Lil Durk's Murder-for-Hire Trial Opens With Two Versions of the Same Man: Prosecutors' “Architect” vs. a Defense “Big Fish”

Lil Durk's federal murder-for-hire trial began Monday (Aug. 24) in downtown Los Angeles with two stories that cannot both be true. Prosecutors told jurors the Chicago rapper was the architect of a deadly revenge plot. His lawyers said he is an innocent man being served up as the “big fish” by a co-defendant trying to shorten his own sentence. Durk, born Durk Banks, has pleaded not guilty to all five charges. Everything below is an allegation or argument made in court, as reported by the outlets linked.

What prosecutors said

Per Rolling Stone, the government alleges that Banks sent men to Los Angeles to kill the rival rapper Quando Rondo, in retaliation for the 2020 shooting death of Banks's close friend and protégé King Von. Rondo was the intended target of an Aug. 19, 2022 attack at a gas station, but his cousin, Saviay'a “Lul Pab” Robinson, was killed instead. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Weiner showed surveillance video of the shooting and put a single word on the courtroom screens: “Revenge.”

This is a case about revenge, stalking, and premeditated murder.

Daniel Weiner, Assistant U.S. Attorney, in his opening statement, Rolling Stone

What the defense said

Lawyer Marissa Goldberg told jurors that Kavon “OTF Vonnie” Grant, who worked for Banks at his management company and has pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate, was the person “in charge,” and that he had his own motive. She argued that when agents arrested Grant in October 2024, he decided to give prosecutors someone bigger. There is no payment to follow, she said, per Rolling Stone: this is “a murder-for-hire allegation where nobody gets paid.” Complex adds that Deandre Wilson's attorney described his client as a “passenger” and Grant as the “perpetrator.”

Mr. Banks had nothing to do with it. He was not there. He was not connected to it.

Marissa Goldberg, defense attorney, in her opening statement, Rolling Stone

Who showed up

Hip-hop turned out in force. XXL reports that G Herbo, Dreezy and the OTF affiliate Doodie Lo posed outside the courthouse in “Free Durk” shirts on Day 1, and that Machine Gun Kelly watched from an overflow room before posting about it.

On Thursday (Aug. 27), Ye walked into the same courthouse in all black, per Billboard, and was photographed with Doodie Lo holding up a “Free Durk” T-shirt. The two Chicago artists have history on record: Durk appears on *Donda*'s “Jonah,” the Vultures title track and Cardi B's “Hot Shit.” Meek Mill also posted in support.

Why it matters

The government's case leans in part on Durk's own music. The judge ruled that jurors can hear lyrics from several songs, including “Pissed Me Off,” “Who Want Smoke??” and “Ahhh Ha.” Rolling Stone notes that using rap lyrics as evidence is controversial, with critics saying it chills creative expression and lets prosecutors distort hyperbole.

Billboard says the trial is expected to run several weeks, and that Durk could face up to life in prison if convicted. How it ended is in our later report.

Added to the High Grailed archive on October 12, 2026.