Popular American rapper, Lil Durk, has finally been moved out of solitary confinement after spending five long months in isolation at a Los Angeles detention facility.
From Apple Watch to Solitary: The Alleged Infraction
The Chicago-born artist, whose real name is Durk Banks, was originally placed in a Special Housing Unit back in August. The reason given was an alleged rule violation where he was found with an Apple Watch while in custody. This separation from the general prison population was meant to be a disciplinary measure.
However, in legal documents filed on January 6, Durk's legal team pushed for his release from solitary. They pointed out a major procedural flaw: the alleged infraction had still not been formally reviewed by the Unit Discipline Committee. This review is supposed to happen within five working days, but for Durk, it had been delayed for months.
"Cruel and Unusual" Conditions Described
The motion painted a stark picture of the rapper's living conditions during his time in solitary. According to the filing, Lil Durk was confined to a tiny cell for 23 hours each day. The space was just big enough for a bed, a toilet, and a sink.
His attorneys detailed the severe restrictions he faced:
- No access to the prison commissary to buy basic items.
- Limited to just one phone call per month.
- No in-person social visits were permitted.
His defense team raised serious concerns, stating that this prolonged isolation could violate the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits "cruel and unusual punishment."
Release and Ongoing Legal Battle
Following a review hearing held on January 7, the court agreed, and Durk was subsequently released back into the general population at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center. This news was confirmed by the music publication XXL.
Durk's legal troubles are far from over. He has been in jail since October 2024, facing serious charges of murder-for-hire. The case is connected to the 2022 killing of Saviay’a "Lul Pab" Robinson, who was the cousin of fellow rapper Quando Rondo.
His trial, which was initially scheduled to begin on January 20, has now been postponed. The new date for the trial is set for April 21.
