Quando Rondo has had an action-packed 2024. The rapper was alleged to be the target of a murder-for-hire scheme that led to Lil Durk’s arrest. He has not gotten the opportunity to reflect on Durk’s arrest due to his own legal problems, however. Quando Rondo was sentenced to 33 months in prison for conspiracy to possess and distribute marijuana. It’s a significant bid, and one the rapper has largely been silent on since it was announced on December 12. A week later, and Rondo addressed the sentence and his plan for the future via social media.
Quando Rondo posted a lengthy message to his fans on December 18. The IG post acknowledged that he will be gone for a while, and the struggle to provide for those in his circle. “I just caught 33 months, the whole world know it,” he wrote. “And mf still got they hand out don’t worry bout it tho.” Rondo went on to assure those close to him that they will be taken care of while he’s locked up. “If promised anybody something,” he asserted. “There [sic] going to get it, my word is my word.” Quando Rondo also spoke on what the rest of his career will look like. The rapper suggested that he will put the microphone down and retire once he’s done serving his time.
“Once I do this lul time,” Rondo explained. “I promise you I’m disappearing and never talking to people again!.” The rapper didn’t elaborate on his possible retirement plan, but he has spoken at length about his desire for a more peaceful life. Quando Rondo spoke with HotNewHipHop.com in November, and he detailed the ways in which converting to Islam has changed his outlook on his life. “It just gave me good peace and energy,” he stated. “Taking my shot and being a part of Islam, it just gave me better energy. It gave me some of the best energy I ever had.”
Quando Rondo also voiced his desire to put violence behind him shortly after Lil Durk’s arrest. Instead of mocking Durk or his associates, the rapper lamented the violent upbringing that led to their choices. “We didn’t get into this industry just to stay trapped in this street life,” Rondo lamented. “We have families and communities counting on us. It’s time to leave all that behind. We’ve lost too much already.” Rondo wants to forgive and move on with his life.
Quando Rondo has once again found himself in the midst of controversy, this time alleging that local police attempted to steal his jewelry during an incident on December 17. The rapper took to Instagram Stories to share his claims, asserting that the officers not only tried to damage his jewelry but also attempted to take his watch.
“Police hate so bad,” Rondo wrote in his post, accompanied by a photo showing a chain resting on his lap. He did not provide further details about the alleged encounter or what led to the police interaction.
This incident comes during a challenging time for Rondo, who is facing a 33-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess and distribute marijuana. The legal battle lasted over a year, with Rondo initially facing a five-year sentence before ultimately reaching a plea deal with the Department of Justice in August.
Rondo has also been linked to a murder-for-hire plot that emerged in 2022, in which Lil Durk is accused of orchestrating an attack on the rapper. While Rondo survived the shooting, his cousin, Lul Pab, was tragically killed. The trial for Durk and several alleged accomplices is set to begin in January 2025. Although Rondo did not specifically address Durk in his recent statements, he did express his thoughts on the ongoing violence within the rap industry.
In his Instagram post, Rondo reflected on the struggles artists face in breaking free from a cycle of violence. “We didn’t get into this industry just to stay trapped in this street life,” he wrote. “We have families and communities counting on us. It’s time to leave all that behind. We’ve lost too much already.”
Meanwhile, Lil Durk has pleaded not guilty to the murder-for-hire charges, with his lawyer arguing that there is “no real evidence” linking him to the shooting incident from 2022. As the legal battles continue, both artists remain embroiled in a complex and troubling narrative.
Quando Rondo is no stranger to legal troubles. He’s had several encounters with the police over the course of his career. The incident that allegedly took place on December 17 was unique, however. The rapper hopped on Instagram Stories to claim that local police tried to shake him down. Quando Rondo said that police officers tried to damage the jewelry that was on his person. To make matters even more surprising, the rapper claimed that they were trying to steal his jewelry.
