Given all the ruckus around the arrest of Lil Durk for alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy, fans still don’t know which details are relevant or not. Regardless, a lot of them are looking back at his social media presence, lyrics, and previous statements to jump to conclusions, and we want to stress that these are all just allegations and fan theories. But one example of this is how the Chicago rapper allegedly took to his Instagram Story before his arrest to claim that he lost his phones, per a social media dig by DJ Akademiks. As you can see in the comments section of the IG post below, some fans think that this is no coincidence, and that these cellular devices could have been pieces of evidence.
At the end of the day, though, we can’t really make a judgement call on this claim and alleged development. This could mean a million different things, and it could just be a case of poor timing and skeptical coincidence. Nevertheless, Lil Durk has other legal developments to worry about in his case. He’s reportedly still in a Miami prison before his upcoming transfer to Los Angeles to answer for the indictment that alleges his group OTF’s involvement in the murder of Lul Pab, Quando Rondo’s cousin, in the city.
This alleged hit was supposedly retaliation for the murder of King Von, per federal authorities’ allegations. Quando Rondo actually seemed to address Lil Durk’s arrest in an Instagram post, although he didn’t mention Smurk by name. “We didn’t get into this music industry to make it just to stay caught up in this street s**t,” he wrote. “We all have families and communities counting on us. It’s time to leave all that behind. We’ve already lost so much, and it’s heavy on my heart to forgive anyone I had issues with in the past. It’s all love from me. Praying for everyone. ‘Life Goes On.’”
We’ll see whether these allegedly lost phones have any relevance in the Lil Durk situation, but again, it’s very hard to say. Us social media users are not lawyers, and we know nothing of the actual federal case. Another example of fans digging for “clues” and more conversations concerns a resurfaced clip of him talking about why he hates snitches, which falls under darker context now given allegations of an informant in OTF. Still, it’s too early to say for sure, and fans are just interested in being retrospective for the sake of speculative discussion.
Last year, we covered Lil Durk appearing on DJ Akademiks’ Off The Record podcast, where he spoke on why he has a hatred for snitches. It’s one of many resurfaced clips these days that caused a stronger conversation for fans this time around thanks to the Chicago rapper’s arrest for alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy. Many more insensitive jokes came around, whereas other fans labeled this as tragically prophetic or as a misguided critique. As you can see in the comments section under the Instagram post below, it was a pretty divisive discussion that became all the more relevant after this legal trouble began this week.
“I hate all rats,” Lil Durk had expressed to DJ Akademiks. “If you ever told, if you ever tell, I hate you. Like, with a passion. That took away half of my – That made me who I am today. That took away half of my life. Motherf***er telling on my pops, and that’s who I needed. So I was raised by a woman. I was raised by my momma, who taught me everything I know. So I really hate rats with real passions. Like, I hate you. Bad. I’m looking to the camera. I hate a f***ing rat.”
For those unaware, alleged court documents reportedly indicated that there was an informant in Lil Durk’s camp that provided information about this case. The alleged OTF member reportedly just got out of prison after a roughly 12-year stint, and allegedly wore a wire to relay info to federal authorities. However, this is still an early report that hasn’t gotten much other confirmation, so take this with a grain of salt. Perhaps this isn’t exactly what court documents suggest, but we’ll have to wait and see.
As for other recent updates in Lil Durk’s situation, he reportedly still waits in a Miami prison before his transfer to Los Angeles. That’s for the California indictment that originally alleged that OTF was involved in Lul Pab’s death in the city in 2022, which was allegedly retaliation for the murder of King Von. Meanwhile, the hip-hop world continues to debate and discuss this saga.
While Lil Durk has seemingly made some positive changes in his life in recent times, the Chicago-born rapper’s alleged past has come back to haunt him. According to reports from ABC7, the FBI arrested the rapper, accusing him of paying money for a retaliatory attack on Quando Rondo in Los Angeles. As more details come forward, we’re breaking down everything we know about the situation right now.
OTF Members Picked Up By Feds Over Alleged Quando Rondo Murder Attempt
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 05: Quando Rondo attends the BET Hip Hop Awards 2019 at Cobb Energy Center on October 05, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Five individuals tied to Chicago’s hip-hop collective “Only the Family” (OTF) face federal charges in Los Angeles, California, for allegedly conspiring to kill rapper Quando Rondo. Authorities linked these accusations to a supposed retaliatory attack following the 2020 killing of King Von, an artist and friend of OTF’s founder, Lil Durk.
