Young Thug Stirs Debate After Telling Students Fame Matters More Than Money

Young Thug has set off a fresh round of online arguing after telling a group of students that fame is more important than money.

On Monday, Aug. 17, the Atlanta rapper was speaking at an elementary school in Macon, Ga., when he was reportedly asked a simple question: which matters more, fame or money? His answer landed fast and, unsurprisingly, split people right down the middle once the video started circulating on social media.

“Fame is really the most important,” he told the children in the clip. “If you famous, you are almost as important as the richest person in the world. So, fame is more so like the money for us. It’s very important. You have to keep up with it. You have to make sure it leads you to the right rooms.”

The comment from the YSL boss quickly became a talking point online, with some users treating it like a blunt reality check and others calling the advice flat-out bad. “I don’t see the problem, he’s right nowadays u do need fame and $$$,” one X user wrote. Another pushed back harder: “You don’t need fame, you need money. What sick dumb mentality are y’all on?” Someone else added, “Why would you let Young Thug give advice to the youth bro ts is frying me.”

Elsewhere, the timing only adds another layer to the conversation. Thug is currently gearing up for his New Generation Tour, which is set to begin Sept. 10 and will feature special guest Nav along with a Young Stoner Life Records lineup that includes Tezzus and diamond*, 1300Saint, Iyrus, Yume, Biggs and Unky.

See the Young Thug video that sparked the debate and reactions below.