Chicago rapper Lil Durk has moved to adjust his defense team in a pending federal murder-for-hire prosecution, according to newly filed court records.
Defense attorney Brian Steel submitted paperwork seeking to replace lawyer Jonathan M. Brayman as counsel for the rapper. The filing comes as the case proceeds toward trial in federal court later this year.
Prosecutors allege that Durk participated in a murder-for-hire conspiracy tied to a 2022 fatal shooting. The government contends the scheme targeted rival rapper Quando Rondo. During that incident, Rondo’s cousin was fatally shot. Durk has denied the accusations and continues to maintain his innocence.
Durk has remained in federal custody since authorities arrested him in October 2024. The case has drawn significant attention due to the rapper’s prominence in hip-hop and the seriousness of the allegations.
Lil Durk Hires Young Thug’s Attorney Brian Steel For Murder-For-Hire Trial
Steel’s request to join the defense team arrives shortly after a federal judge postponed the trial. The court pushed the proceedings to Aug. 20, 2026, after rejecting motions from several co-defendants who sought separate trials. The court concluded that the charges stem from the same alleged conspiracy and should proceed jointly.
Steel brings extensive experience in high-profile criminal litigation. The Atlanta-based attorney gained national attention while representing rapper Young Thug in a lengthy racketeering prosecution involving the YSL collective. That case lasted more than two years and drew intense public scrutiny.
During the proceedings, Steel clashed with the court over confidential information and refused to disclose certain sources. Authorities briefly jailed him during the dispute. Nevertheless, the defense effort ultimately resulted in Young Thug’s release after more than two years of incarceration while awaiting resolution.
Steel has publicly criticized aspects of the U.S. criminal justice system. During a recent podcast interview, he discussed federal conviction statistics often cited near 95 percent. Responding to those figures, Steel stated, “Not with us.”
If the court grants Steel’s substitution request, he will join Durk’s defense team as the rapper prepares for trial in the federal murder-for-hire case later this year.
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