Lil Durk is speaking publicly for the first time since a federal jury found him not guilty on all five murder-for-hire charges.
The Chicago rapper, whose real name is Durk Banks, broke his silence Saturday with an Instagram statement focused on faith, freedom, family and his plans to help his community.
“Against all odds, we’re stronger together,” Banks wrote. “Allah doesn’t make mistakes. I feel all the love and positive energy.”
The statement came one day after jurors rejected the government’s case following three days of deliberations.
Banks had been facing federal charges over an alleged plot targeting rapper Quando Rondo. Prosecutors tied the alleged scheme to the 2022 killing of Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson, in Los Angeles.
The government alleged Banks was seeking retaliation after the 2020 killing of his friend and fellow Chicago rapper Dayvon “King Von” Bennett outside an Atlanta nightclub.
Banks denied the allegations. His attorneys, Drew Findling and Brian Steele, challenged the prosecution’s theory and presented an alternative account of the shooting.
Jurors ultimately returned not-guilty verdicts on all five counts.
Lil Durk Says He Wants to Help Young People
In his first post-verdict statement, Banks did not go into detail about the allegations or the prosecution’s case. Instead, he focused on what he plans to do with his freedom.
“Now let me be free to help save our kids and bring unity back to our communities,” Banks wrote.
He also credited his family, attorneys and supporters for helping him through the federal prosecution.
“I couldn’t have made it this far without my family, my lawyers, and supporters,” he wrote, before adding: “Freedom. Freedom. Freedom.”
The case had become one of the most closely watched federal prosecutions involving a major hip-hop artist, with the allegations hanging over Banks’ career throughout the proceedings.
Now, after the jury’s verdict, Banks is publicly looking ahead.
His message was brief, but the theme was unmistakable: freedom.