Charges & Allegations Against OTF Members
The feds charged the defendants—Kavon London Grant, Deandre Dontrell Wilson, Keith Jones, David Brian Lindsey, and Asa Houston—with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, committing murder-for-hire resulting in death, and using a machine gun in a violent crime, according to the Chicago Tribune. If convicted, these charges carry severe penalties, including potential death sentences.
Prosecutors allege an unnamed OTF affiliate, who reportedly offered cash and music industry opportunities as incentives for killing Quando Rondo, directed the suspects. Authorities accused Lil Durk and OTF of using funds from OTF to cover travel and car rental expenses linked to the planned attack.
ATLANTA, GA – AUGUST 29: Rapper King Von attends Compound Saturday Nights at Compound on August 29, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
The charges stem from the 2020 killing of King Von, who died after an altercation with Quando Rondo outside an Atlanta nightclub that resulted in a fatal shooting. King Von, born Dayvon Bennett, had risen in the drill rap scene with popular tracks like “Crazy Story” and “Took Her to the O,” thanks to Lil Durk’s mentorship. Following Von’s death, Durk allegedly offered a “bounty” on Quando Rondo, whose real name is Tyquian Bowman, as reported by FBI Special Agent Sarah Corcoran.
According to federal documents, the plan to kill Rondo took shape nearly two years later. On August 18, 2022, Durk’s associates were allegedly informed of Rondo’s stay at a Los Angeles hotel. Allegedly under Durk’s orders, the OTF members traveled from Chicago to California, financed through Durk’s resources.
Quando Rondo narrowly escaped injury in August 2022 when gunmen attacked him and his family near a West Hollywood gas station. Bowman’s cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, 24, died in the incident, though Bowman and his sister emerged uninjured.
Court records detail how Deandre Wilson, Keith Jones, David Lindsey, Asa Houston, and a fifth, unnamed suspect arrived in Los Angeles and rendezvoused with top OTF associate Kayon Grant. Grant, who allegedly flew in on a private jet, provided accommodations, rented vehicles, and secured firearms, including a modified automatic machine gun. The group wore ski masks, provided by Grant, to conceal their identities.
The indictment outlines how the group tracked Rondo and Robinson, following their black Cadillac Escalade through multiple locations across Los Angeles, including a marijuana dispensary and a West Hollywood clothing store. When the Escalade eventually stopped at a gas station across from the Beverly Center, Houston reportedly positioned the vehicle for the ambush. Three men, including Jones and Lindsey, approached and opened fire, killing Robinson but missing Rondo.
Surveillance footage allegedly shows the vehicles tailing Bowman’s SUV as it traveled between a marijuana dispensary, clothing store, and ultimately to a gas station where the shooting occurred. Houston reportedly drove the Infiniti to an alley near the gas station, where Jones, Lindsey, and another accomplice exited to carry out the ambush.
After the shooting, the suspects allegedly regrouped at a nearby In-N-Out Burger to discuss payment. The indictment states that the group then returned to Chicago, flying out from San Diego the next day. Payments for the attack were allegedly handled by Wilson, who distributed an undisclosed amount to Jones and Lindsey. Police arrested the suspects on Thursday in Chicago. They now face serious federal charges, including conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. Court records have yet to confirm attorney representation for the defendants.
The feds charged 32-year-old Lil Durk, whose legal name is Durk Banks, with “conspiracy to use interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death” for Lul Pab’s murder. The FBI affidavit claims the revenge plot tied to the fatal shooting of King Von in 2020. “Mr. Banks is charged with orchestrating a cold-blooded murder that resulted in the death of a rival’s family member,” said Martin Estrada, United States Attorney. “Not only that, the shooting occurred in the open, at a gas station at a busy intersection, endangering many others in the area. If convicted, Durk, along with his co-defendants, could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Per Akademiks, the indictment lists Durk as Co-Conspirator 1. Authorities believe Durk’s Chicago-based collective, Only the Family (OTF), has played a central role in the scheme, with additional arrests potentially forthcoming. FBI agent arrested Lil Durk on Thursday night in South Florida and remains in federal custody. He reportedly tried to leave the country, with FBI agents intercepting him before he could board a flight to Italy. His representatives have not yet issued a public comment on the charges.
Durk’s Attempt To Evade Authorities
Following the arrests of his associates, Lil Durk reportedly made arrangements to flee the country, booking flights to Dubai, Switzerland, and, ultimately, a private flight to Italy. However, federal agents apprehended him in Miami before he could leave U.S. soil. Lil Durk and his co-defendants are being held as they await transfer to Los Angeles, where the case will proceed in federal court.