“Police hate so bad,” he wrote on his Instagram Story. “They broke my jewelry up and tryna steal my watch.” The photo that accompanied the IG Story was of a chain laying on Quando Rondo’s lap. The rapper did not provide additional context for the alleged encounter. It has not been a good holiday for Rondo in general. He will be serving a 33 month sentence in prison. He was found guilty of conspiracy to possess and distribute marijuana. The case dragged on for over a year, and Rondo was facing a five year sentence at one point. He ultimately struck a plea deal with the Department of Justice in August.
Quando Rondo has also been on the other side of legal matters as of late. The rapper was identified as the target in a murder-for-hire scheme that allegedly took place in 2022. Lil Durk has been accused of flying several men out to California to perform a hit on Rondo. The rapper survived the shooting, but his cousin, Lul Pab, did not. Lil Durk and the aforementioned men will stand trial in January 2025. Rondo did not address Durk directly. He did address the situation, however, via social media.
Quando Rondo took a mature approach to the incident, and lamented the fact that rappers struggle to escape violent ends. “We didn’t get into this industry just to stay trapped in this street life,,” the rapper wrote on Instagram. “We have families and communities counting on us. It’s time to leave all that behind. We’ve lost too much already.” Lil Durk, meanwhile, has plead not guilty to the murder-for-hire charges. The rapper’s lawyer claimed there was “no real evidence” to link him to the 2022 shooting.
Since he stepped into the Hip Hop scene as a teenager, Quando Rondo has found himself wrapped up in controversy. The Savannah, Georgia, native has released three studio albums and several mixtapes since 2017, but he’s become more known for his Rap beefs and run-ins with the law more than his music. The most significant of Quando’s scandals arrived in 2020 with the murder of Only The Family rapper King Von in Atlanta. Later, in 2022, Rondo, real name Tyquian Bowman, and his cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, known as Lul Pab, were ambushed while visiting Los Angeles. Robinson was killed in the attack.
The following year, Rondo was arrested in connection to gang and drug infractions. He was only out on bond for a few months before the FBI nabbed him on federal drug charges. He again bonded out but was picked up for Driving Under the Influence at the top of 2024. More recently, Quando Rondo has learned he will serve over two years in prison after receiving a conviction for those federal charges. It’s been a whirlwind for Bowman within the last few years alone, and some believe that he has often been on a self-destructive path. Let’s take a look at the details regarding Quando’s conviction and sentence, as well as a few of the controversies that preceded his upcoming stint behind bars.
Quando Rondo Convicted Of Federal Drug Charges
Days ago, Quando Rondo learned his fate, and we’re sure he’s dissatisfied with the outcome. As reported by Rolling Stone and the Savannah Morning News, the rapper was sentenced to 33 months in prison on December 12 after entering a guilty plea to a charge of conspiracy to possess and distribute marijuana. Moreover, following his release, Bowman will endure “three years of supervised release” and “also must pay a $40,000 fine.” Quando was able to dodge similar, more severe charges related to the possession and distribution of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. He was initially looking at 20 years in prison for the full conviction. However, Rondo’s legal team was able to secure him a minor win by negotiating a lesser sentence with prosecutors.
During the hearing, Quando reportedly addressed the court. Despite a career of trolling his foes and making light of his legal issues, the rapper seemed regretful. “I really want to give an apology to the city of Savannah,” he said. “And I want to give an apology to my family and friends, loved ones, and most of all my daughters for taking all my family and all my loved ones through this stressful point.” Rondo is set to begin serving his sentence sometime in mid-January 2025.
His Cousin Lul Pab’s Murder
The case involving the shooting death of Lul Pab is also tied to the recent arrest of Chicago Drill rapper Lil Durk. In 2022, Rondo and Pab were at a West Hollywood gas station near the famed Beverly Center mall when they were fired upon by masked gunmen, resulting in the latter’s death. Investigators arrested Durk, real name Durk Banks, and five other members of The Voice rapper’s Only The Family crew this year. Police allege that Pab’s murder was retaliation for the killing of King Von. Lil Durk faces charges of murder-for-hire, as authorities contend that he was the mastermind behind Pab’s death—a shooting that was allegedly intended to take out Quando Rondo.
