Quando Rondo

Lil Durk Has Reportedly Pled Not Guilty In His Alleged Murder-For-Hire Plot Of Quando Rondo

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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.”

Although Rondo survived the incident, his cousin Lul Pab was tragically killed. Prosecutors are set to argue that the murder-for-hit plot was supposedly in retaliation for Quando Rondo’s friend and entourage member Lul Tim killing Lil Durk’s friend and fellow rapper King Von in self-defense back in 2020.

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.

Quando Rondo Guides Listeners Through His Life On “Here For A Reason”

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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.

Read More: Meagan Good’s Rep Addresses Jonathan Majors Breakup Rumors

Here For A Reason – Quando Rondo

Here For A Reason Tracklist:

  1. Bady Guy
  2. Gotta Do Better & Pray
  3. Life Goes On
  4. Pour It
  5. Could’ve Been Me
  6. Boy To Man
  7. Luh Wodie
  8. Rollin’ (feat. Winter Rae)
  9. What Do You Know
  10. My Lingo
  11. Grow Up
  12. Traded
  13. Aw Yeah
  14. Street Love
  15. Point Of View
  16. Cash
  17. Don’t Give Up On Me

Read More: Young Thug’s Attorney Brian Steel Will Represent Former DA Accused Of Interfering In Ahmaud Arbery Investigation

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Quando Rondo Speaks On His Connection With NBA YoungBoy

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“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?”

Read More: Jim Jones’ “Crazy” Secret Marriage Rumors Get Shut Down By Brooke Bailey

DJ Akademiks Interviews Quando Rondo About NBA YoungBoy

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.

Read More: Denzel Washington Reveals He Will Be In “Black Panther 3”

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Lil Durk Has Been Charged With Two New Felonies In Addition To Murder Conspiracy

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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 Says He Forgives Anyone He Had Past Issues With: ‘Praying for Everyone’

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Quando Rondo Life Goes On [Official Music Video] 2 2 screenshot

Quando Rondo Life Goes On [Official Music Video] 2 2 screenshot

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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DJ Vlad Calls Lil Durk “Stupid” After Rapper’s Murder-For-Hire Charge

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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.

Read More: Lil Durk Fans Launch “Free Durk” Movement On Social Media

DJ Vlad Does Not Have Sympathy For Lil Durk

“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.

Read More: Quando Rondo Pays Homage To Late Cousin On New Track Following Lil Durk’s Arrest

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Lil Durk Charged With Murder-For-Hire After Florida Arrest

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Lil Durk found himself in serious legal trouble on Friday morning. The rapper was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Florida. Broward County Correctional Facility is holding Lil Durk, according to RapTV and DJ Akademiks. The Windy City rapper has experienced legal trouble in the past. The charges have never been more serious, however. Lil Durk has reportedly been charged with murder-for-hire. Broward County has released the rapper’s mugshot.

Lil Durk’s arrest came hours after a California indictment referenced him. The indictment named five men with ties to the group OTF. Lil Durk founded said group back in 2010. The indictment alleges that the men were hired to execute a hit on rapper Quando Rondo. These men were alleged to have used OTF-affiliated credit cards to book flights and rental cars to California. A death did occur on August 19, 2022, but it was not the alleged target. Instead, Quando Rondo’s cousin, Lul Pab, was shot and killed. Rondo later stated that the death “hurt his heart.”

Read More: FBG Duck’s Mother Blasts Lil Durk For Concert Tribute Amidst Legal Drama

U.S. Marshals Took Lil Durk Into Custody On Friday

Murder-for-hire involving a death and conspiracy to conduct murder-for-hire are the charges that have been handed to the five men. The indictment also alleged that a member of Lil Durk’s OTF crew offered the men “lucrative music opportunities” if the alleged hit against Rondo was successful. The news came as a shock to the hip hop world. Durk’s arrest coincided with a DJ Akademiks live stream. The hip hop personality became visibly upset on camera when he learned what happened. He lamented Durk’s connection to such a tragic incident.

The timing of Lil Durk’s arrest could not have been worse. The rapper was arrested on charges relating to a non-lethal shooting in February 2019. He was released on bail, alongside the late King Von, who was also taken into custody over the shooting. October marked the month in which the charges were finally dropped. It was the murder of Von, in fact, that feds believe led to the alleged hit attempt on Quando Rondo. Durk voiced his desire to stay out of prison in a since deleted tweet from 2022. “The goal is not to go to jail,” he wrote. “So y’all will never see me do tuff sh*t on here to look street.” He has tragically fallen short of this goal.

