Lil Durk ’s federal murder for hire trial begins Monday, August 24, 2026, in Los Angeles after a 16 person jury was seated. Prosecutors are expected to use the Grammy winning rapper’s lyrics and a 2021 music video as evidence in the case involving an alleged attack targeting Quando Rondo . According to the indictment, Lil Durk allegedly arranged the attack as retaliation for the 2020 killing of King Von , an OTF affiliate who was fatally shot outside an Atlanta nightclub. Prosecutors say the August 2022 ambush near Beverly Center went wrong, killing Quando Rondo’s cousin, Lul Pab, instead of the intended target. Can Rap Lyrics Influence the Jury? Jury selection lasted two days and included pointed questions about whether gangsta rap could affect jurors’ ability to stay neutral. One prospective juror associated the genre with violence, another said rap carried negative connotations, and a third requested subtitles to better follow the lyrics. The defense challenged potential bias by asking whether jurors would judge music differently because it was not mainstream pop. The final panel is expected to hear the federal case for at least three weeks, with opening statements scheduled for Monday. Prosecutors plan to feature Lil Durk’s 2021 “Pissed Me Off” video and other lyrics, arguing that the material reflects a desire to avenge King Von’s death. The indictment also alleges that five members of Lil Durk’s crew traveled from Chicago to Los Angeles with the intent to kill Quando Rondo and that at least 18 rounds were fired during the attack.