Lil Durk, currently incarcerated on murder-for-hire charges, has revealed that he has not listened to a single track from his latest album, Deep Thoughts, which was released in March 2025. In a recent phone interview with DJ Akademiks, Durk opened up about the isolation of jail life, his spiritual growth, and the challenges of maintaining his artistry while awaiting trial.
Despite the buzz surrounding Deep Thoughts, which debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 and features collaborations with Future, Lil Baby, Hunxho, and Jhené Aiko, Durk admitted he hasn’t heard the album.
“They was keeping me updated but I ain’t heard nothing,”
Durk told DJ Akademiks.
“This is like a box in here. We don’t get no news”.
His management staff put together and published his ninth studio album when he was in custody at MDC Los Angeles.
Physically cut off from his music and the rest of the world, Durk has turned his attention to self-improvement. He told Akademiks that he has been studying Arabic from other inmates, an activity linked to his recent conversion to Islam as an adult.
“I’m trying to learn to speak Arabic in here. It’s a couple of guys in here that know how to speak Arabic fluently. So I’m just learning the different words and tightening up my Arabic,”
He explained.
This spiritual journey has reportedly influenced others in the facility as well, with Durk helping to guide fellow inmates toward Islam and significantly increasing the Muslim population on his block.
Apart from his intellectual and spiritual activities, Durk keeps himself occupied by engaging in basketball games with inmates. The sports activities help him to improve his mental state and well-being during difficult moments.
“We’ll play basketball, but I always try to stay focused and busy,”
He said, emphasizing the importance of routine and activity as coping mechanisms.
Durk’s current legal troubles stem from his October 2024 arrest on charges related to an alleged murder-for-hire plot targeting rapper Quando Rondo in 2022, which resulted in the death of Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a Robinson (Lul Pab). Authorities allege that Durk orchestrated the attempted killing as revenge for the 2020 death of his associate, King Von.
Five associates from his Only The Family (OTF) label were also arrested. Durk has pleaded not guilty and has been denied bond multiple times. His trial is scheduled for October 14, 2025, after a delay from an earlier January date.
Prosecutors have cited issues with Durk’s conduct in jail, including repeated violations of phone regulations, as reasons to deny bail. However, a recent judicial decision to review his detention could open the door for bail consideration before his trial.
Despite the restrictions, Durk has maintained contact with the outside world through permitted phone calls. His conversation with DJ Akademiks offered fans a rare glimpse into his mindset and daily life. In another call, he spoke with Ye (formerly Kanye West), discussing music and sharing stories about his travels, signaling his efforts to remain positive and connected to his roots.
Lil Durk’s experience behind bars underscores the disruption that incarceration brings to an artist’s career and personal life. Cut off from his music, family, and fans, he has turned inward, focusing on faith, education, and fitness while his legal battle continues.
For now, he remains in custody, finding new ways to grow and inspire, even from within the confines of a cell.
