As Lil Durk awaits his next court hearing in early June, federal prosecutors continue to mount their case against the Chicago rap star—this time, pointing to a viral interview as alleged self-incrimination.
U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli, who is overseeing the federal case, recently filed a motion accusing Durk of threatening witnesses and their families connected to the murder-for-hire plot he’s charged with. “This isn’t about lyrics or entertainment,” Essayli stated in the filing. “The defendant is on trial because he directed, orchestrated, and financed the brazen murder plot at issue in this case.” He added that Durk’s motion to dismiss the indictment lacks any “legitimate basis,” especially given the alleged witness intimidation.
Durk has pushed to have the charges dismissed since April, arguing that prosecutors inappropriately used his lyrics as evidence. That strategy hit a wall when the court ruled earlier this month that his lyrics could not be admitted at trial.
However, federal prosecutors now claim that Lil Durk’s interview with DJ Akademiks shortly before his arrest may be more revealing than previously thought. In the conversation, Akademiks asks Durk about internet chatter surrounding King Von’s death, particularly fans’ calls for him to “slide for Von.” Durk coolly responds, “For some reason I just don’t see them comments no more… for some odd reason… might be the water… we here though.”
Prosecutors are now attempting to interpret that cryptic remark as an admission of retaliation, possibly tying it to the 2022 murder of Quando Rondo’s cousin—an incident Durk is suspected of being connected to.
Online reaction to the new development has been skeptical, if not dismissive. In the comments under a No Jumper post, one user wrote, “How’s that admitting to it?” Another chimed in, “Man that was weak—they finding everything lol.”
Meanwhile, Lil Durk remains in custody and is approaching his third attempt to secure bond. His next hearing, set for June 2, will determine whether the court will accept his offer of $2.7 million in assets, around-the-clock private security, electronic monitoring, and full court supervision. So far, neither the judge nor the prosecution has budged.
With the trial looming and tensions high, it remains to be seen whether these new claims surrounding the Akademiks interview will stick, or add more noise to an already high-profile legal saga.