However, though prosecutors are sure of their case, Durk has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The rapper’s indictment reportedly reads, “After the murder, defendant Banks made clear, in coded language, that he would pay a bounty or monetary reward, and/or make payment to anyone who took part in killing [Bowman] for his role in [Bennett’s] murder.” Since Durk’s arrest, he’s been hit with more charges, per Rolling Stone. He also faces “one new count of use of interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death, and one new count of using, carrying, and discharging firearms and a machine gun and possession of such firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death.” The case is ongoing and, if convicted, Lil Durk could spend the remainder of his life behind bars.
The Murder Of King Von Following An Altercation With Quando Rondo
Lil Durk and Quando Rondo’s crews didn’t exactly keep their animosity under wraps. The hostility unraveled in social media posts, interviews, and lyrics. While Rap beefs come and go in the culture, not many result in actual acts of violence. Yet, authorities claim these two crews practiced what they preached, and it has erupted in the deaths of at least two people: King Von and Lul Pab. Von was gunned down outside of a nightclub in November 2020 following a reported altercation between his group and Quando Rondo’s associates. Gunfire rang out, and Von was killed; however, Rondo’s team allegedly told police that they were acting in self-defense.
Timothy “Lul Timm” Leeks was later charged with the murder of Von. Rondo would address the incident in his lyrics, emphasizing that he and his friends weren’t the initiates of the fatal fray. Further, Quando’s public support for Timm following Von’s death was a noteworthy point of controversy—especially after Timm sat down for an interview with VladTV. While there, he detailed shooting King Von, stating that he fired at least four times before his gun jammed. You can check out that clip above.
Quando Rondo’s come-up has been littered with strife and controversy, much of which has continued to hover over his head in recent years. And while the public narrative hasn’t necessarily always been on his side, he’s made efforts towards changing that and having people see things from his point of view. His 2023 album, Recovery, felt like a reflection of everything that he’s seen and done while looking toward a better path. His follow-up, 2024’s Here For A Reason, embraces these hardships as learned lessons and blessings to help him navigate this next chapter of his life.
Unfortunately, the circumstances of these realizations surround real-life consequences. In December 2023, the rapper was arrested and charged on federal drug charges, which he pleaded guilty to earlier this year. He’s currently on house arrest as he awaits his sentencing. However, within the past year or so, Quando Rondo has made strides in denouncing his previous gang affiliation and vowing to be a better role model for the kids in his community. Part of that is leading by example, as he describes on “Life Goes On” rapping, “Young n***as ’round here beefin’ ’bout the color of a bandana/ That’s why I put my flag down and I picked up a Quran.” Though he doesn’t believe his spirituality has altered his creative process, he does believe that it’s brought him a sense of peace.
“[Islam] gave me some of the best energy I ever had,” Quando Rondo explained to HotNewHipHop over a Zoom call from his home. It’s here where he has been recording music and establishing a presence on the livestreaming platform Twitch where he streams gameplay of NBA 2K and GTA 5. In fact, he began rubbing shoulders with a few of the most prominent figures in that world. In the past year, he appeared on a livestream with buzzing streamers Konvy and FazeLacy. Previously, Quando Rondo live-streamed with Duke Dennis, and as we spoke, he attempted to line up a second round of NBA 2K with the AMP member.
We caught up with Quando Rondo before the release of Here For A Reason to discuss this newfound outlook on life, his appreciation for Lil RT, and his aspirations outside of music.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Via HNHH
HotNewHipHop:The title of each of your projects feels like a statement. 2023, you released Recovery and now, you’ve dropped Here For A Reason. What’s the significance of this title?
Quando Rondo: I mean, sh*t is self-explanatory. Here For A Reason. Been through a lot but still here.
How deep into the project were you before you landed on this title?
