The label released his debut studio album, Remember My Name (2015), and its follow-up, Lil Durk 2X (2016), to moderate commercial reception before parting ways with the rapper in 2018.

Following the independent release of his Just Cause Y'all Waited mixtape in March 2018, Banks signed with Alamo Records in July of that year.

[9] His 2020 single, "Viral Moment", marked his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist and foresaw his commercial breakthrough that same year with the singles "3 Headed Goat" (featuring Polo G and Lil Baby), "Backdoor," and "The Voice", as well as his guest appearances on Drake's "Laugh Now Cry Later" and Pooh Shiesty's "Back in Blood", the former debuting and peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

He began to establish a presence on social media channels like Myspace and YouTube; He grew fond of the idea of being a rapper as his online fan base started to expand.

[15] Soon after joining, he began to get into trouble with the law and served time in October 2011 due to gun charges, including possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number.

After plans to sign with Chief Keef and French Montana's labels fell through,[18] he considered rapping as "a full-time career" after the releases of his two singles, "Sneak Dissin'" and "I'ma Hitta", each of which received generally positive feedback locally.

[20] In 2013, due to the popularity of "L's Anthem" and its follow-up single, "Dis Ain't What U Want", Durk accepted a joint venture deal with his collective Only the Family and Def Jam Recordings.

[21] After a small number of delays, Durk's fourth mixtape Signed to the Streets was released on October 14, 2013, exclusively on DatPiff.

[40] The mixtape features guest appearances from Lil Reese, Meek Mill, Mozzy, OTF Ikey, 21 Savage, Hypno Carlito, Dej Loaf, YFN Lucci, and BJ the Chicago Kid.

[56][57] Durk also announced a collaborative project with 808 Mafia producer DY, "Durkio Krazy", which still hasn't been released and could possibly be canceled entirely.

With a related music video, the remix is called "Crazy Story 2.0" which would later be part of Von's debut mixtape, Grandson, Vol.

It features guest appearances from 21 Savage, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Key Glock, King Von, Meek Mill, and Nicki Minaj.

On October 15, 2021, Durk released “Pissed Me Off”,[79] which peaked at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 and serves as the lead single from his at the time upcoming seventh studio album 7220.

On November 5, 2021, Durk released the stand-alone single “Lion Eyes”,[80] which peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

In the accident, which happened during his set at the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago, Durk suffered injuries to his face and right eye.

The album was released on May 26 and features guest appearances from Alicia Keys, J. Cole, Chief Wuk, Future, 21 Savage, Kodak Black, Rob49, the late Juice Wrld, and Morgan Wallen.

On November 17, 2023, Durk released his fifth compilation album titled Nightmares in the Trenches, which is also a collaboration with artists from his label Only the Family and the project features guest appearances from OTF Boonie Moe, Rob49, THF Zoo, Cokilla, Chief Wuk, Doodie Lo, YTB Fatt, Icewear Vezzo, Deeski, and Booka600.

[2] On October 27, 2023, David Guetta featured Ayra Starr and Lil Durk on a house-influenced Afrobeats song titled "Big FU".

He won Best Melodic Rap Performance with the song "All My Life" featuring J. Cole, the lead single from his eighth studio album Almost Healed.

In late January 2024, Durk announced the future release of his next studio album in response to a Kanye West post, revealing the project's title as Love Songs 4 the Streets 3.

[106][107] On June 5, 2013, Durk was arrested after allegedly throwing a loaded .40 caliber handgun into his car when police approached him on South Green Street in Chicago.

[110] In May 2019, Lil Durk and King Von were arrested on charges relating to a non-lethal shooting that took place earlier that year on February 5.

[118] The shooting was allegedly revenge for the death of King Von with prosecutors noting that "flights and rental cars for the five men were paid for with a credit card tied to the label".

[118] The following day, on October 24, Durk was arrested in Broward County, Florida, by United States Marshals concerning an alleged murder-for-hire plot.

[119][120] Arrest records and prosecutors allege that Durk hired the five men to take part in the shooting in exchange for money and "lucrative music opportunities" to anyone who would murder Quando Rondo.

[119] Lil Durk could face a minimum of life in prison[123] if convicted or to a maximum extent, the death penalty as speculated by some legal analysts[124] and is being held without bail.

[125][126] As news broke of the investigation, the Cook County village of Broadview announced their dissociation from Durk and his foundation, Neighborhood Heroes, and the rescinding of the key to the city he was awarded the prior October 18.

[129][130][131] On December 31, 2024, it was announced that due to undiscovered evidence, new developments regarding a plea deal and other complications, Lil Durk's trial would be pushed back from January 7th, 2025 to October 14th, 2025.

[138] Several diss tracks were released, including Durk's remix to Nicki Minaj's "Chiraq",[139][140] where he attacked Keef and other rappers including Lil Reese, The Game, Tyga, and King L.[141] Durk called Keef "disrespectful" for turning his back on their friendship by supporting Tyga and The Game's own remix of "Chiraq".

[152][153][154] Durk has been embroiled in a feud between Only the Family protégé King Von and Baton Rouge rapper YoungBoy Never Broke Again.