Lil Durk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lil Durk
Lil Durk in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Durk Derrick Banks
Also known as	The Voice Smurk Mustafa Abdul Malak
Born	(1992-10-19) October 19, 1992 (age 32) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Midwestern hip-hop drill trap gangsta rap
Occupations	Rapper songwriter
Years active	2010–present
Labels	Only the Family Alamo Geffen Interscope Def Jam Coke Boys

Durk Derrick Banks (born October 19, 1992), who is known by his stage name Lil Durk, is an American rapper and songwriter. He is a major artist in the drill music style of hip-hop, which started in his hometown of Chicago. Many people see him as the most popular and successful drill rapper.

Lil Durk first became known in Chicago with his Signed to the Streets mixtape series from 2013 to 2014. This success led to a record deal with Def Jam Recordings. The label released his first two albums, Remember My Name (2015) and Lil Durk 2X (2016).

He later signed with Alamo Records and his career grew even more. His 2020 songs, like "3 Headed Goat" and "The Voice", became huge hits. He was also featured on Drake's popular song "Laugh Now Cry Later". His 2020 album, The Voice, reached number two on the Billboard 200 music chart.

In 2021, he released a collaborative album with the rapper Lil Baby called The Voice of the Heroes. It went straight to number one. His next album, 7220 (2022), also debuted at number one. In 2023, his song "All My Life" featuring J. Cole won a Grammy Award.

Lil Durk is also the founder of the music group and record label Only the Family (OTF).

Early Life

Durk Derrick Banks was born on October 19, 1992, in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. Growing up, he had a lot of responsibility at home from a young age.

He started sharing his music on social media sites like Myspace and YouTube. As more people online started to like his music, he became more passionate about becoming a rapper. At age 17, he decided to focus completely on his music career.

Career

2010–2014: Early Career and Rise to Fame

Lil Durk in Chicago in 2011

In 2010, Lil Durk began releasing music that got attention in Chicago. After his first two singles received positive feedback, he knew he wanted to make rapping a full-time job. He released several mixtapes, including I'm A Hitta (2011) and Life Ain't No Joke (2012).

His 2012 track "L's Anthem" became very popular. Because of this song and his next single, "Dis Ain't What U Want", he signed a deal with Def Jam Recordings in 2013.

On October 14, 2013, he released the mixtape Signed to the Streets. It was very successful and was named one of the best mixtapes of 2013 by Rolling Stone magazine. In 2014, he was chosen for the XXL Freshmen Class, an important list of new rappers to watch. He then released his fifth mixtape, Signed to the Streets 2.

2015–2016: First Studio Albums

Lil Durk in 2015

On June 2, 2015, Lil Durk released his first studio album, Remember My Name. The album did well, reaching number 14 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album's main single was "Like Me", featuring the singer Jeremih.

Later that year, he released a mixtape called 300 Days, 300 Nights. It included the popular song "My Beyoncé", which featured rapper Dej Loaf.

His second album, Lil Durk 2X, came out on July 22, 2016. It included singles like "She Just Wanna" with Ty Dolla $ign and "Money Walk" with Yo Gotti. The album reached number 29 on the Billboard 200 chart.

2017–2019: New Labels and More Music

Lil Durk in 2019

In 2017, Lil Durk released several projects. These included the mixtape Love Songs for the Streets and a joint project with rapper Tee Grizzley called Bloodas.

In 2018, he released the mixtape Just Cause Y'all Waited. This was his first project after leaving Def Jam Records. It was a success, reaching number 57 on the Billboard 200. Soon after, he announced that he had signed with Alamo Records and Interscope Records.

Under his new labels, he released his third album, Signed to the Streets 3, on November 9, 2018. His fourth album, Love Songs 4 the Streets 2, was released on August 2, 2019. It was very popular and reached number four on the Billboard 200, his first album to make it into the top ten.

2020–2022: Mainstream Success

Lil Durk in 2020

The year 2020 was a major turning point for Lil Durk's career. He released his fifth album, Just Cause Y'all Waited 2, which included the hit song "3 Headed Goat" with Polo G and Lil Baby. The album reached number two on the Billboard 200 chart.

In August 2020, he was featured on Drake's song "Laugh Now Cry Later". The song was a massive success, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. This was Lil Durk's first song to reach the top 10.

On December 24, 2020, he released his sixth album, The Voice. The album was a tribute to his close friend and fellow rapper, King Von. It included hit songs like "Stay Down" and "Backdoor".

In 2021, Lil Durk and Lil Baby released a full album together called The Voice of the Heroes. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, giving Durk his first chart-topping album.

Lil Durk in March 2022

His seventh album, 7220, was released on March 11, 2022. It also debuted at number one, making it his second album to top the charts. The album featured the hit single "Ahhh Ha" and "Broadway Girls" with country singer Morgan Wallen.

2023–Present: Grammy Win and Recent Albums

Lil Durk's eighth album, Almost Healed, was released on May 26, 2023. The album's lead single, "All My Life" featuring J. Cole, was a huge hit. It reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

In February 2024, "All My Life" won the Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance. This was Lil Durk's first Grammy win after four nominations.

He continued to release new music, including the single "Old Days". His ninth studio album, Deep Thoughts, was released on March 28, 2025.

Only the Family

Only the Family, also known as OTF, is a music group and record label that Lil Durk started in 2010. The group includes several artists, such as Doodie Lo and Booka600. OTF often releases albums together as a collective.

Personal Life

Lil Durk is a Muslim. He has seven children. In 2024, it was revealed that he had married his longtime partner, India Royale.

Over the years, Lil Durk has experienced the loss of several close friends and family members. These events have often influenced his music, where he shares his feelings and experiences.

Discography

Studio albums

• Remember My Name (2015)
• Lil Durk 2X (2016)
• Signed to the Streets 3 (2018)
• Love Songs 4 the Streets 2 (2019)
• Just Cause Y'all Waited 2 (2020)
• The Voice (2020)
• 7220 (2022)
• Almost Healed (2023)
• Deep Thoughts (2025)

Collaborative albums

• The Voice of the Heroes (with Lil Baby) (2021)

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Lil Durk para niños