Yak Gotti is one of the most talked-about names to come out of Atlanta’s rap scene. Fans know him for his gritty voice and his close ties to Young Thug. But many people still have big questions. What is Yak Gotti’s real name? How much money has he made? And what really happened with those snitching rumors? This article answers all of that in simple, clear words.
We will walk through his life, his music, his court case, and his money story. By the end, you will understand exactly who Yak Gotti is and why his name keeps popping up online.
Who Is Yak Gotti?
Rapper Yak Gotti, who is signed to Young Thug’s label, has a different narrative to share. He is known for a raw, street-style flow. His songs talk about hard times, loyalty, and growing up in Atlanta. He built a fan base through mixtapes and features with other YSL artists. Over the years, Yak Gotti became known for more than just music, thanks to a huge criminal trial that made national news.
Yak Gotti Real Name: The Answer Fans Search For
The question “yak gotti real name” gets typed into Google every single day. The answer is simple. His birth name is Deamonte Kendrick. News outlets like Newsweek and Fox 5 Atlanta have confirmed this many times during his court case. Kendrick grew up in Atlanta and built his stage name, Yak Gotti, as he rose through the local rap scene. Many fans only learned his real name during his high-profile trial coverage.
Where Yak Gotti Grew Up and Started Rapping
Deamonte Kendrick grew up in Atlanta, a city famous for shaping modern hip-hop. He was around music early, watching local rappers build careers from nothing. That environment pushed him toward writing his own bars. His early mixtapes caught attention in Atlanta’s underground scene before he ever linked up with Young Thug’s camp. This local grind is part of why fans still call him an authentic Atlanta artist.
Yak Gotti and Young Thug: How the Connection Started
The Yak Gotti Young Thug relationship is central to his whole career. Yak Gotti signed with YSL Records, the label started by Young Thug. He appeared on multiple YSL tracks and mixtapes over the years. Their biggest collaboration together, “Take It to Trial” with Gunna, dropped in December 2020 and pulled in over 30 million streams. That single became a turning point that grew Yak Gotti’s fan base far beyond Atlanta.
The YSL RICO Case Explained Simply
In May 2022, Yak Gotti was arrested along with Young Thug and more than two dozen others. Prosecutors said YSL was a criminal gang, not just a record label. Yak Gotti faced very serious charges, including murder and racketeering, tied to the 2015 killing of Donovan Thomas. The trial became one of the longest in Georgia’s history, with jury selection alone stretching on for months.
Yak Gotti Snitch Rumors: What Actually Happened
Many fans search “yak gotti snitch” because of rumors that spread during his time in jail. Reports claimed Kendrick may have cooperated with police in an earlier 2015 shooting case tied to a fellow YSL affiliate. Kendrick strongly denied this on social media, saying he “claimed” his own case and served four years without giving anyone up. These snitching rumors reportedly put his safety at risk behind bars, including one incident where he was stabbed in jail.
Reports claimed Gotti had once handed a gun to a fellow YSL affiliate for use in a retaliation shooting, though Gotti pushed back hard against this version of events. It’s worth being clear here: this remains a disputed allegation, not a proven fact. Kendrick has officially refuted the accusation each time it has emerged online, and no court has ever verified it.
The Verdict: Was Yak Gotti Found Guilty?
After nearly three years behind bars, the jury reached its decision in December 2024. Yak Gotti was found not guilty on every single charge connected to the YSL RICO case, including murder and gang conspiracy. For him and his family, this was a significant occasion. However, because he was charged separately for crimes that occurred within the jail, his release did not occur immediately.
Life After the Trial: Yak Gotti’s Release From Jail
Even after his not guilty verdict, Yak Gotti stayed locked up for months. He was charged with further offenses, such as aggravated battery, related to a brawl in the jailhouse. In April 2025, he accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to one battery charge while other charges were dropped. He was sentenced to time served plus probation and finally walked out of Fulton County Jail, hugging his mother first.
Yak Gotti Net Worth: What We Actually Know
People search “yak gotti net worth” constantly, but here is the honest truth. No official financial records exist because Kendrick has never shared exact numbers publicly. Different sites estimate his wealth anywhere between a few hundred thousand dollars and around two million dollars. Most careful estimates land near $800,000 to $1 million, based on streaming royalties, features, and past touring income before his arrest.
How Yak Gotti Actually Makes His Money
Understanding Yak Gotti’s net worth means looking at where the money comes from. Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music pay him royalties every time fans play his songs. He also earns from features on other YSL artists’ tracks. Before his legal troubles, live shows and concert appearances added real income too. Merchandise sales provide a smaller but steady stream of cash for many artists like him.
Yak Gotti’s Music Career and Biggest Songs
Yak Gotti dropped his debut project, “Gotti Outta Here,” back in 2020, right as his buzz was building. Fans often bring up tracks like “All Day,” “Free The Goat,” and “Take It to Trial” as his standout records. He has over 400,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, a solid number for an artist who spent years fighting a court case instead of releasing new music constantly.
What’s Next for Yak Gotti in 2026
Since his release, Yak Gotti has talked about getting back into the studio and dropping new music. His attorney mentioned a new album was already in the works around the time of his release. Fans on social media have been asking for fresh tracks and freestyles. If he keeps building on his YSL connections and streaming numbers, his net worth and fame could grow a lot over the next few years.
Why People Keep Searching for Yak Gotti’s Story
Yak Gotti’s story mixes music, courtroom drama, and personal struggle in a way that keeps people curious. His case became part of a much bigger conversation about how prosecutors use rap lyrics in criminal trials. That debate, combined with his connection to a superstar like Young Thug, keeps his name trending anytime there’s an update on his life or career.
A Quick Timeline of Yak Gotti’s Life
Here’s a simple timeline to keep everything straight. He built his name in Atlanta’s underground scene through the late 2010s. He signed with YSL and dropped “Gotti Outta Here” in 2020. He was arrested in May 2022 as part of the RICO case. The jury acquitted him in December 2024. He was finally released from jail in April 2025 after resolving extra charges.
Conclusion
Yak Gotti’s path has been anything but smooth. He went from an underground Atlanta rapper to a defendant in one of Georgia’s biggest criminal trials, and came out the other side acquitted. His real name, his court case, and his finances all tell a story of someone still fighting to rebuild. Whatever comes next for Yak Gotti, fans will be watching closely as he returns to music. If you’re following his comeback, keep checking for updates on new music, because this story is still being written.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Yak Gotti’s real name?
Yak Gotti’s real name is Deamonte Kendrick. He grew up in Atlanta and later built his rap career under the Yak Gotti stage name while signed to YSL Records.
2. Is Yak Gotti still in jail?
No. Yak Gotti was released from Fulton County Jail in April 2025 after accepting a plea deal on separate jailhouse charges. He remains on probation.
3. What is Yak Gotti’s net worth?
There’s no official number, since Yak Gotti hasn’t shared his finances publicly. Most estimates place his net worth somewhere between $800,000 and $1 million as of 2026.
4. Was Yak Gotti found guilty in the YSL trial?
No. A jury found Yak Gotti not guilty on every charge tied to the YSL RICO case in December 2024, including murder and racketeering.
5. Is Yak Gotti a snitch?
This is a disputed rumor, not a proven fact. Reports claimed Kendrick cooperated in an older case, but he has publicly and repeatedly denied ever snitching on anyone.
6. How is Yak Gotti connected to Young Thug?
Yak Gotti is signed to Young Thug’s label, YSL Records. Prior to Kendrick’s acquittal, they were co-defendants in the same RICO trial and worked together on several tracks.