Durk No Longer Has The Key To The City
In recent weeks, Durk’s philanthropic efforts and success have earned him the keys to two Chicago suburbs: Bellwood and Broadview. However, the recent developments have led one of the mayors to withdraw the honor. Mayor Katrina Thompson of Broadview, Illinois, made the announcement on Friday. “While the American system of justice grants everyone the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law, in the Village of Broadview, the court of public opinion of residents has even higher moral and ethical standards of behavior,” Mayor Katrina Thompson said in a statement to WGNTV.
“And our public partners must also reflect the same uncompromising standards demanded by our residents. Given the news that Durk ‘Lil Durk’ Banks has been arrested in Florida and charged with murder for hire, the Village of Broadview is withdrawing our honorary ‘key to the village’ granted to Durk and is terminating our partnership agreement with his youth organization, Neighborhood Heroes Foundation. As mayor, protecting Broadview’s interests and upholding the values of residents is job number one.”
Bellwood Mayor Harvey says Durk’s arrest came as a shock to him. However, he refused to make a decision on taking away the key until the facts play out in court. “We live in the United States of America where the accused is innocent until proven guilty,” he said, per CBS. “As I said, right now we have allegations. He has not been tried.”
Lil Durk caused an uproar among the hip-hop commentary space and pop culture at large following his arrest this week for alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy. A lot of folks are breaking down the available information on the case, and since it isn’t much, they’re discerning what’s legitimate and what’s just rumor. However, others took a more opinionated perspective of analysis, making judgement calls on the situation. So it’s no surprise that Charleston White chimed in. The commentator and social media personality recently sat down for an interview in which he eviscerated the Chicago rapper’s alleged crimes.
“Yeah, this a real victory, this is a real victory,” Charleston White remarked concerning Lil Durk’s arrest. “Now, that demonic force – because it is a demonic force. It was a dark force. It was a dark energy that came down from Chicago and spread throughout America. I think we now finally get to put that fire out. I don’t think we’ll hear drill music ever again, I don’t think drill rappers will ever be celebrated ever again. Down goes the drill n***as. Down goes the drill n***as. Twelfth-round knockout, ’cause it looked like they had got away, and they get to ride off into the sunset. So this is a victory for law-abiding Black Americans who like hip-hop music, but don’t like the killing part of it.”
When asked about fans advocating for Lil Durk’s freedom, Charleston White said that Smurk should stay in jail without bond, and that California will not provide him with street support from his alleged gangs. In addition, White also said that they blackballed Quando Rondo and Lul Tim for their self-defense. This refers to the alleged back-and-forth attacks between these crews and the violence and legal persecution that they all faced.
As for more updates on Lil Durk’s situation, the latest one we have is that he awaits transfer to Los Angeles from a Miami prison where he’s currently held. If you didn’t know, this is because a California indictment is what implicated alleged OTF members, and by extension Durk, in Lul Pab’s murder in the city. Still, there are a lot of unanswered questions that we’ll have to wait for clarification or explanation on.
Almost every corner of hip-hop continues to flood the media landscape with reactions to Lil Durk getting arrested on charges of alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy. Some showed their support for him whereas others took more critical stances of his alleged movement, his music, and what he usually stands for. On that first note, Ralo recently took to his Instagram page to offer his reaction to the Chicago rapper’s arrest. In his message, he condemned the street life that the media and culture sometimes glorifies, but also stressed the importance of keeping people in their families and reforming through unity, not punishment.
“I use to think hiring security was lame,” Ralo expressed concerning the Lil Durk situation. “I felt like it took away from me be a real street n***a. Until I went to federal prison and seen all the street n***as in prison for guns. I use to think beefing wit the opps was cool until I seen both sides lose. It might sound crazy to yawl but as Muslim we push peace. We don’t do this for us we do it for the sake of our lord. These court houses taking us away from our families. Our people in them graves wouldn’t want us in these cells. We suppose to stand together in prayer not stand over each other… #FreeDurk #FreeLucci #FreeThug #JumuahMubarak.”
“when one Muslim experiences hardship or suffering, the entire community should feel the pain,” Ralo commented under DJ Akademiks’ post about his response, which you can find in the embed above. Given his recent reformation after his prison stint, this should come as no surprise. The Atlanta rapper recently squashed his beef with Kenny Muney for similar reasons.
As for Lil Durk, a fan already protested outside the Los Angeles federal courthouse to advocate for his freedom. Reportedly, he’s still in a Miami prison as he awaits a transfer to California in his case. There are a lot of different angles through which people are breaking down and discussing this arrest, and some are less sympathetic than others. Until we get a trial, though, there cannot be a judgement call yet.
