The new indictment of Lil Durk has led him to mention his lyrics in the rapper's murder. Federal prosecutors confirmed the lyrics had been removed, but said they would not affect their case against him.
"The defendant bank showed a false narrative that he was prosecuted and detained for his violent lyrics. This claim is, and has been groundless," prosecutors wrote in separate court filings on Friday. "Just like every iteration before the indictment, (the new indictment) contains important allegations that show the defendant's role in the execution of murders at the busy corner of Los Angeles." The indictment also includes new allegations of stalking.
The publication said Drew Findling, the rapper's attorney, responded to the new indictment and claimed that "it seems the government has acknowledged" a "hard competition" dispute over his music.
In October, Durk (Born Durk Banks) was charged with attempted murder of rival Quando Rondo, who allegedly ordered his own "OTF" crew to murder Rondo. When Rondo survived shooting at a Los Angeles gas station in September 2022, his friend Lul Pab was killed in the firefight.
Durk previously pleaded not guilty to the charges. His attorneys tried to dismiss the case in April, citing “false evidence” to the grand jury.
Prosecutors said in court documents that Durk was not prosecuted “for his lyrics” but suggested his lyrics could be used as evidence for his case.
"Unless the government initiates a theory of lawsuit against banks, the lyrics cannot make the grand jury discover possible causes," Finlin said in a document last month.
Earlier this week, the rapper claimed that his lyrics were “used toward him” in the government’s murders against him. In a video statement posted on Instagram on Wednesday, the artist accused the government of putting him on the babyface song "Winding Wayne & Jackie Boy."
"Durk has been using music to tell stories, expressing pain to heal - but now he is opposed with the same lyrics. We refuse to remain silent because the creativity of black artists continues to be criminalized. Rap is art," Durk and his family said in the post. "As a family, we ask the public, fans and culture to stand with us. It represents truth. It represents fairness. It represents voice."