I already had the title that I wanted to go with from the very jump, to be honest with you. I had that title in my mind. Well, I had the saying “here for a reason” in my mind for a couple of months before I even started recording. After you release a project, it’s like you already own to the next, thinking about what you are about to do next. So I had that in my mind a little bit, like sometime after dropping Recovery.
There are no features on this project, either. What was the decision behind that?
Man, I never really worked with other artists, like from the beginning, if you go back and look. It’s never really been my thing. I really love to work by myself.
Your music already has a spiritual tone, and the album contains plenty of references to your grandmother’s prayers. Is there a piece of advice from her or even a prayer that stuck with you?
You know, I was raised in a praying house with a praying family. So, I was taught that prayer works. After I go through something, I talk to my grandma and she pray. I feel alright after that.
You also mention how Islam has helped shape your new outlook on life. One line in particular, you mention how you “put the flag down and picked up a Qu’ran.” How has Islam played a role in helping you find that inner peace?
Man, they had a lot to do with it, because you got to think about it: the majority of the Muslim brothers that you’re going to meet, or you see when you go to the Masjid and in public, they let go of their problems. So that’s the type of energy that it gave me. It just gave me good peace and energy. Taking my shot and being a part of Islam, it just gave me better energy. It gave me some of the best energy I ever had.
How has the Muslim community influenced your approach to music?
Ain’t no difference. I still work the same. I had the same process as I did in the beginning.
On the song “Point Of View,” you discuss the public’s perception of you and how you feel misunderstood. Do you feel like that perception around you is changing?
I most definitely feel like that is going to change. You know, tables turn and bridges burn. To explain that song, man, I feel like this: everybody has their own point of view when it comes to anything. In that song, I was just explaining my point of view. Like, you gotta see this from my point of view.
Do you feel like people are seeing your point of view these days?
I mean, with being an artist and not knowing my fans personally or seeing each and every one of my fans, I can’t really answer that. But I hope that people out there who see shit from my point of view too. In life, you have to always put yourself in the other person’s shoes. When a situation or anything comes to me, I always look at it from both angles. You have to.
You released a statement to the city of Savannah apologizing and vowing to be a better role model. How did you feel about the reception to that statement, both from the city and online?
I felt good about it, bro. That’s a statement that I issued. You got to know that I feel 100% good about what I said, and I mean everything I say.
What other plans do you have to uplift your community?
Man, I have a plan to bond at least 10 people out of jail for the Thanksgiving holidays. I know that the label Atlantic Records is 100% behind me. But you know, they do stuff on a planned schedule, and, I ain’t got no patience. Neither do people that are in jail. So I really just is going to choose the day out this week, probably, and just do it myself.
You sampled 50 Cent on “Could’ve Been Me.” What was the process like getting that sample cleared and did you speak to him directly?
Not directly, but through the label, we got it cleared. I’d really like to talk to him, because I want to be in a movie. I got a story.
Are you trying to get your own movie or appear in the Power universe or something?
I’m trying to get him to write a movie about my life. Eventually, yes, I’d play a role. But you know, from the beginning, they gotta be a young lookalike.
Who would you ask to play that role if you had a choice?
Now, that’s something I can’t answer because we would have to go through 500-600 different pictures of people from all over the world who are young, who we feel like really look like me–[look like] younger pictures than me, bro. That’s something I can’t answer. Who’s liked and who’s needed are two different things, sometimes. Man, this business. So on a business note, I’d approach it like who’s needed at the moment?
Who do you think would be needed for that role? If you had a choice.
You know what’s crazy? Lil RT could probably play me.
What are your thoughts on his online presence and antics?
I ain’t gonna lie, I like lil’ bro, and it be so many fans like, “Quando Rondo looks like an older Lil’ RT,” and I’d be looking at the little n***a like, “I like this lil’ n***a.”
Have you been able to link up with him yet?
No due to house arrest and stuff like that, and me being in my own little shell.
You haven’t hit his DMs or anything either?
