Chicago rapper Lil Durk was arrested in Florida on Thursday on murder-for-hire charges, following the arrests of five men affiliated with Lil Durk’s Only The Family hip-hop collective who were also charged with murder-for-hire in a plot that allegedly targeted the rapper Quando Rondo as retaliation for the 2020 murder of rapper King Von.
Lil Durk, 32, whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks, is being held in a jail in Broward County, Florida, following his Thursday arrest. Arrest records say Lil Durk was arrested on murder-for-hire charges, but the exact nature of his involvement in an alleged murder-for-hire plot is unclear.
Earlier Thursday, five men—Kavon London Grant, Deandre Dontrell Wilson, Keith Jones, David Brian Lindsey and Asa Houston—whom prosecutors allege have ties to Only The Family, were arrested in Chicago and appeared at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse. According to an indictment filed in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, charges against the five men include conspiracy to commit murder for hire resulting in death and the use of a machine gun resulting in death.
Prosecutors alleged the five men conspired in 2022 to kill rapper Quando Rondo as retaliation for a 2020 altercation between his crew and King Von’s crew involving an exchange of gunfire that killed King Von, for which Quando Rondo’s affiliate Timothy “Lul Tim” Leeks was charged with murder.
Prosecutors say the five men traveled to Los Angeles to shoot and kill Quando Rondo in his car, but their gunfire instead killed his cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, known as Lul Pab, who was a passenger in the vehicle.
Lil Durk's Rise to Fame
Lil Durk is a Chicago rapper who formed the Only The Family group in 2010, with which he has released six albums. King Von was a member of Only The Family prior to his killing. Lil Durk had his breakthrough in the 2010s after signing to Def Jam Records and releasing the albums “Remember My Name” in 2015 and “Lil Durk 2X” in 2016. He later signed with Alamo Records and earned his first Grammy nominations for “Laugh Now Cry Later,” a collaboration with Drake, in 2021. He topped the Billboard 200 for the first time with “7220” in 2022, and released his biggest hit, “All My Life,” his Grammy-winning collaboration with J. Cole, in 2023.
The Shooting of King Von
King Von, whose real name is Dayvon Daquan Bennett, was shot and killed outside of a hookah lounge in Atlanta in the early hours of Nov. 6, 2020. Local police said King Von’s group was involved in an argument with another group led by Quando Rondo, and the “argument quickly escalated to gunfire” around 3:20 a.m., resulting in six people shot and two dead. Surveillance footage published by TMZ appeared to show King Von throwing punches at Quando Rondo and his crew, which cited unnamed sources claiming King Von’s crew approached Quando Rondo as he napped in his car. Two weeks after the shooting, Quando Rondo released a song apparently addressing his role in the incident titled “End of Story.” He claimed the gunfire was “self defense,” rapping, “he shouldn't have never put his hands on me, look at the footage, that's all the evidence.”
The Aftermath of the Shooting
Prior to his arrest, Lil Durk was promoting his forthcoming album, “Deep Thoughts,” which is set to release Nov. 22. He had released several new songs in October, including “Late Checkout,” which he released two weeks ago. Lil Durk’s arrest is the latest in a string of high-profile cases involving rappers and murder-for-hire plots. In 2022, rapper Tekashi69 was arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit murder. In 2019, rapper Tory Lanez was arrested on charges of assault with a firearm. These cases highlight the dangers of the intersection of rap culture and violence. They also raise questions about the role of social media in promoting violence and the responsibility of record labels to address these issues.
What's Next for Lil Durk?
Lil Durk's arrest is a major development in the ongoing investigation into the murder of King Von. It remains to be seen what charges will be filed against him and what the outcome of the case will be. But one thing is clear: the arrest is a reminder that the world of hip-hop is not immune to the violence that plagues many communities. The case is likely to have a major impact on the hip-hop industry, as well as the city of Chicago.
The Future of Lil Durk's Music Career
Lil Durk’s arrest has put his music career on hold. It is unclear how the charges against him will impact his future in the music industry. If he is convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence, which would effectively end his career. However, even if he is acquitted, the charges could damage his reputation and make it difficult for him to regain his former success. Only time will tell what the future holds for Lil Durk.