Read More: Three Teens Shot While Heading To Lil Durk Concert In Robbery Gone Awry

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New Indictment Alleges That Men Contracted To Kill Quando Rondo Have Ties To Lil Durk’s OTF

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Five Chicago men were indicted on Thursday. They were taken in by federal officers on suspicion of being hired to kill rapper Quando Rondo. They are also suspected to have killed the rapper’s cousin. TMZ reports that the indictment was filed in U.S. District Court in L.A. The official charges include murder-for-hire involving a death, as well as use of a machine gun in a violent crime. The five men are also being charged with conspiracy to conduct murder-for-hire. To make things even more complicated, these five men are alleged to have ties to OTF, a group founded by Lil Durk.

The men listed in the indictment are Asa Houston, Keith Jones, David Brian Lindsey, Deandre Dontrell Wilson, and Kavon London Grant. Court documents allege that each of these men have affiliation with OTF. They also allege that the five men used OTF-affiliated credit cars to book flights and rental cars to the scene of the shooting. Quando Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, was shot and killed on August 19, 2022. Robinson was traveling with Quando Rondo and the rapper’s entourage when shots rang out at a gas station in Beverly Grove, Los Angeles. The rapper was not injured, despite being the alleged target. Robinson, tragically, died as a result of his injuries. He was 24.

Quando Rondo’s Cousin Was Killed In August 2022

 
 
 
 
 
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Federal officers theorize that the deadly shooting was retaliation for the murder of King Von. Von was shot and killed by an associate of Quando Rondo in 2020. The charges against the associate, Timothy “Lul Timm” Leeks, were eventually dropped. Federal officers have also alleged that OTF offered to help the five men if they carried out the hit. They allege that an unnamed member of OTF offered “lucrative music opportunities” to the person who took out Quando Rondo.

Quando Rondo is currently dealing with legal troubles of his own. The rapper is awaiting a sentencing set for December 12. He entered a plea of guilty after being charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances. Quando Rondo decided to pen an open letter to the citizens of his native Savannah. “Savannah deserves more from me,” he wrote. “And I’m working hard to be a better person.”

Read More: Quando Rondo Reluctantly Agrees To Squash Beef With Lil Durk: Watch

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Quando Rondo Releases New Video For “Luh Wodie”

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Continuing a transformative journey and kickstarting a bold creative chapter, multiplatinum Hip-Hop luminary Quando Rondo returns with a new single “Luh Wodie.” Alongside the track, Quando revealed the official music video directed by Ace The Shooter.

The single sets the stage for the arrival of his anticipated third studio album, Here For A Reason, on November 15. His storytelling takes center stage on the project as he takes listeners on a journey of healing, self-discovery, and triumph.

When you know yourself, you can share your story. During a meteoric rise as one of hip-hop’s most enigmatic figures, Quando Rondo discovered himself. The Savannah, GA native went from D.I.Y. upstart to multiplatinum phenomenon, but he also simultaneously transformed from a complicated teen into a thoughtful young man. Along the way, he found fame and fortune, yet he lost friends and loved ones. Never letting his foot off the gas, he built a bulletproof catalog of bangers highlighted by platinum singles—“ABG,” “I Remember” [feat. Lil Baby], and “Imperfect Flower”—as well as a slew of gold singles, namely “Bacc to the Basics,” “Dope Boy Dreams,” “New Ones” [with NoCap], and “Scarred from Love,” to name a few.

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Quando Rondo Battling Additional Charges Following June Plea Deal

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Quando Rondo pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence and reckless driving charges in Savannah, Georgia on Thursday. The charges stemmed from a car crash that happened while out on bond during a state drug and gang case. The 25-year-old rapper was arrested for the July 2023 incident in February, and released on a $4,600 bond.

Quando Rondo, real name Tyquian Bowman, accepted a plea deal in June. He chose to fight the misdemeanor charges following his agreement to the deal. Rondo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess and distribute marijuana, in exchange for years knocked off his sentence. Instead of the 20 years he originally faced, he now faces five years at most.

Read More: Quando Rondo Reacts To Rich Homie Quan’s Music Topping Charts After His Death

Quando Rondo Facing New Charges After Accepting Plea Deal

 
 
 
 
 
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“I really want to give an apology to the city of Savannah,” Quando Rondo said after his June guilty plea. “And I want to give an apology to my family, friends, loved ones, most of all to my daughters. I just want everybody to know I’m a changed person,” he continued. “I’m changing every day, and God got the last say so […] I’m changing myself. It starts with yourself. Change starts at home. It don’t matter the circumstances. It don’t matter the levels of how bad something is. God could bring you out of anything. So, with that being said, like I said before, I’m walking my faith and not by sight. Nothing can break me. It’s just going to make me even more.”

Quando Rondo released a new EP in August called Here For A Reason: In The Darkest Time while out on bond. He recently agreed to squash his longtime beef with Lil Durk, though it is unclear if those two have actually hashed things out yet. The two started feuding after Rondo had some pointed words about the late Chicago rapper King Von. Rondo is expected to be sentenced on December 12.

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