No, that’s a young man. I don’t know if he works his Instagram and stuff, and I’m a grown ass man. I just don’t see what type of conversations we can have if it ain’t about making something happen.
Before we bounce, I did want to just know what the significance of “Many Men” as it relates to your life.
Think about it: “Many Men” reflects my life. “Many Men wish death upon me.” That’s real. I mean, that ain’t hard to notice. That ain’t hard to see but I’m gonna come out just like the person who made that song.
The first time that I heard that song–I can’t really say that. I was young. I knew nothing about no music and job at the time. Going back later in life listening to it, I thought about the trials and tribulations I’ve been through, the song meant a lot to me. It’s a forever song, that’s a longevity record.
You’ve been diving into the gaming industry and livestreaming. What’s been the most gratifying part about growing a community this way?
Man, I just like playing the game. I like 2k and GTA 5. I’ve been streaming, been playing the game, but it’s like I had stopped doing it for a couple of years. I wish that I kept the hustle going on. I wish I had stayed consistent with streaming and playing the game, because maybe, I wouldn’t have been in a lot of situations, and maybe, I would have been on a way higher level in the streaming world, just like I am in the music world. It’s nothing like having both.
I saw you link up with Konvy and Lacy recently. They aren’t necessarily hip-hop per se but the streamers have developed some sort of footing within hip-hop. What are your thoughts about the position streamers currently play within hip-hop?
You gotta think about it. The gaming people are damn near getting bigger than the rapper or the artist. Look at Kai Cenat, Duke Dennis. I actually played the game with Duke Dennis a couple of years ago. We got a video on YouTube. We played 2k together a couple of years ago. Hold on, I’m trying to see right now. Oh, Duke Dennis still plays the game. I’m going to try and DM him.
Outside of music and streaming, what else do you have planned?
Chilling, for real. Just trying to stay out of the way.
Lil Durk’s legal fight for his freedom has officially begun. Yesterday (November 14), the “All My Life” rapper was arraigned in Los Angeles federal court for the murder-for-hire plot of fellow rapper Quando Rondo and firearms charges he was hit with over the past several weeks.
According to USA Today, Lil Durk (real name Durk Davontay Banks) formally entered a plea of not guilty to the charges against him, which include one count of conspiracy, one count of using interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death, and one count of “using, carrying, and discharging firearms and a machine gun and possession of such firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death.”
After news of Durk’s arrest was shared across online platforms, Rondo took to Instagram with a message (viewable here), seemingly for Durk. “We didn’t get into this music industry to make it just to stay caught up in this street sh*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.”
Durk’s trial has reportedly been scheduled for January 7, 2025. Although Durk maintains his innocence, if the Grammy Award winner is convicted of these charges, he could face up to life in prison.
Savannah, Georgia rapper and auto-crooner, Quando Rondo, is back on the album scene this weekend with Here For A Reason. It’s the 25-year-old’s third studio album, and first since 2023’s Recovery. Prior to the full release, he got the rollout started with “Cash” at the tail end of 2023 during some serious legal issues. Then, in August of this year, Rondo dropped off an additional five singles. “Gotta Do Better & Pray” got things started and that then led to the precursing EP Here for a Reason: In The Darkest Time. Finally, from October 18 to just hours before the LP, Rondo gave fans three more, with one of them being a tribute to his late cousin, Lul Pab. All of that brings to us November 15 and the 17-song album.
Across the body of work, Quando’s detailing his life and the various emotions he’s dealt with as he’s grown up literally and mentally. It’s probably his most mature record to date with various bars proving that to be the case. For example, on “Boy To Man,” he raps, “I got my mind on the struggle with my heart in the gutter and my grind on my hustle.” Overall, the record comes at another interesting time in his life, with the weight of his cousin’s death on his mind and the noise surrounding Lil Durk’s murder-for-hire arrest. Coincidentally, the messages and themes on Here For A Reason feel like an accurate representation of Quando Rondo’s thought process over these last couple of months. See if you share that opinion by listening to the project below.
