Lil durk‘s father Dontay Banks Sr., better known as “Big Durk,” has seen the world from behind bars for nearly 26 years, following his 1994 arrest for his role in a large-scale cocaine distribution operation. A critical figure in the Chicago scene, he was arrested with $8 million in cash and soon faced a daunting choice: provide information on Gangster Disciples co-founder Larry Hoover for a lighter sentence or remain silent and risk his freedom. Banks chose to stay silent, a decision he says reflects his deep-seated values and faith.
In a recent interview, Big Durk explained his decision, grounding it in his principles and his Islamic faith, which he embraced while serving his sentence. “I’m a Muslim first and foremost,” he said, highlighting how his beliefs gave him the strength to refuse to cooperate with authorities despite the life sentence looming over him. To Big Durk, ‘snitching’ isn’t just frowned upon—it’s fundamentally against his code of integrity, especially when it comes to someone with Hoover’s stature in the community.
Inside prison, Big Durk embarked on a journey of transformation. Shortly after his incarceration, he converted to Islam, an experience that he describes as life-altering. Over the years, he became a respected leader within the prison’s Muslim community, taking pride in maintaining his principles, even as others around him often made deals for reduced sentences. This spiritual and personal evolution strengthened his resolve and solidified his reputation among inmates and prison officials as a man unwilling to compromise his values.
Today, having walked out of prison in 2019 without bending his principles, Big Durk speaks passionately about loyalty, integrity, and accountability. He stresses that real strength lies in facing the consequences of one’s own actions, not in sacrificing others for personal gain. His message to the younger generation is clear: crime doesn’t pay, and if you do choose that path, you must be ready to accept the price.
“If you can’t stand by your choices, then don’t make them in the first place,”
he advises, warning against betraying others when the pressure mounts.
Big Durk’s stance on informants resonates in communities where “snitching” is still heavily stigmatized, especially in Chicago, where gang affiliations and street codes are tightly woven into the social fabric. His position reflects a broader cultural belief that emphasizes loyalty as a core value that can often supersede self-preservation. Figures like Hoover, still serving life sentences, have since publicly turned toward anti-gang advocacy, seeking to dismantle the very systems they once helped build. Public figures such as Kanye West and Drake have recently supported Hoover’s case for release, using their platform to spotlight prison reform and the possibility of change for even the most high-profile offenders.
