Lil Durk is a Grammy-nominated Chicago rapper and a pioneer of the drill music movement, known for hits like “All My Life” with J. Cole and for founding the Only the Family (OTF) collective. On September 11, 2026, a federal jury acquitted him of all five charges in his high-profile murder-for-hire trial — though he remains in custody ahead of a separate racketeering trial set for October 5, 2026. Here’s everything on his career, family, and the latest on both federal cases.
Lil Durk Quick Info Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Durk Devontay Banks |
| Date of Birth | October 19, 1992 |
| Age | 33 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Profession | Rapper, Singer, Record Label Founder (Only the Family) |
| Known For | Pioneer of Chicago drill; “All My Life” (with J. Cole), Almost Healed, Deep Thoughts |
| Net Worth | Estimated $8 Million |
| Wife | India Royale (married 2024) |
| Children | 7, including daughter Willow with India Royale |
| @lildurk |
Lil Durk Bio & Career
- Born Durk Devontay Banks on October 19, 1992, in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood; his father was incarcerated when Durk was seven months old.
- Built his early buzz on YouTube and MySpace with mixtapes like Life Ain’t No Joke (2012) and Signed to the Streets (2013), emerging as one of the founding voices of Chicago drill alongside Chief Keef.
- Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 2012 and released his debut studio album, Remember My Name, in June 2015, which peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard 200.
- Founded Only the Family (OTF), the record label and collective built around loyalty to his Chicago circle, which became a defining force in drill music and launched artists including the late King Von.
- Released a string of commercially successful albums including The Voice, 7220, and Almost Healed (2023), the latter reckoning with grief following the 2020 murder of close friend and OTF artist King Von and the 2021 murder of his own brother, Dontay “DThang” Banks Jr.
- Scored his biggest hit with “All My Life,” his 2023 collaboration with J. Cole, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Released his ninth studio album, Deep Thoughts, on March 28, 2025, featuring Future, Lil Baby, Hunxho, and Jhené Aiko — recorded and released amid his ongoing legal case.
Popularity
Family & Personal Life
Lil Durk has been with India Royale, a makeup artist, fashion blogger, and entrepreneur, since 2017. He proposed onstage during a hometown Chicago concert in December 2021, and the couple married in 2024. Together they share daughter Willow Banks, born in October 2018; Durk is also father to seven children in total across his family, and considers India’s older daughter, Skylar, his own. Following the 2021 murder of his brother DThang, Durk has helped raise DThang’s two children as well.
The Federal Murder-for-Hire Trial: Acquitted
Since October 2024, Lil Durk had been in federal custody facing charges including conspiracy, stalking, and murder-for-hire in connection with a 2022 shooting linked to a feud with fellow rapper Quando Rondo, whose cousin, Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson, was killed. Durk pleaded not guilty. The trial began August 20, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, with prosecutors presenting testimony from Durk’s former assistant, Kavon “Vonnie” Grant, digital material pulled from his iCloud account, and some of his song lyrics as evidence.
On September 11, 2026, after three days of deliberation, a federal jury acquitted Lil Durk of all five charges — conspiracy, two counts of stalking, stalking resulting in death, and murder-for-hire. The verdict was mixed for his co-defendants: two other men, Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey, were convicted of stalking resulting in death in the same case.
The morning after the verdict, Durk shared a statement on Instagram thanking his family, lawyers, and supporters: “Against all odds, we’re stronger together. Allah doesn’t make mistakes. I feel all the love and positive energy. Now let me be free to help save our kids and bring unity back to our communities.” He closed the post with “Freedom. Freedom. Freedom.” Fellow artists including Drake, Ye (Kanye West), G Herbo, 21 Savage, Meek Mill, Young Thug, and Boosie Badazz publicly celebrated the acquittal.
Durk’s freedom is on hold, however — he remains in federal custody ahead of a separate racketeering trial. Prosecutors severed a Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering (VICAR) and firearms case, added via a third superseding indictment in June 2026, from the murder-for-hire trial. That case is scheduled to go to trial on October 5, 2026, in the same Los Angeles federal court.
Latest News – Lil Durk (2026)
- Acquitted of all five murder-for-hire charges on September 11, 2026, after a three-week federal trial in Los Angeles.
- Broke his silence the next day on Instagram, thanking his family, legal team, and supporters, and posting “Freedom. Freedom. Freedom.”
- Received public support from Drake, Ye, G Herbo, 21 Savage, Meek Mill, Young Thug, and Boosie Badazz following the verdict.
- Remains in federal custody ahead of a separate racketeering (VICAR) and firearms trial, now scheduled for October 5, 2026, in the same California federal court.
FAQs
His legal name is Durk Devontay Banks.
No. A federal jury acquitted him of all five charges — conspiracy, stalking, and murder-for-hire — on September 11, 2026. He still faces a separate federal racketeering and firearms trial scheduled for October 5, 2026.
His estimated net worth is around $8 million, built through album sales, touring, and his Only the Family label.
Yes, he married longtime partner India Royale in 2024, after proposing to her in December 2021.
He has seven children, including daughter Willow with India Royale, and also helped raise his late brother DThang’s two children.
OTF is the Chicago-based record label and collective Lil Durk founded, built around loyalty to his inner circle. It became a major force in drill music and launched the career of the late King Von.
