Ye Attends Lil Durk's Murder-for-Hire Trial in Los Angeles, Joining a Wave of Artist Support

Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, attended Lil Durk's murder-for-hire trial at the downtown Los Angeles federal courthouse on Thursday, Aug. 27, according to Billboard. Ye posed for a photograph with Doodie Lo while holding up a "Free Durk" T-shirt inside the courthouse.

The trial, which opened on Monday, Aug. 24, is being heard in a Los Angeles federal court and is expected to last several weeks, as Courthouse News Service reported. Federal prosecutors allege that Lil Durk became "consumed with revenge" following the murder of King Von in 2020 and put a hit out on rapper Quando Rondo. Quando Rondo was targeted in a 2022 shooting at a Los Angeles gas station in which his friend Lul Pab was killed.

Lil Durk, whose legal name is Durk Banks, was arrested in October 2024 near Miami International Airport. He faces charges of murder-for-hire, conspiracy, and stalking. He has maintained his innocence and could be sentenced to up to life in prison if convicted.

Ye is a fellow Chicago native and has collaborated with Lil Durk on several tracks, including "Jonah" from the 2021 album Donda, the Vultures title track, and Cardi B's "Hot Shit." Complex confirmed Ye's court appearance on Thursday.

Other artists have also rallied publicly around Lil Durk. Machine Gun Kelly appeared at the courthouse on Monday, when the trial began. Meek Mill called for Lil Durk's freedom in a post on X on Thursday, per Billboard.

Ye's court appearance comes the day before a scheduled show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Aug. 28. He is then set to travel to Chicago for concerts at Soldier Field on Sept. 3 and Sept. 4, Billboard reported.

Lil Durk rose from Chicago's drill scene to mainstream success, with multiple Billboard 200 chart entries and a Grammy win for his 2023 single "All My Life" featuring J. Cole. His trial places him among a growing number of high-profile rap figures whose careers have intersected with the federal court system.

The case stems from a feud with roots in Chicago's rap scene that escalated across state lines. King Von, a close associate of Lil Durk's, was shot and killed outside an Atlanta nightclub in November 2020. Prosecutors say the retaliation that followed led to the 2022 Los Angeles shooting and the charges now before the court.