“No friends in the industry” is a common phrase tossed around in hip-hop music. Drake is particularly champions that sentiment quite often. Overall, it does actually play out quite a bit, with new beefs seemingly popping up every month or so. However, there are some tight knit bonds out there, and one of them is between Quando Rondo and NBA YoungBoy. If you have paid close attention to them, you know that these two always have each other’s backs. YB has been involved with many verbal confrontations with other MCs such as Lil Durk and Bobby Shmurda. The Louisiana product also was there for the Georgia native when he was going through a breakup a couple of years ago.
To help Rondo move on, YB gifted him $1 million and that seemed to really strengthen their connection. “LIL TOP JUST GAVE ME A MILLION DOLLARS LAST WEEK PLUS I ALLREADY HAD A COUPLE HUNNIT CAN CARELESS BOUT A ***** GOT A BAG.” On top of supporting one another, the two have shared the stage before and also have a collaborative project out. Most of this happened a couple of years ago, though, so it begs the question, “Are they still close?”
Well, DJ Akademiks sat down with Quando to discuss this very topic, and the results should make fans happy. The hip-hop pundit opened the segment up by saying how he and the fans respect how the loyalty is so strong between them. In addition, he feels the general consensus is that him and YB don’t require some form of compensation to keep their friendship alive. The Here For A Reason MC agreed with those thoughts and that there really isn’t much else to say.
However, he would eventually expand a little bit more saying that it helps how “alike” they are. “I’m talking as far as having the same background. Growing up really f***ed up, poverty, and not having s***, and not being a b**** a** n****, really being on go for real,” he says. “Really standing on our ten” and essentially sticking up for themselves were things that they connected over, and it shows. Rondo speaks with a lot of passion in the clip, and you can just feel the sincerity in how he answered each question.
Late last month, Chicago drill rap pioneer Lil Durk was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder after five other men were allegedly connected to the death of Durk’s rap rival Quando Rondo’s cousin. Today, a new slate of charges was filed against the Windy City rapper, according to Los Angeles’ Fox affiliate.
Durk’s charges now include one count of “use of interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death,” and another of “using, carrying, and discharging firearms… in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death.” Durk is accused by federal authorities of ordering the murder of Quando Rondo (real name Tyquian Bowman) in retaliation for the Atlanta rapper’s supposed involvement in the death of Durk’s friend and protégé King Von in 2020 — an attempt that ultimately failed but resulted in the death of his cousin after an alleged ambush at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles. The attackers allegedly fired at least 18 rounds at the target vehicle, killing Durk’s cousin instead. Despite Durk allegedly telling the assailants to take steps to avoid implicating him, one of them used Durk’s credit card to book the hotel room where they stayed ahead of the attack.
Durk was arrested at Miami International Airport and was reportedly booked for multiple international flights. He was jailed in Broward County and will be transferred to Los Angeles for his arraignment, where he will enter a plea.
Quando Rondo has released a new single and video, “Life Goes On.” The release comes after Lil Durk was arrested for the murder-for-hire that resulted in the murder of Rondo’s cousin.
After the release, Rondo dropped a message on Instagram, seemingly distancing himself from violence and looking to move on:
“We didn’t get into this music industry to make it just to stay caught up in street shit. 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.”
In August, Quando Rondo, born Tyquian Bowman, pled guilty to a federal drug conspiracy charge involving several kilograms of marijuana.
According to WTOC, under the plea deal with federal prosecutors, Bowman admitted to willfully joining a plan to obtain and distribute more than a dozen kilograms of marijuana.
Bowman pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute. A judge accepted the plea during a hearing in federal court on Tuesday morning. Some jewelry obtained in the investigation will be returned to Bowman, who will remain out on bond until his sentencing.
“I really want to give an apology to the City of Savannah. I want to give an apology to my family, friends, loved ones, most of all to my daughters for taking all my family and all my loved ones through this stressful point,” said Bowman.
Bowman’s federal sentencing is set for Dec. 12th. He could face up to five years in prison.
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