Lil Durk's Lyrics ‘Now Being Used Against Him' in Murder-for-Hire Case
Durk (born Durk Banks) was charged last year for the attempted murder of rival Quando Rondo, allegedly having ordered his own 'OTF' crew to murder Rondo. While Rondo survived, his friend Lul Pab was killed in the crossfire.
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The rapper previously pleaded not guilty to the charges, while his lawyers attempted to have the case dismissed earlier this month, citing 'false evidence' provided to a grand jury.
In a video statement posted on Instagram Wednesday, Lil Durk summarized those recent developments, as well as the government's attempts to weaponize his verse on Babyface Ray's song 'Wonderful Wayne & Jackie Boy.'
'The recent developments in Durk's legal case have brought a harsh truth to light: the government presented false evidence to a grand jury to indict him,' a statement said. 'This isn't justice. That's a violation of the very system that's supposed to protect all of us.'
One of the government's key pieces of evidence against Lil Durk is the verse from 'Wonderful Wayne & Jackie Boy,' which they claim features Lil Durk 'rapping about his revenge.'; the song arrived three months after the Quando Rondo shooting in September 2022. 'Told me they got an addy (go, go)/ Got location (go, go)/ Green light (go, go, go, go, go),' Durk raps in the song. 'Look on the news and see your son/You screamin', 'No, no' (pu–y).'
However, Lil Durk's legal team presented its own evidence that the verse actually predated the shooting, as it was recorded in January 2022. Just the fact that the government is (once again controversially) using rap lyrics as evidence drew the ire of the rapper and his family.
'Durk has always used music to tell stories, to express pain to heal — and yet those same lyrics are now being used against him. We refuse to stay silent as Black artists continue to be criminalized for their creativity. Rap is art,' the video continued. 'As a family, we are asking the public, the fans and the culture to stand with us. Stand for truth. Stand for fairness. Stand for The Voice.'
'The government told the grand jury that Mr. Banks, through specific lyrics in his music, celebrated and profited from a revenge murder that he had ordered,' David Findling, Durk's lawyer, said in a filing earlier this month. 'That claim is demonstrably false. Unless the government is prosecuting Banks on a theory of extra-sensory prescience, the lyrics could not have soundly informed the grand jury's finding of probable cause.'
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Travel + Leisure
an hour ago
- Travel + Leisure
An Italian Fashion Designer Told Me Exactly How to Look Effortlessly Stylish in Italy—Shop 8 Must-have Styles
Every summer since moving to Italy, my Instagram direct messages are filled with American friends asking me, 'What should I pack?' before their upcoming European vacations. But the truth is, the answer varies depending on where you're headed. What I pack in my weekender bag for visiting Tuscany differs greatly from what I'd be taking on a holiday in Sardinia. And, there's the matter of personal style to address—I like to think I take a little bit of Italian summer style and make it my own. Still, there are timeless Italian style pieces that will work for all wardrobes and destinations—and to determine the Italian summer style must-haves, I turned to my most fashionable Italian friend, fashion designer Stella Jean. I've been a huge fan of Stella's work since the early days of her brand; a protege of Giorgio Armani, Stella Jean has dressed global style icons like Rihanna, Beyonce, Zendaya, and Sandra Bullock. In that oh-so-romantic Italian way, Jean not only gave me packing tips, but life tips on how to channel Italian style: 'Don't just pack clothes—pack attitude ,' she told me. For her, the hallmark of Italian summer style is ' disinvoltura studiata ,' which translates literally to 'studied ease' but to Jean, is defined as, 'That elusive mix of ease and intention—where linen is always slightly crumpled (but never careless), and sandals are custom-made, possibly in a fishing village with no Wi-Fi but generational savoir-faire.' Hallmarks of Jean's collection, like her striped button-down shirt and bold patterned skirts, channel that disinvoltura studiata . To help you put together your own summer travel wardrobe, read on for eight Italian style tips based on Jean's advice. My linen wardrobe has dramatically increased since moving to Italy, strongly inspired by my husband and his full linen summer wardrobe that certainly caught my eye during our first summer dating. I learned from him how to wear and style linen, and now I love the fabric, particularly in the form of a matching set. Currently, I have three linen sets in my suitcase! Jean attests to donning linen in the summer as well, saying, 