Federal Prosecutors Seek to Admit Lil Durk’s Lyrics and Music Videos at Murder-for-Hire Trial
Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to allow the use of Lil Durk’s lyrics, music videos, and related visual imagery as evidence at his upcoming murder-for-hire trial, arguing that the material is directly relevant to establishing motive, intent, and participation in the alleged crime.
In court filings, the government pushed back against a defense motion seeking to exclude the artist’s creative work from trial, contending that barring the evidence would improperly restrict the jury’s ability to assess the defendants’ own words and conduct. Prosecutors maintain that the music and visuals they seek to introduce are not being offered as character evidence, but rather as contextual proof tied to the charged conspiracy.
Lil Durk, whose legal name is Durk Devontay Banks, is accused of orchestrating a bounty targeting Quando Rondo, a rival rapper. The alleged plot, according to prosecutors, culminated in a 2022 shooting at a Beverly Grove gas station in Los Angeles that killed Saviay’a “Luh Pab” Robinson, Rondo’s cousin.
Federal authorities allege the attack was motivated by retaliation for the November 2020 killing of King Von, a close associate of Lil Durk and a fellow artist signed to his Only the Family (OTF) collective. King Von was fatally shot following a physical altercation with Quando Rondo outside an Atlanta-area nightclub. Prosecutors argue that the subsequent music reflects his state of mind and purported role as a leader who financed or directed acts of violence against rivals.
As part of their evidentiary submissions, prosecutors have identified multiple released songs, unreleased recordings, and music videos that they say reference the alleged conspiracy. Among them are the rapper’s verses on Nardo Wick’s “Who Want Smoke?? (Remix),” in which he raps about retaliation and “getting it back in blood,” as well as tracks such as “AHHH HA,” “Hanging with Wolves,” and “Rumors,” featuring Gucci Mane.
The government has also pointed to the music video for “Risky,” released roughly two months after Robinson’s killing, as well as collaborative tracks involving codefendant Deandre Dontrell Wilson, known professionally as Deeski. Prosecutors argue that these works, when viewed alongside other evidence, help establish Lil Durk’s alleged leadership role within OTF and his financial backing of violent acts.
In addition, prosecutors have flagged an unreleased song titled “Scoom His Ass,” allegedly recovered from a co-defendant’s cellphone. The track includes references to “bounty hunters” and mentions Beverly Hills, which authorities note is geographically close to the location of Robinson’s shooting. The government argues that such details are probative, not coincidental.
The rapper's defense team has strongly objected to the use of the music, arguing that it carries a high risk of unfair prejudice and could improperly sway jurors by reinforcing stereotypes about rap lyrics and criminality. In their January motion, attorneys argued that the government failed to sufficiently explain who authored specific lyrics, when they were written, or how each excerpt is directly tied to the charged conduct.
“The notices do not identify whether the lyrics were adopted by the defendants or how they relate to any fact in dispute,” the defense wrote, asserting that some material may be too temporally distant to be relevant to the alleged conspiracy.
Prosecutors counter that excluding the material would undermine the jury’s role in weighing evidence, particularly when the defendants’ own words and imagery are, in their view, intertwined with the alleged criminal conduct.
Lil Durk has remained in federal custody since his arrest in October 2024. Authorities detained him near Miami International Airport after concluding that multiple international flight bookings suggested a risk of flight. He is currently being held without bond as he awaits trial.
The judge has not yet ruled on whether the contested music evidence will be admitted.
