Lil Durk Says He’s Been Blackballed
Lil Durk says he’s been blackballed. Over the weekend, the Chicago rapper took to Instagram to say that he’s done well for himself in the music industry despite having no…
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 09: Lil Durk attends PrettyLittleThing: Teyana Taylor Collection II New York Fashion Week on September 09, 2021 in New York City.
(Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for PrettyLittleThing )Lil Durk says he's been blackballed. Over the weekend, the Chicago rapper took to Instagram to say that he's done well for himself in the music industry despite having no help. "I been doing this s--- black balled," he wrote alongside the laughing tears emoji.
He didn't add much context to the accusation which is why some fans were confused about his cryptic post. "How is he blackballed with the whole industry on his albums with mainstream features," tweeted one fan. One fan didn't believe the rapper writing, "He’s obviously trolling."
RELATED: Lil Durk & India: Fans Speculate They're Back Together
Despite Durk's "blackballed" claims, the rapper posted some behind-the-scenes photos of him and J. Cole for their upcoming collab "All My Life" recently. Durk spoke to XXL about how the collab came about.
"We were just trying to figure out like what’s the right person to put on it,” Durk said of the Dr. Luke-produced track. "'Cause it’s one of those songs where if it’s not the right person to do the second verse… I feel like Cole can bring the energy that I’m looking for to it. So, if it wasn’t J. Cole, it’d be [Kanye], but Ye, he tucked away somewhere."
The song will be on Durk's upcoming album The Voice 2.0, which is expected to arrive sometime soon. Last month the rapper said that the project is "done." "Growth. That’s what the 2.0 stand for, just be on another level," he said of the follow-up to 2020’s The Voice. "Just not only music-wise, like the things around me like I told you, growing from the friends around me, management. Sitting with the mayor. We doin’ big charity things. Neighborhood Heroes, the foundation I got."
He added: "So, we just doing different things, ’cause if you say you The Voice, it’s like, OK, you The Voice of the Streets, so what happened? What you do? I did this, this, cool. OK, now what you do for the kids? Nah’m sayin’? So, now we just breaking it down. So, we doing this, we doing this, we doing this. Not only on Thanksgiving, not only on Christmas, just on a regular basis, helping people."
A released date for "All My Life" has not yet been announced.
Original Publish Date: 10/19/2022
Updated: 10/17/2023
Lil Durk (born Durk Derrick Banks) has made a big impact in hip-hop in recent years. Durk's Signed to the Streets mixtape garnered the Chicago native a lot of attention which led him to signing a deal with Def Jam. The rapper left the label in 2018 and later signed to Alamo Records, where he is currently under contract. He gained commercial success with "3 Headed Goat" (featuring Polo G and Lil Baby), his feature on Drake's "Laugh Now Cry Later" and his joint album with Lil Baby The Voice of Heroes (2021). The rapper is also the founder of the collective and record label Only the Family (OTF). Lil Durk's 7220 has also been critically acclaimed. That album was his second No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 following his joint project with Lil Baby. Durk continues to prove he's the real deal.
Almost Healed
Durk's Almost Healed is the Chicago native's latest full-length project. It was released in May. It had guest appearances from Alicia Keys, J. Cole. Future, Kodak Black, 21 Savage, Chief Wuk, Rob49, Morgan Wallen, and the late Juice WRLD. The album was supported by singles "All My Life" featuring J. Cole and a solo effort "Pelle Coat" which the music video was released the day the album dropped (May 26).
Over the past years, Durkio has experienced tremendous loss in his personal life. His brother who went by OTF DThang and best friend King Von were killed due to gun violence. Von was killed in 2020 and DThang died in 2021. In the intro to Almost Healed called "Therapy Session," Alicia Keys acts as his therapist. The "Fallin" singer asks Durkio how he felt after the deaths of his brother and best friend which he expands on in the second track "Pelle Coat."
Take a look at 12 of Lil Durk's best songs ranked:
12. "Pelle Coat" - Lil Durk 'Almost Healed' (2023)
Only the Family, Alamo Records, and Sony Music"Pelle Coat" is the second track on Durk's 'Almost Healed.' The rapper gets vulnerable about the deaths of his brother DThang and best friend King Von. The rapper had been getting accused for not "sliding for Von" which he addresses in his lyrics. "Like how I'ma sacrifice Von? I'm the only n---- reached for his hand/ Like why lie like I ain't give up money for the funeral? I'm like, 'Damn.'" The song has a different approach than most of the other songs in his discography, showing how he can express his vulnerability.
11. "Back in Blood" Pooh Shiesty ft. Lil Durk Shiesty Season' (2021)
Atlantic Records/1017 Records"Back in Blood" is the lead single to rapper Pooh Shiesty's album 'Shiesty Season' which was released in 2021. The song marks the first collaboration between the two artists. They later reunited in Durk's song "Should've Ducked." "Back in Blood" debuted at number 93 on the <i>Billboard</i> Hot 100. It later peaked at number 13. This was Shiesty's first entry on the chart and the track marked Durk's highest-charting song behind his collab with Drake on "Laugh Now Cry Later" and "All My Life" featuring J. Cole, which debuted and peaked at No. 2.