Lil Durk reportedly awaits transportation to Los Angeles from a Miami prison following his arrest for alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy. However, his absence in California didn’t stop one fan from taking to the city’s federal courthouse to stand outside with a sign that reads: “Free Durk Banks.” As you can see in the comments section of the Instagram post below, a lot of other fans had pretty divisive reactions to this. Some agreed with the protesting fan or commended their efforts, whereas others were more critical of the case as a whole and of fans’ support. Of course, these are all just allegations with no trial yet, so take everything with a grain of salt.
This news comes after Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed Lil Durk’s arrest during a press conference. “Look, I don’t know all the circumstances and details around these accusations,” he shared with reporters. “What I do know, though, is that Lil Durk’s mission to build financial literacy for children across the city and making other critical investments for the children of the city [is] where his heart has been. There’s no secret to the trauma that he grew up in, and how he has worked to turn that trauma into opportunities for other people.”
Other fans and spectators alike had very different reactions to the Lil Durk situation. For example, Joe Budden recently compared him to Chief Keef on his podcast, remarking on how both Chicago rappers now have very different career paths. Still, this refers to how they contrast in terms of one getting arrested and the other staying mostly unscathed as of late despite their similarities, not any convictions or anything that jumps to conclusions as to their alleged innocence or alleged guilt.
Meanwhile, FBG Duck’s estate issued a statement on Lil Durk’s arrest considering the lawsuit that they had against him. That legal conflict is over Duck’s alleged death on Durk’s orders, alleging that he was very involved in that alleged hit. With this, the estate expressed that they feel “one step closer to justice.” Without a trial, though, we cannot make a valid assessment of the situation yet, so take all of this with a grain of salt.
The arrest of Lil Durk for alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy shocked not just the hip-hop world, but also his community. As you likely know, he engaged in various initiatives to uplift the people of the city of Chicago and beyond, even receiving various accolades and honors for his philanthropy. However, this situation also led to the city of Broadview revoking the key to the city that they gave the Windy City rapper. This shows that there are many different ways to take this, but some public officials chose the side of cautious and sympathetic rhetoric. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson recently addressed the matter during a press conference, displaying an “innocent until proven guilty” mentality.
“Look, I don’t know all the circumstances and details around these accusations,” Brandon Johnson remarked. “What I do know, though, is that Lil Durk’s mission to build financial literacy for children across the city and making other critical investments for the children of the city [is] where his heart has been. There’s no secret to the trauma that he grew up in, and how he has worked to turn that trauma into opportunities for other people.”
Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson Speaks On Lil Durk
The mayor of Chicago speaks on Li Durk’s arrest and says he won’t make a judgement on someone who hasn’t even had a full trial yet pic.twitter.com/VacYVK6VTQ
In addition, Brandon Johnson expressed that he operates in “truth and justice,” not “feelings.” He characterized Lil Durk as “another Black man” from a harsh upbringing that he’s not shied away from making public and accountable. Johnson noted that Smurk continues to try to heal from that rough patch and commit himself to a more “righteous path.” The mayor also highlighted how he opened that path for others through his philanthropy. Most importantly, the Chicago public official stated that he cannot make judgement on a Black man who hasn’t faced trial yet and is trying to “transform his life” for the better.
Finally, Brandon Johnson indicated his hope that people will understand why he isn’t in the position to make a strict decision on the outcome of Lil Durk’s situation. As for the latest updates, the rapper is reportedly awaiting a transfer to Los Angeles from a Miami prison where he is currently at. For the latest developments, stay tuned to HNHH.
Listening to Lil Durk carries a very different context these days for fans, as federal authorities recently arrested him and charged him with alleged murder-for-hire. Of course, this opened up a discussion about how much rap lyrics could or should be used to prove or disprove criminal cases, a sadly common one in the hip-hop world. After all, many people hear the street references in his songs with a different ear now, if they weren’t already critical of his music before. However, it’s important to note that this is just speculative fan interpretation, and that no lyrical exchange or display could prove an alleged crime outright.
Given the circumstances of Lil Durk’s arrest for the allegedly attempted retaliation for King Von’s murder, some lines still stick out like sore thumbs for their coincidental references if you have the alleged context. For example, fans pointed to “In The Air,” the latest collab between Durk and G Herbo on the latter’s Big Swerv 2.0 deluxe edition. “Farewell, I’m gettin’ up out the ‘Raq, I’m a survivor / Yeah, yeah, I turned a serial killer to a rapper,” The Voice raps on the cut.
