Jay-Z and J. Cole have submitted letters of support for Lil Durk.
The prominent hip-hop figures penned letters to United States District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald ahead of Durk’s bond hearing. The rapper was acquitted of all charges in a murder-for-hire trial last month, stemming from a fatal 2022 shooting in Los Angeles. He faces a separate trial on racketeering charges that is currently scheduled to begin in August of next year. The letters are part of an effort by Durk’s legal team to get him released on bond until that trial begins.
Durk, real name Durk Banks, has been incarcerated since his arrest in late 2024. His bond hearing is scheduled for November 4.
Jay-Z’s letter
In his letter, Jay-Z asked the court to grant Durk pretrial release “so that he may be with his family while the remaining charges against him are resolved.”
He wrote, “I met Durk several years ago. He was kind, respectful and focused on his career. He approached his work with seriousness and discipline. He was also genuinely curious about deepening his spirituality, and he spoke about faith as something he wanted to grow in, not something he wore for show.”
Hov recalled Durk signing young artists from his community and “giving them a real path into a legitimate industry.”
“Many of us come from neighborhoods where the options are limited and the risks are high. Durk understood that, and he worked to help others find a way out of those conditions rather than leaving them behind,” Jay-Z continued. “I also note that Durk recently stood trial in this District, and a jury found him not guilty. That verdict deserves weight. He remains presumed innocent of the charges still pending, and I respectfully submit that the jury's verdict, together with that presumption, supports giving him the opportunity to await trial at home under whatever conditions the Court considers appropriate.”
He added, “I do not minimize the seriousness of the charges Durk faces, and I respect the Court's obligation to protect the community. However, Durk has now spent nearly two years in custody with his remaining trial not set to begin until August 2027. Release would allow him to support his family and continue the work in his community that I saw firsthand.”
J. Cole’s Letter
Cole recalled meeting Durk through his work with REFORM Alliance, an organization that aims to transform the probation and parole systems while creating opportunities for people “who deserve a second chance.”
“Through our interactions, I have come to know a man who places tremendous importance on his family and his ability to make a positive impact on the lives of others,” Cole said.
Cole also recounted how their collaboration on the Grammy-winning track "All My Life" happened, explaining how Banks insisted on spreading a message of change and peace.
Cole recalled that he expressed hesitation, because the positive message of the song was “too obvious" given his “conscious” reputation. In return, Banks doubled down.
“He wanted to push a message of change and of peace and of growth and maturity, and he thought that if I got on this song with him it would have the greatest impact,” Cole said, adding that he eventually agreed to collaborate.
Cole described a recent visit to a juvenile detention facility in Cleveland where young people widely cited Banks as an inspiration.
“[T]he most asked about person from nearly every one of those kids that day was Lil Durk,” Cole continued. “They relate to his story and his struggle so much, and the amount of kids that told me their favorite song was ‘All My Life’ would have been too many to count!”
Other Notable Letters
In addition to Hov and Cole, Fanatics founder Michael Rubin wrote a letter. In addition, the mother of Saviay’a Robinson, the man whose shooting death in Los Angeles was at the center of Durk’s first trial, and remains an issue in his upcoming one, wrote to say that her family does not object to Durk being granted bond.
A lawyer for Sony Music also wrote, saying that the company is prepared to guarantee a bond for Durk up to $1 million.
