear on his upcoming fourth studio album, Uy Scuti, expected to arrive this summer.

Young Thug ended his set with a triumphant performance of the April single “Money on Money,” his first song since being freed from jail. During the performance, he took a running leap into the audience in an attempt to crowd surf. Within a few seconds, he clumsily sank down to the ground – but as he kept rapping, surrounded by screaming fans and illuminated by camera flashes and strobe lights, it was clear Thug was in his element (and possibly birthing a new meme).