Brian Steel is a prominent lawyer who has worked on various high-profile hip-hop cases. He has famously represented the likes of Young Thug and Lil Durk. Steel has secured favorable outcomes for both of those artists, and this has put him in higher demand.
Steel has consistently advocated for the rights of the accused. He has also called out the system for being racist and biased against black men in rap. While speaking to T.I. on his expediTIously podcast, Steel explained just how much he hates the discussion behind using rap lyrics in trials. In his view, rap lyrics are protected speech, and don't belong in a prosecutor's wheelhouse.
"The prosecutors don't take William Shakespeare's words as reality," Steel said. "The prosecutors don't take Stephen King. The prosecutors don't use opera or country music or hard rock and roll, but they use rap. It's discrimination."
Brian Steel Chats With T.I.
Steel then went on to say that even tattoos are being used in court. He finds that to be absolutely abhorrent, as once again, it should fall under freedom of expression.
"People have a right to say what they want in their lyrics and people have the right to walk around with tattoos on their face if that's what they want," Steel added.
The fight to keep rap lyrics out of the courtroom has been a prominent one over the last decade or so. However, with a lack of legislation around this, lyrics will continue to be brought up. It's an unfortunate situation for the artists, who are now under the microscope more than ever before.
Lawyers like Steel are fighting the good fight and advocating for the First Amendment.
