American rapper Lil Durk has been released from solitary confinement after spending five months in isolation.
According to XXL, the 33-year-old Chicago-born artist has been returned to the general population at the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center. He had been placed in a special housing unit since August following an alleged infraction.
Lil Durk, whose real name is Durk Banks, was reportedly moved to solitary confinement after being found in possession of an Apple Watch. In a motion filed on January 6, his legal team requested his release, arguing that the alleged violation had not been reviewed by the Unit Discipline Committee within the required timeframe of five working days.
Court filings detailed the harsh conditions of his confinement, stating that Durk was held in a small cell for 23 hours a day, with limited access to basic privileges. His lawyers also raised concerns that the prolonged isolation could amount to “cruel and unusual punishment” under the Eighth Amendment.
Following a review hearing held on January 7, authorities approved his release from solitary confinement.
Lil Durk has been in custody since October 2024 after being arrested on charges of murder-for-hire linked to the 2022 killing of Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson, a cousin of rapper Quando Rondo. His trial, originally scheduled for January 20, has now been postponed to April 21.
