Every Celeb Name Dropped by Young Thug’s Lawyer During 45-Minute Statement

Brian Steel, one of the defense attorneys for Young Thug, name-dropped multiple celebrities, including Elton John and Nicki Minaj, while delivering a 45-minute-long statement before his client’s sentencing.
Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, and several co-defendants were charged with racketeering conspiracy and participation in criminal street gang activity, along with drug and gun violations. Williams agreed to a non-negotiated plea deal on Thursday.
A non-negotiated plea deal is entered when prosecutors and defense cannot reach an agreement on the sentence. Both sides present their case to a judge, who then decides what sentence to hand down.
Steel presented his case to Fulton County Superior Court Judge Paige Reese Whitaker before the sentencing.
Whitaker sentenced Williams to five years in prison commuted to time served and 15 years on probation, followed by 20 years in prison. The backloaded prison sentence will be commuted if Williams complies with the terms of his probation.
Since the sentence was commuted to the nearly two and a half years Williams has spent in jail, he was released on Thursday night.
Steel started working as a defense attorney in 1991. He’s argued cases in state and federal courts in several states including Georgia, California, Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Steel has represented attorneys, doctors, FBI Agents, judges, law enforcement officers, elected officials, businessmen, professional athletes, musical artists and corporations.
He co-owns The Steel Law Firm with his wife, Colette Steel.
Before the trial started, Steel tried to secure Williams’ release on bond multiple times. He also tried to get the judge to dismiss some of the charges Williams was facing in June. Judge Ural Glanville, who was presiding over the case at the time, rejected the attempt.
Steel said he was willing to continue with the trial, but Williams could not wait any longer. He accused the state of “holding this man hostage.”
“He told me, ‘I can’t wait another three months if there is any possibility I can go home, because I have children that are hurting, I have things to do,'” Steel said. “And he has some medical issues that he would like to tend to.”
During Thursday’s plea hearing, Steel delivered a passionate 45-minute statement to the judge that mentioned the “Rocket Man” singer while speaking about Williams’ career and impact on the music industry.
“Elton John called Mr. Williams the next coming of John Lennon,” Steel said. “Mr. Williams is an unbelievable talent. He’s not just a rap artist.”
Williams and Minaj were featured on John’s song “Always Love You,” which was released in 2021.
The statement Steel is referencing dates back to a 2015 Vice interview with John. The outlet asked John about Williams’ unique fashion sense, including Gucci leather dresses and leopard print two pieces.
“I love all of that, it’s unexpected,” John said. “I remember when Blind Faith came out, with a nude girl and John & Yoko, you had to buy it in a black plastic bag. And you should be able to do things like that but we don’t live in that kind of world anymore.”
Prosecutors also presented a statement to the judge on Thursday ahead of the sentencing. Their presentation included lyrics from Williams’ songs.
One song they cited was “Anybody” by Williams and Minaj.
The lyric the state referenced was, “I never killed anybody, but I got something to do with that body.”
Steel said Williams did not write the song.
“Mr. Williams was asked who wrote ‘Anybody’ and his response is ‘Anybody’ was written by Nicki Minaj, and it was, but it was really written and sung, it’s a take off of a song by Tupac. There’s a song that it parallels, which is an inspiration, but here we are with the state,” Steel said.
Steel disputed a claim by prosecutors that Williams and Lil Wayne were engaged in a conflict.
“Mr. Williams had no conflict with him. They are friends,” Steel said.
He said that the two pretended to have a feud in order to gain popularity.
“They start what’s called rap battles, arguments, feuds. That’s what happened here. And you would have heard testimony from Mr. Williams’ management that they said, start a rap battle, it will be better for your career.”
Williams and Lil Wayne first collaborated on the song “Take Kare,” which was released in 2015.
A condition of Williams’ sentence is that he cannot contact individuals named in the initial indictment.
Steel asked the judge to make an exception for Williams’ brother, Quantavious Grier, and Gunna, whose real name is Sergio Kitchens.
“Mr. Williams and Mr. Kitchens are contractually obligated, and they frequently perform music together,” Steel said.
Rich Homie Quan, whose real name is Dequantes Devontay Lamar, was another individual who prosecutors claimed Williams had a conflict with. Steel refuted the claim.
“The state, though, made it in this case, or tried to make it, that Mr. Williams and Mr. Rich Homie Quan are enemies, because Rich Homie Quan will not sign a record label that has nothing to do with Williams,” Steel said.
Quan, 34, who rose to fame with who rose to fame with Young Thug, died of an accidental drug overdose.
The Atlanta-based Ride Out singer, whose real name was Dequantes Lamar, died on September 5 from the combined toxic effects of fentanyl, alprazolam (Xanax), codeine, and promethazine, an autopsy report obtained by Newsweek from the Fulton County Medical Examiner states.
Steel said that Williams was not signed with the record label owned by Brian Williams, also known as Birdman. Steel mentioned how Birdman helped launch the careers of Minaj, Lil Wayne and Drake.
Steel said Williams and Lamar rode in a private plane together in 2014 and they were “high fiving and laughing with each other.”
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