'It's slightly crumpled, but never careless.' I selected a few of my favorite looks, including a matching square-neck tank and skirt set from Madewell and a sleek cropped vest and high-rise pant from Gap. I've always appreciated the ease of the summer button-down shirt. Tied at the waist or tossed over a swimsuit, button-downs are a versatile style I've worn for decades. There's a beautiful familiarity to the style of a striped cotton poplin shirt I've seen worn in Italy. For Jean, a striped cotton poplin shirt is 'a quiet staple of the Italian summer, beloved by philosophers, fishermen, and flâneurs alike.' Stella Jean's striped shirts in a beautiful blue and white have always caught my eye, especially paired with eye-catching skirts, proving a striped shirt is not only a staple but also a neutral! I also found an oversized option from Madewell and a bright vermilion hue from Gap's partnership with Dôen that will definitely stand out. Beautiful wide-leg trousers and palazzo pants have always been a hallmark of great Italian style to me, and it's true for Jean, as well. After all, 'palazzo' pants are Italian (hence the Italian name), and are one of my oft-mentioned style staples. These comfortable, flowy bottoms are just as fitting for swanning through an Italian city's palazzo as they are for exploring small, tucked-away Italian towns and villages. Check out the best-selling Madewell Harlow Trousers for a more polished look or the white Quince wide-leg chino pants that are practically made for summer. One of Jean's top non-negotiables for Italian summer style is a pair of leather Capri sandals. 'For me, it's never really been summer without them,' she says. 'I started wearing them around 14, when my mother and I would have them made to measure in Positano or Capri. They're the kind of sandals that work [24/7]—from breakfast in linen to evening in a flowing dress.' She adds that she probably has 20 pairs by now, 'bought out of pure loyalty and frequent overuse.' But, if you can't make it to Capri or Positano for your fitting, get your pair from my husband's family's company—I'll ask my father-in-law to sprinkle in a little Italian sunshine into your package! You can also shop similar-looking leather sandals, like this strappy pair from Bernardo or this Cole Haan fisherman sandal. Pieces that work for day-to-night wear feel elusive, but Jean manages to master the art in her gorgeous dresses that you can put on for almost any occasion. 'Ask yourself: Would this look out of place at a café at noon or in a piazza at midnight? ' she says. If it suits both locales, then it's ready to go. Some of her most iconic dresses, like this striped floral midi dress with its striped cotton poplin shirt and full skirt featuring a bold colorful print, are reminiscent of the Caribbean, reminding me of Jean's cultural heritage as half Haitian. As seen with a pair of flats on style star Luna de Casanova or with heeled sandals on Jean herself, a versatile dress that blends styles is elegant for both day and night. Other dresses that capture a similar day-to-night feel are this gingham number from Gap x Dôen and this lightweight pinstripe Quince dress made of European linen. One of Jean's packing recommendations is a bold printed skirt, especially in a beautiful tropical print. A few years ago, while styling a photoshoot on the cliffs of Ravello along the Amalfi Coast, I used a cobalt blue painted draped linen skirt. I styled it with a crisp white button-down, and it's still one of my favorite looks. This Stella Jean Midi Wrap Skirt reminds me of that shoot and that beautiful summer day, and I can imagine packing it along with a crisp button-down or tank. I found a few more eye-catching skirts to pack for an instant outfit upgrade, like a colorful midi linen skirt from Banana Republic and a forest green printed skirt on sale for $25 at Amazon. The Italian pinstripes! While casually naming things to punctuate an outfit, Jean suggested adding pinstripes to your packing list. It's a hallmark of classic Italian style, beloved by everyone from bankers in Milan to politicians in Rome. There's a huge variety of pinstripe looks, like these wide-leg yellow linen pants from Mango or these Everlane barrel-leg pants with a dark denim pinstripe. I recently said to my husband, while packing for our vacation in Sardinia, 'I'm going to pack a scarf. There might be a breeze at night.' Have I become Italian? As Jean joked when suggesting a light scarf on her packing list, 'Italians will forever believe that il colpo d'aria is a real and present danger.' You'll get a cough with your throat exposed! But a scarf can be worn in several ways, making it a genius accessory to pack with you. For instance, Jean styles a head scarf impeccably well. When meeting her for lunch in Rome once, I was in awe of her striking figure in a beautiful head scarf and trench coat; I promptly styled a similar scarf for my flight to Nice the next day! One of these silky numbers will work overtime on an Italian holiday, whether you're tying this linen scarf around your neck or this parrot-patterned one over your head or tied to your purse. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Deported from US, these social media influencers are now monetizing their misfortune
