Drake, Kanye West and Young Thug have reacted to Lil Durk’s acquittal after the Chicago rapper was found not guilty on all federal charges in his Los Angeles murder-for-hire trial on September 11, 2026. The verdict prompted immediate responses from several major names in hip-hop, with Drake publicly celebrating Durk’s return to a different legal chapter.
Drake shared a photo of himself with Lil Durk on social media following the verdict, appearing to celebrate the news alongside his longtime collaborator and friend. The post came shortly after the jury returned its decision following three days of deliberations, bringing the closely watched federal trial to an end.
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Ye also addressed the verdict directly on X, writing, “Lil Durk is not guilty on ALL COUNTS.” His brief message highlighted the significance of the outcome after prosecutors had accused Durk of involvement in a plot connected to the 2022 shooting of Quando Rondo’s vehicle in Los Angeles.
Young Thug joined the reaction with a short message of his own. Responding to the news on X, he wrote, “Thank me later.”
The verdict followed weeks of testimony surrounding allegations that Durk Banks helped organize a murder-for-hire plot targeting Quando Rondo. Prosecutors argued that the shooting was connected to the 2020 killing of King Von in Atlanta and alleged that Durk used money, travel arrangements, vehicles and interstate communications to facilitate the attack.
The August 2022 incident took place at a gas station near the Beverly Center in Los Angeles. Quando Rondo survived the shooting, while his cousin Saviay’a Robinson was killed. Several men associated with Only the Family were later charged in connection with the case, with some prosecutors’ witnesses testifying that Durk had directed or financed the operation.
Lil Durk’s defense team, led by attorney Brian Steel, challenged the credibility of those witnesses throughout the trial, arguing that cooperating defendants had strong incentives to provide testimony that could reduce their own sentences. The defense also disputed the prosecution’s interpretation of communications, lyrics and other evidence presented to the jury.
After closing arguments on September 8, jurors deliberated for three days and at one point asked the court to clarify the legal meaning of “intent.” They ultimately returned not-guilty verdicts on all counts, including conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking resulting in death, conspiracy to use interstate facilities in a murder-for-hire resulting in death, and the related substantive murder-for-hire charge.
The acquittal does not resolve every legal matter facing Durk. He remains in federal custody and is also facing a separate racketeering case involving allegations concerning an organized criminal enterprise, meaning his next chapter will continue to unfold beyond the Los Angeles verdict.
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