This line seems to reference a controversial documentary about King Von by YouTuber and journalist Trap Lore Ross that compares the late MC’s alleged crimes to the FBI’s definition of a serial killer. Many within Chicago and outside of it weren’t fans, calling Ross out for what they perceived as exploitation. It was also yet another divisive example of connecting rap lyrics to crimes, although fans think doing that on YouTube is very different than in court. No matter what, a lot of Lil Durk listeners can’t help but raise their eyebrows at lines like these. But not enough to support the use of artistic expression as primary “evidence” in a criminal case.
Meanwhile, the hip-hop world continues to react to Lil Durk’s arrest, whether with sympathetic sadness or with critical force. Fans are pointing to lines like these as examples of his efforts to improve the situations of those around him, while others claim that they just further the promotion of a dangerous lifestyle. In online discussions, lyrical interpretation is a very personal matter. We’ll see whether lyrics end up being a point of contention with advocates and critics alike in actual legal proceedings.
With the recent arrest of Chicago drill rap pioneer Lil Durk for his alleged connection to a murder-for-hire plot, several pertinent pieces of information have been made public about the case, including the authorities’ discovery of Durk’s attemot to leave the country and details within the federal indictment that points to a long time OTF(Only The Family) member as the reason for Durk’s arrest.
The details included in the indictment filed in the U.S. District Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles identified OTF Jam as an informant who wore a wire to provide information to authorities for years. Jam, who was released from prison in 2022 after serving 12 years behind bars for attempted murder, reportedly provided information directly linking Durk, whose real name is Durk Banks, to the murder-for-hire scheme against Tyquian Bowman aka Quando Rondo.
According to the indictment, OTF members and affiliates organized the plot and discussed payments after the alleged attempt on Bowman’s life. On the same day, OTF-related credit cards were allegedly used to book flights for the persons involved in the hit to return to Chicago. Prosecutors claim that these transactions and the informant’s recordings played key roles in linking Banks to the murder-for-hire plan.
An interview from last year with OTF Jam, he details how Lil Durk provided for him like a brother during his time locked up, taking care of his legal fees while he was fighting his case, bought him a house, car and even gave him more than $50K in cash, which Jam admits was actually more. Ironically, according to the federal indictment, this is the same person responsible for Durk being charged with murder.
If convicted, Durk could face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
DJ Vlad is a polarizing figure in the hip hop. Like Adam22, Vlad is widely criticized for exploiting the culture, and its accompanying violence, for online engagement. This has not stopped him, of course, from covering hip hop feuds and legal cases involving rappers. Lil Durk is a prime example of DJ Vlad subject matter. The rapper was arrested and charged with murder-for-hire in Florida. The rapper is alleged to have been involved in an attempt on Quando Rondo’s life. And DJ Vlad can’t believe it.
DJ Vlad took to Twitter following Durk’s arrest, and proceeded to blast the rapper for his alleged actions. He called the rapper “stupid” for going about the alleged hit in such an easily traceable manner. “Lil Durk was actually stupid enough to send 5 guys on a plane to kill Quando Rondo,” DJ Vlad wrote. “They ended up killing the wrong person. And now, all 6 of them are facing life in prison or even the death penalty.” DJ Vlad went on to note that he never envisioned a world in which people would travel to allegedly kill their target.
In multiple interviews, I’ve said that nobody would get on a plane to kill you. I said this because there would be so much evidence that they’re guaranteeing prison.
Well, today, I was proven wrong.
Lil Durk was actually stupid enough to send 5 guys on a plane to kill…
“In multiple interviews, I’ve said that nobody would get on a plane to kill you,” DJ Vlad noted. “I said this because there would be so much evidence that they’re guaranteeing prison. Today, I was proven wrong.” This is not the first time that DJ Vlad has run afoul of Lil Durk and his fans. Durk actually dissed Vlad on the song “Golden Cut.” It was unclear what the issue was between the two men, but DJ Akademiks set the record straight during a 2023 interview. Ak recounted a request that Lil Durk made after he gave an interview to DJ Vlad, but Vlad reportedly ignored it.
“[Durk] said the reason is: ‘I did an interview with Vlad and there was a part of the interview I mentioned the upcoming birth of my child,’” Akademiks stated. And that was with India and he apparently had asked you to take it out… Interview comes out and that part wasn’t taken out.” DJ Vlad clarified that there was a miscommunication between him and his editing team. He then took the opportunity to apologize to Durk and his partner regarding the mistake. It doesn’t sound like there will be any apologizes issued over this latest insult, though.
