Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Friday refused to say whether he would return the $150,000 he donated to the mayor’s political committee, a day after Chicago rapper Lil Durk was arrested in a murder-for-hire plot.
Asked what he would do about a huge donation from Dirk Devontay Banks, the Chicago rap singer who rose to stardom as Lil Durk, Johnson suggested he had no immediate plans to repay it.
“You’re asking me whether we should pass judgment on a black man before a full-fledged trial actually comes to fruition,” the mayor said at a press conference after touring Collins High School. “I hope you understand why it is not my place to decide the outcome of someone’s life.”
Mr Banks is the biggest contributor to Mr Johnson’s political committee.
A company controlled by Banks gave Johnson $150,000 in June 2023, shortly after the rapper met him twice. After Mr Johnson was elected, this huge post-election sum was surpassed only by campaign contributions by construction unions.
Federal authorities arrested Banks, 32, in Florida on Thursday. Prosecutors say Georgia rapper Quando Rondo (real name Tikian Terrell Bowman) was arrested in retaliation for the 2020 killing of rapper King Von in Chicago, according to a federal criminal complaint unsealed in California on Friday. ) was indicted on charges that he contracted five of his colleagues to kill him.
Five people associated with Only the Family (also known as OTF), a hip-hop collective founded by King Von’s mentor Banks, were also arrested Thursday.
Charges include conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit murder with intent to commit murder, and use of a machine gun in a violent crime resulting in death. If convicted, the most serious charges carry the death penalty.
Asked on Friday if he thought the money should be returned, Mr Johnson said: “I’m not acting on emotion, I’m acting on truth and justice.”
Banks is one of the most successful drill rappers to come out of Chicago since the genre first gained a foothold. Drill, also made popular by Chief Keef, G Herbo, and other artists, features extremely violent lyrics that often revolve around, and in some cases exacerbate, feuds between gang factions.
Mr. Banks has sought to change and soften his public image in recent years. Some of the songs on his last album, released in May 2023, focused on the trauma of gun violence. Banks has also publicly denied the crime and professed his Muslim faith in social media posts.
“Everyone deserves a second chance at life,” he wrote in a September post on X (formerly Twitter). “All of my background has been erased and all my cases have been cleared. I’m no longer a felon.”
During that time, he made several appearances with elected officials. Banks, along with former Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, participated in a fundraiser for the Neighborhood Heroes Foundation, a youth nonprofit, about six months after the alleged crime. Attended. He was also pictured sitting next to Fox at a Chicago Sky basketball game this summer.
Johnson alluded to that new image Friday when asked about the arrest.
“I don’t know all the circumstances surrounding these accusations, but again, what I do know for sure is that this is a young man who grew up with severe trauma that led to his life choices. “He’s another example of a black man who has been very open and vocal about his recovery from those choices,” the mayor said.
“That is why he has been dedicated to finding his right path, pursuing truth and justice through his faith, while also investing in personal action and mental health support,” he continued.
Banks was handed the “key to the village” in west suburban Broadview by Mayor Katrina Thompson last week.
“Let this key enlighten all of our young people,” Ms. Thompson told Banks, sharing this distinction. “We thank you and salute you.”
The village announced Friday that it was rescinding the honor and ending its partnership with the rapper’s foundation.
“Our public partners must reflect the same uncompromising standards that our residents demand,” Thompson said in a statement.
Earlier this year, Banks also appeared on the HBO series “Hard Knocks,” which follows the Chicago Bears’ training camp.
Before making the donation through his company, The Voice Touring, Mr. Dark met Mr. Johnson when he was mayor-elect and met with him on Zoom on the Friday after taking office, according to social media and the mayor’s calendar. be. Their first meeting was featured on hip-hop blogs and podcaster DJ Akademiks’ Instagram post, and led to Durk defending himself against criticism that he was using the opportunity to promote his upcoming album.
“I’ve already talked to the mayor and the politicians. We’re trying to change the image,” he said on the Grammy-winning song “All My rap on “Life.”
Johnson also participated in the rapper’s “Financial Literacy Event” with Bank of America and City Treasurer Melissa Conyers-Irvin’s office last August, as well as the “Lil Durk Holiday Event” in December. I also attended.
First Published: October 25, 2024 4:29 p.m.
