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Lil Durk Battling With Feds Over

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Lil Durk Battling With Feds Over

Prosecutors say the video’s lyrics, jewelry and King Von imagery support their theory that OTF financed a deadly retaliation plot.

Federal prosecutors want Lil Durk’s “P##### Me Off” music video shown to jurors as evidence that he intended to avenge King Von’s death.

The government filed a motion asking U.S. District Judge Michael Fitzgerald to admit the video and its complete audio during Lil Durk’s upcoming murder-for-hire trial.

Prosecutors claim the 2021 track directly supports their allegation that Lil Durk encouraged members and associates of Only the Family to take revenge after King Von was fatally shot in Atlanta in November 2020.

The filing argues that the song shows Lil Durk’s alleged motive and participation in the conspiracy.

Prosecutors claim Lil Durk used the track to announce his intention to “slide for Von” and pressure others to provide guns, vehicles, bail money or direct support for retaliation.

The government also wants jurors to examine the video’s imagery.

Lil Durk wears a diamond-covered “V.Roy” necklace, an OTF chain and a shirt featuring King Von’s image with the words “Long Live Von.”

Prosecutors said the video also includes a King Von lookalike, gang signs and scenes filmed near 59th Street and Princeton Avenue on Chicago’s South Side.

Government witnesses are expected to testify that the location is associated with Lamron, a Black Disciples faction prosecutors have linked to Lil Durk.

The filing also connects the song’s references to money, weapons and stolen vehicles with the government’s claim that Lil Durk financed violent operations.

Prosecutors allege OTF members used stolen vehicles called “sliders” while carrying out attacks.

They plan to present testimony claiming Lil Durk supplied money for vehicles used in an attempted 2021 shooting and the fatal 2022 attack in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles shooting targeted rapper Quando Rondo, according to the government. Gunmen missed him but killed his cousin, Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson, outside a gas station on August 19, 2022.

The Justice Department alleges Lil Durk orchestrated the murder-for-hire plot through OTF and arranged for members of the group to travel to California.

Prosecutors claim the attack was retaliation for King Von’s death. Lil Durk has pleaded not guilty and remains presumed innocent.

The government also pointed to an alleged August 2023 group text involving Lil Durk and several accused co-conspirators. Prosecutors claim he complained that other people had left the work of retaliating against rivals to his group.

The latest fight over the video follows a series of battles over what evidence jurors will be allowed to hear.

Lil Durk recently asked the court to exclude evidence taken from several cellphones, arguing that investigators obtained the devices through an unlawful search.

His defense has also challenged efforts to present songs and videos as literal admissions. Lil Durk’s lawyers have argued that rap lyrics are artistic expression and could unfairly prejudice jurors.

The new motion does not mean the video has been admitted. Fitzgerald must determine whether its evidentiary value outweighs the risk that jurors might treat Lil Durk’s music as evidence of his character.

The dispute comes weeks after Fitzgerald handed the defense an important victory by separating newly added Chicago allegations from the upcoming Los Angeles trial.

As AllHipHop previously reported, the ruling means the August proceeding will remain focused on the alleged plot against Quando Rondo and Lul Pab.

The additional Chicago allegations will be handled separately.

Lil Durk has been jailed since October 2024. He faces conspiracy, murder-for-hire and firearms charges stemming from the Los Angeles shooting.

Prosecutors have also started preparing their witnesses and evidence. They previously asked the court for permission to release grand jury testimony to Lil Durk’s defense team before the trial.

Lil Durk’s trial is currently set to begin August 20.

Nolan Strong

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