Chicago rapper Lil Durk is proceeding to trial in federal court on murder-for-hire charges alleging he ordered members of his record label to kill rival Quando Rondo in revenge for his collaborator King Von's death in 2020. The shooting occurred at a Los Angeles gas station in 2022, leaving Rondo wounded and an unrelated bystander dead. Durk maintains his innocence and argues he had no involvement, emphasising he was not present in Los Angeles at the time of the incident.

Prosecutors plan to present surveillance video and text message exchanges as evidence of conspiracy, including a message where Durk allegedly instructed associates not to book flights under certain names. A significant legal development involves the judge's decision to allow prosecutors to reference lyrics from three of Durk's commercially successful songs to demonstrate potential motive—a practice his defence team contests as misrepresenting artistic expression. This use of rap lyrics as court evidence has drawn criticism from civil liberties advocates who contend it raises concerns about racial bias and freedom of expression, though such evidence remains permissible in federal prosecutions.