Lil Durk’s team has moved to set the record straight about who is financing his legal defense, making clear that Drake, not Young Thug, is the primary backer as the rapper’s murder-for-hire trial enters what could be its final weeks.
The clarification came after a video of Young Thug resurfaced over the weekend, reigniting speculation that Thug had arranged and funded Durk’s representation.
In the clip, Thug is seen showing text exchanges with attorney Brian Steel, in which he tells Steel he will cover Durk’s legal costs and Steel declines the offer.
The footage led many to conclude that Thug was behind the arrangement. Durk’s team pushed back firmly, reaching out to correct the record.
Drake is the one fitting the bill for Brian Steel’s involvement, according to sources close to the defense. Durk’s team also confirmed that several other artists have contributed to the effort.
Lil Baby, Rod Wave, 21 Savage, Swiss Beatz, and Kanye West are among those who have reportedly kicked in support. The team said they wanted the facts out there because, as the trial heats up again, accuracy matters to them.
The financial stakes are significant. Reports, which Durk’s team would neither confirm nor deny, suggest the rapper has been spending as much as $100,000 a day on his legal team and has already surpassed $2 million in total costs. Steel is joined by several other attorneys fighting the case.
As for the trial itself, prosecutors were expected to rest their case this week. Durk’s defense team is then anticipated to need roughly one to two weeks to present their rebuttal.
That timeline puts a potential verdict within reach in the coming weeks. Durk faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole if convicted.
Celebrity support has been visible inside the courtroom, with figures including Kanye West making appearances. Those close to Durk say the support is appreciated.
The trial venue is described as an intimate setting, smaller than some high-profile proceedings in recent memory, which makes the presence of supporters feel more immediate.
If you’re a friend and you support me, I would definitely want you showing up to my trial if my existence is on the line,” one voice in Durk’s circle said.
The message from the camp is straightforward: show up with your time, your money, or both. And they want the public to know exactly who has done which.
