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Young Thug Urges Freedom for Lil Durk as Federal Murder-For-Hire Trial Moves to August
Young Thug posted support for Lil Durk as the rapper’s federal murder-for-hire trial was pushed to Aug. 20.
Young Thug used X on Wednesday, May 13, to back Lil Durk as the Chicago rapper prepares for trial on federal murder-for-hire charges set for Aug. 20.
“Free smurk please god,” Thug wrote in the post. The message came from someone who knows the feeling of waiting on a court date while locked up. Thug spent more than two years behind bars before walking free in October 2024 after reaching a plea deal in his YSL RICO case.
Young Thug performs onstage during ComplexCon 2025 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on October 26, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
David Becker/Getty Images for Complex
Thug’s post also landed months after Brian Steel, the attorney who represented him in that case, filed to join Lil Durk’s legal team in March. Steel, who helped secure Thugger’s release with a deal that included 15 years of probation and time served, has since said he builds close relationships with clients.
“I get very close to my clients. I meet their families,” Steel told Billboard in March. “Because if I’m going to defend somebody, I gotta be invested. I gotta believe in the person. I gotta make it where if I lose this case, it’s going to ruin my life.”
“I just want to help people, ethically and zealously. And I don’t want to hurt anybody, and God willing, something good will come out.”
Steel later joined Diddy’s defense team in April. The Bad Boy founder was sentenced to 50 months in prison for violating federal prostitution laws.
Durk, meanwhile, was arrested in October 2024 after federal agents detained him before what they believed was a planned private flight to Italy. Prosecutors say he orchestrated a hit on rival rapper Quando Rondo during a Los Angeles shooting in 2022. Rondo’s cousin, Lul Pap, whose real name is Saviay’a Robinson, was killed in the crossfire.
According to prosecutors, the alleged retaliation was tied to the 2020 killing of King Von, also known as Dayvon Bennett, Durk’s frequent collaborator.
Thug has stayed visible since his release. Last weekend, he appeared at Rolling Loud Orlando and popped out at several sets, including Ken Carson’s headlining performance that closed the festival.
