Lil Durk’s father says his son’s placement in solitary confinement is nothing but “harassment,” and he doesn’t believe the timing is a coincidence, with the rapper fighting to get out of jail.
TMZ caught up with Dontay Banks Sr., better known as Big Durk, in Los Angeles on Wednesday, where he accused authorities of targeting his son ahead of a major bond hearing.
He insisted Lil Durk is staying strong and focused despite the isolation, though he admitted the two haven’t been able to communicate while the rapper is in solitary. Big Durk said his son understands what comes with his legal battles after being acquitted of all five charges in his federal murder-for-hire trial, and that he was looking ahead to Wednesday’s hearing.
Big Durk was joined by his spiritual representative, Zül-Qarnaįn, who shared the optimism, saying Lil Durk remains grounded in his faith and is asking fans to keep him in their prayers.
As TMZ broke, Lil Durk was placed in solitary confinement last week at the Metropolitan Detention Center in L.A. Sources said his cell had been searched repeatedly with no contraband found, and that he was allegedly disciplined after questioning the searches.
Though he was acquitted in September, the rapper remains behind bars while he awaits a separate federal trial on racketeering and firearms charges, now scheduled for August 2027.
When TMZ spoke with Big Durk in September, he was celebrating his son’s courtroom win. This time, his message was much simpler: “Keep us in prayer.” His next hope is freedom.