More than 70,000 Mexicans were deported from the US in the first six months of the year. Now, they're (re)building lives south of the border. Deported and alone, Annie Garcia landed in Mexico with $40 in her pocket, a criminal record in the United States behind her and an unknown future ahead in a country she barely remembered. Fast forward to the present, to a video shared with her more than half-a-million social media followers in August. Her hair blows in the wind as she speeds on a boat through an emerald sea. She tagged the clip: #LifeAfterDeportation. Expelled from the United States, young Mexican immigrants like Garcia, 35, are documenting the aftermath of their deportation online. Their videos – raw grief over what they lost in America, surprise and gratitude for what they've found in Mexico – are rapidly gaining them tens of thousands of followers. At least a dozen of these deportees-turned-influencers, Garcia included, have started over in Mexico's west coast beach gem, Puerto Vallarta. 'If there's one thing I wish my content could embody it's how much life there is on this side of the border," Garcia wrote June 15 on Instagram. "Our countries aren't what they were 20 or 30 years ago when our parents left." Returning to an unfamiliar 'home' More than 70,000 Mexican nationals were deported from the United States to Mexico in the first six months of 2025, according to Mexico's Interior Ministry. That's down from the more than 102,000 deported during the same six-month period in 2024, when people were being deported after crossing the border. Now, the people being deported are more likely to have built lives and families in the United States. With President Donald Trump's aggressive mass deportation campaign underway, Francisco Hernández-Corona feared being detained. So he self-deported to Mexico, accompanied by his husband. He started vlogging. The 30-something Harvard graduate and former Dreamer had been taken to the United States illegally as a boy, he explained on TikTok. Multiple attempts to legalize his status in the United States failed. In June, he posted his migration – and self-deportation – stories online. Between photos of golden sunsets and mouthwatering tacos, he posted in July: "Self-deporting isn't always freedom and joy and new adventures. Sometimes it's pain and nostalgia and anger and sadness. Sometimes you just miss the home that was." 'Life in the pueblo is not easy' Mexico remains a country of extremes, where stunning vistas and limitless wealth can be found in big cities and beach resorts, while hardship and poverty often overwhelm smaller communities. Olga Mijangos was deported from Las Vegas in on Christmas Eve 2024, two years after being charged with a DUI. She returned to the Oaxaca state pueblo she had left when she was 5. Mijangos, 33, has tattoos on her neck, stylized brows and long lashes – all part of her Vegas style. Back in her hometown, she began posting videos of goats being herded through the streets; the community rodeo; the traditional foods she began cooking. She posted videos from her first job: harvesting and cleaning cucumbers, earning 300 pesos a day, or $15. "I clearly understand why my mother decided to take us when we were little. Life in the pueblo is not easy," she said in a video of the cucumber harvest. "There is hard-living. There is poverty." Struggling to make ends meet for her family, including two children with her in Mexico and one in the United States, she moved to Puerto Vallarta where she met Garcia and Hernández-Corona. They began forming an in-real-life community of deportees-turned-influencers and others who left the U.S. They meet up for dinner at least once a month, and they create content. In their videos, they're having fun, drinks, laughs. But they're also celebrating what binds them to each other and to their parents' migration stories before them: their capacity for reinvention, and their resilience. "I'm very proud to be Mexican, and I'm learning to love a country I didn't get to grow up in, but I shouldn't have had to leave the home I knew to find peace and freedom," said Hernández-Corona, a clinical psychologist, in a July post on TikTok. "This isn't a blessing. It's resilience." Spanish skills, savings and support all matter A lot of their content has the draw of a classic American up-by-their-bootstraps success story, with a modern social media twist: from hardship to sponsorship. But the reality is that deportees' experience of building