9. "No More Parties" Coi Leray ft. Lil Durk 'Trendsetter' (2021)
Uptown Records/Republic Records/1801Coi Leray released "No More Parties" in 2021 and quickly followed up with a remix featuring Lil Durk. Coi discusses her relationship with her father, reality star Benzino, while Durk raps about his fiancee India Royale, his close friends, and his beef with rapper 6ix9ine. "No More Parties" peaked at No. 26 on the chart.
8. "Petty Too" Lil Durk ft. Future '7220' (2022)
Alamo"Petty Too" is a collaboration between Durkio and Future, which arrived on his 2022 album '7220.' Durk officially announced the pairing two days prior to the release of his LP, per Genius. Throughout the song, both Durk and Future rap about their relationships with women and how they can be just as petty as their partners. "Petty Too" peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100.
7. "Every Chance I Get" DJ Khaled, Lil Durk and Lil Baby 'Khaled Khaled' (2021)
We the Best/ Epic"Every Chance I Get" is the second track on Khaled's album 'Khaled Khaled' and marks the first collab between producer and Durk. The song also features Durk's frequent collaborator Lil Baby. In the song, the rappers talk about how they grew up and flex the lifestyles they live now in comparison. This track peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 6 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart. It is currently three-times platinum according to the RIAA.
6. "AHHH HA" Lil Durk '7220' (2022)
Alamo"AHH HA" is a diss track in response to YoungBoy Never Broke Again's "Bring The Hook." On "Bring The Hook," YoungBoy raps about Durk's late friend and rapper King Von and their neighborhood. Durk retaliates by rapping about YoungBoy's ex-girlfriend Jania Meshell, who had a romantic history with Von in the past. Durk originally released "AHH HA" as a single in February before it arrived on his 2022 album '7220.' YoungBoy followed up with Durk's "AHHH HA" with another diss titled "I Hate YoungBoy."
5. "What Happened To Virgil?" Lil Durk ft. Gunna '7220' (2022)
Alamo"What Happened To Virgil?" features a guest appearance from Atlanta rapper Gunna. The track is an ode to the late Louis Vuitton Menswear Artistic Director, Virgil Abloh. He was also the founder and creator of Off-White. On the sorrowful track, Durk reflects on betrayals, the trauma of death, and the fragility of life. Gunna raps about his blessings and his close group of friends.
4. "Broadway Girls" Lil Durk ft. Morgan Wallen (2021)
AlamoLil Durk made headlines after getting controversial country star Morgan Wallen on his 2021 hit "Broadway Girls." The song recalls the artists' experiences with the women who hang out on Broadway, a strip in Nashville, Tennessee. This marked the first time the two artist collaborated. Wallen is later seen on Durk's 'Almost Healed' on the song "Stand By Me." "Broadway Girls" went No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart.
3. "3 Headed Goat" Lil Durk ft. Polo G and Lil Baby 'Just Cause Y'all Waited 2' (2020)
Alamo / GeffenIn '3 Headed Goat' Lil Durk taps in two other "goats" (an acronym for "greatest of all time") Lil Baby and Polo G. The artists go off on in this song rapping about their rags to riches life trajectory. This track arrives on the Chicago native's 2020 album, 'Just Cause Y'all Waited 2' and was his highest charting song before his Drake collab on "Laugh Now, Cry Later."
2. "Who Want Smoke??" Nardo Wick, Lil Durk, G Herbo, 21 Savage 'Who Is Nardo Wick?' (2021)
Flawless/RCAIn Nardo Wick's breakout single "Who Want Smoke??," the Florida rapper enlisted Durk, 21 Savage, and G Herbo. In Durk's verse, the rapper responds to online users constantly pressuring him that he should "Slide for Von" referencing the rapper's late best friend --King Von-- who was killed in 2020. He then discusses the violence and alleged criminal activity that is involved in his lifestyle. The song went viral on TikTok with the lyrics "Who want smoke with me?" and "What the f--- is that?", along with a stomping dance.
2. "All My Life" ft. J. Cole
Only the Family, Alamo Records, and Sony Music"All My Life" is the lead single to Durkio's 2023 album 'Almost Healed.' This marked the artist's first-ever collaboration. Lil Durk got candid on Cole's feature on the song in comparison to his verses. "He smoked my a-- on that one, for one — barely," Smurk said when asked about his experience working with the Dreamville boss, per Complex. "That barely happens. But shout out to J. Cole, shout out to [Dr.] Luke, we made it happen." The song also debuted at No. 2 Billboard Hot 100 which is the second time debuting in the spot.
1. "Laugh Now, Cry Later" Drake ft. Lil Durk (2021)
OVO SoundDrake and Lil Durk had their first collaboration in 2021 with "Laugh Now, Cry Later." On the track, both artists rap about living in the moment and enjoying life to the fullest. The music video was shot at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon by director Dave Meyers. Drake, who sponsored by Nike since 2013, also included Nike athletes such as Odell Beckham Jr., Marshawn Lynch, and Kevin Durant in the video. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, which became the first time the Chicago rapper debuted that high on the chart. Lil Durk also got his first Grammy nomination with "Laugh Now, Cry Later" for "Best Melodic Rap Performance and Best Rap Song" at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
