Kayla Morgan Published Jan 26, 2026 12:57 PM EST (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy) Share this story When a rap song leaves the studio and enters a courtroom, the rules change fast. With Lil Durk’s federal murder-for-hire trial set for April, the Chicago rapper is challenging prosecutors who want to use his own music against him, arguing that lyrics meant for art and storytelling should not be treated like real-life confessions. In a brief filed in federal court on Friday, January 23, Durk’s legal team asked the judge to exclude a dozen songs, music videos, and lyric excerpts the government plans to introduce at trial. According to the filing, as reported bby Complex , that material “carries an extraordinary risk of unfair prejudice.” Prosecutors have argued that the songs and visuals they want to use are “direct evidence” and “inextricably intertwined” with the charges. Durk’s attorneys say that claim does not hold up, especially since there is no clear proof connecting the lyrics to the alleged crime. They point out that the government has not shown when the songs were written or even who wrote the specific lines being highlighted. As the brief
