Thugged Out
Jamell Maurice Demons (born May 1, 1999), known professionally by his stage name YNW Melly (initialism for Young Nigga World Melly), is an American rapper and singer. He rose to fame in 2018 following the release of his single "Murder on My Mind", a trap song that explores homicidal ideation. As his mainstream breakthrough, its release garnered him further attention after he was charged with the double-murder of two fellow rappers in the "YNW" collective the following year, resulting in an ongoing legal battle and incarceration. Prior, "Murder on My Mind" peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and led him to sign with 300 Entertainment. The label released his debut commercial mixtape I Am You (2018), which was met with positive critical reception along with its follow-up, We All Shine (2019).
Both mixtapes entered the Billboard 200 chart and received gold certifications by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); We All Shine contained the double platinum-certified song "Mixed Personalities" (featuring Kanye West) and preceded his incarceration. His first two studio albums, Melly vs. Melvin (2019) Just a Matter of Slime (2021), both maintained his commercial success despite mixed critical response. The former was supported by two Billboard Hot 100-top 40 singles—"223's" (featuring 9lokkNine) and "Suicidal" (remixed featuring Juice Wrld)—and peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200, while the latter peaked at number 11. His third studio album, Young New Wave (2024) was generally panned by critics, and failed to chart.
In February 2019, he was arrested and charged with two counts of premeditated murder for which he faces life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty if convicted. He is also a suspect in the 2017 murder of a sheriff's deputy in Gifford. In March 2019, Demons pleaded not guilty to the double-murder charges. His first trial ended in a hung jury. As of January 2024, his retrial was paused and awaited adjudication regarding the inclusion of digital evidence. His retrial was rescheduled until September 2025.
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