Gunna has been dogged with questions regarding his relationship with Young Thug, who he was accused of cooperating against after striking a plea agreement for his alleged role in YSL’s alleged criminal organization.

Dating back to his release from jail in December 2022, the hitmaker has been subjected to scrutiny regarding his street credibility, with both fans and peers bestowing labels like “snitch” and “rat” upon him. However, in a recent cover story for XXL, Gunna claimed that his relationship with Young Thug hasn’t been affected by their respective legal situations, adding that he prefers not to detail the innerworkings of their personal dealings.

“It’s the same,” he said of the strength of he and Thugger’s brotherly bond. “It’s love, always. Our relationship is our relationship.”

Hip-hop artists Young Thug and Gunna attend a release party for Young Thug’s new album “PUNK” at Delilah on October 12, 2021 in West Hollywood, California. Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

The “F*k U Mean” creator also addressed veiled slights against him made by the likes of Lil Baby, 21 Savage, and Lil Durk, all three of whom implied that his plea agreement had an adverse effect on Young Thug’s legal battle. Gunna, who was arrested along with numerous other alleged YSL members in May 2022, shoots down those assertions, explaining that those artists and other detractors are uninformed in regards to the case and “don’t know legally what’s going on.”

He also revealed that he’s since spoken to some of those artists personally, adding that any differences between the other parties were handled “peacefully.” The Georgia native argued that a large segment of the public has been led astray in regards to his alleged cooperation against Young Thug and YSL, but believes that the truth is slowly coming to light.

“I definitely feel like everybody’s been misled. And like, you know, when you’re being misled, you got a choice to follow or make your own decisions,” he added. “And that’s what is being shown right now. You’re being a follower or you’re being neutral to be like, ‘I don’t know what their business is or what they really got goin’ on.’”

In Dec. 2022, Gunna entered an Alford Plea, under which he was sentenced to five years in prison with one year served. He and his lawyer, Steve Sadow, both released statements refuting speculation that Gunna had “snitched” to get out of prison.

“I have chosen to end my own RICO case with an Alford plea and end my personal ordeal by publicly acknowledging my association with YSL,” Gunna, born Sergio Kitchens, shared in a written statement at the time.

Gunna attends the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for MTV

“An Alford plea in my case is the entry of a guilty plea to the one charge against me, which is in my best interest, while at the same time maintaining my innocence toward the same charge.”

“Gunna did not snitch to get out of jail,” Sadow added in a separate statement. “He has said nothing and is not cooperating. His plea statement cannot be used in court against any other defendant. So please stop spreading lies.”