Reason First: Should Lil' Durk Start Snitching?

Rather than shooting videos, Durk has allegedly been seen shooting in a video with a firearm. Among the other charges including criminal intent to commit murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Lil’ Durk may see football numbers if tried and convicted of these alleged crimes. Lil’ Durk maintains his innocence throughout this whole ordeal. The Chicago rapper understands that the judge has discovered probable cause in Lil’ Durk’s case and has denied bond. There is that video floating around that illustrates Durk allegedly firing the weapon in question.

While this all looks damning against the hip hop artist’s case, due process must still be served in regard to Drake’s own proclamation that he is not guilty. So, why do rappers seem to not get right? They’re afforded all of the luxuries of the world on a platinum platter, and yet they find themselves in trouble. Durk is still surviving off of three albums, a few singles, and tours. Speaking of which, he canceled a leg of one such tour to turn himself over to authorities. It’s like a continuing largely American tragedy that pits mostly young men of color against the penal system. The many too many hip hop stars who get caught up in the justice system is extremely sad.

All Lil’ Durk has to do now is come with the proper defense against a telling video. If he is able to knock down that attempted murder charge, he will still have to face all of the others. This is a heavy weight to bear for the 26-year-old drill star. In order to keep his sanity, he should be planning on keeping the best legal team to handle his case. And that is what is so striking. The judge has found probable cause, and Durk says that he is innocent. The Chicago rapper is either lying, or there is no reason why the arbiter should have considered Durk’s case to be an attempted murder. Already a felon, Durk could find himself among the general population in the day room if he is found guilty of his charges. Durk presents himself in music to be the standard of hip hop: machismo, cunning, and street smarts. But these traits will not save him from the stiff arm of the law. He ought to be able to avoid time on some of the charges, but to not let the others stick, he may have to sing like a canary. Of course it is frowned upon to be a stool pigeon, a rat, a snitch. But when the thought of an empty commissary or room full or rivals populate the prison yard, it may become easier to just start snitching to not only save your own hide but the lives of the other innocent people involved. This is when the virtue of selfishness comes into play. If someone in Durk’s case must open his mouth or “chatterbox to the Matlocks” (or talk to the district attorneys) he or she ought to weigh the option of being self-interested (telling the truth, being rational) or self destructive (lying, cheating, stealing, or trying to commit murder).

The real test will be to see if Durk can find a happy balance in just speaking truth into existence, and escaping the monster of the carceral system. If he can do that, then Durk will not have to fear the days and nights among criminals. All that he ought to do is remember how serious the charges remain to be, and the fact that his talent and ability to generate funds still resonates.