a life in Mexico can vary dramatically, depending on their earning capacity, language and cultural skills, and other factors, said Israel Ibarra González, a professor of migration studies at Mexico's Colegio de la Frontera Norte university. Deportees with savings in U.S. dollars and a college degree, those who speak Spanish and have supportive relatives in Mexico, may have an easier time than those who don't, he said. Others may face life-threatening risks upon their return, from the violence of organized crime to political persecution or death threats. "However much violence they've lived with in the United States, it's not the same as going back to a war zone," Ibarra González said, referring to certain Mexican states where drug cartels are actively battling for territorial control. Wherever they land – with the exception of some cosmopolitan cities – deported Mexicans have faced local prejudices, too. They've often been viewed as criminals, or their deportations as a failure. "Did I feel a lot of judgment? Absolutely," Mijangos said of her return to Oaxaca. "Even though it's my roots, I basically came from a different world. I have tattoos. I lived my life a certain way that they don't. I could feel people talking." But friends back home in Vegas, and new friends in Mexico, started encouraging her to share her deportation journey. It took her a few weeks to work up the courage. She posted a video of sending her U.S. citizen son to a Mexican school. It racked up nearly 14 million views and 2 million "likes" on TikTok, she said. Suddenly, TikTok was asking if she wanted to join the app's content creators rewards program. 'Your criminal record doesn't follow you' By taking their stories online, deported content creators say they are dismantling longstanding taboos around deportation in Mexico, shining a light on their experiences as Mexicans who didn't grow up in Mexico, and on their past mistakes. Garcia speaks openly on her social media about the financial crimes she committed in her 20s, for which she was charged and convicted, and that ultimately led to her deportation. She migrated to the United States when she was 4 years old, "out of necessity," she said. Her mother married an American citizen in Salt Lake City, Utah, and she and her mother both became legal permanent residents. But when Garcia began acting out as a child, the state intervened. "I was taken from my mother at the age of 12 because I had behavioral issues," she told USA TODAY. "I was separated from my family, and I grew up with other juveniles with behavior (problems)." As a young single mother, she would steal from her employers when she couldn't pay the bills, she said. In Mexico she found a clean slate. "Your criminal record doesn't follow you," once you've paid your debt to society in the United States, Garcia tells her followers. "You can pursue higher education. Any debts you had in the U.S. do not follow you here." As Trump's immigration crackdown widens, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has been publicly offering moral support to Mexicans facing deportation. She has called them "heroes and heroines" who "have contributed to the United States their entire lives." "We're going to keep defending our brothers and sisters there," she said in a June 25 news conference. 'Maybe … things will change' Garcia's social media accounts have grown so popular that she's earning a living, in part, from content creation. She is doing research on reintegration after deportation for an American university. And she has "tunnel vision," she said, on completing a law degree in Mexico. The pain of her deportation, and the losses it brought with it, are mostly in the past. Except when she catches news of the immigration raids in the United States. The memories of her detention, and her separation from her five children, including an infant, remain fresh. It took Garcia more than a year after her 2017 deportation to win custody of her children, to bring them to Mexico. "It's very, very triggering to me to see what's going on up there," she said. "It's a bittersweet feeling. I feel safe. I feel relief. We're here. It doesn't affect us any more. But it feels heartbreaking to see other families living through it. "When I first started sharing my story my idea was, 'Maybe if I talk about this, things will change'" in the United States, she said. She kept at it, despite facing hate and trolls online. She kept posting, even after losing two jobs in Mexico for openly discussing her deportation and criminal past on social media. She kept sharing, thinking, she said: "This is what is going to change things one day: us putting our stories out there."
Washington Post
2 hours ago
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Suspects in Texas ICE shooting tied to trans, anti-fascist activism
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