Former G-Unit rapper Young Buck, born David Darnell Brown, has been sentenced to eight years in Tennessee for possessing a weapon as a convicted felon, but under a plea deal he is expected to serve his time through community corrections instead of going to prison. According to AllHipHop and Hot 97, the Nashville native entered a guilty plea in Sumner County court this week, resulting in an eight-year sentence with 30 percent suspended and the remainder to be served outside a traditional prison setting through supervised programs and monitoring.[2][1][3]
According to AllHipHop, Young Buck pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, a charge stemming from a 2020 incident at his Tennessee residence involving his then-girlfriend.[2][3] He was initially charged with domestic assault, vandalism over $10,000, and unlawful weapon possession after an altercation that reportedly escalated to gunfire; court records state that the woman allegedly shot at him and was later charged with reckless endangerment.[2][3] Hot 97 reports that the plea agreement brought an end to years of litigation tied to Tennessee firearm restrictions for individuals with prior felony convictions.[1]
Under the terms of the deal, Brown received an eight-year sentence with 30 percent suspended, and he will reportedly serve approximately 2.4 years through community corrections, not behind bars.[2][3] Both AllHipHop and Hot 97 note that this structure means he will be under strict supervision in the community, with requirements that can include supervised probation, community service, reporting obligations, and compliance with additional court-imposed conditions instead of incarceration.[2][1] Any violation of those terms could expose Young Buck to further penalties, including potential confinement, according to court records cited by Hot 97.[1]
The sentencing caps off a protracted legal saga that has followed Young Buck for nearly six years. In April 2025, he was sentenced to 30 days in jail for repeatedly violating his bond conditions, including missed check-ins and failures to follow supervision rules, according to the Sumner County District Attorney’s Office.[2][1][3] Those violations sparked protests outside the Sumner County Courthouse, where supporters argued he was being treated unfairly under Tennessee’s gun laws and broader criminal justice system.[2][1] For a rapper whose early-2000s run with G-Unit helped define a key era in Southern and gangsta rap, this latest chapter underscores how long-running legal issues continue to intersect with his career and public image.
