The verdict came Friday evening. Durk's own words came Sunday. Posted to Instagram over a photo of his legal team, Brian Steel and Drew Findling front and center:
"Against all odds, we're stronger together. Allah doesn't make mistakes. I feel all the love and positive energy. Now let me be free to help save our kids and bring unity back to our communities. I couldn't have made it this far without my family, my lawyers, and supporters. Freedom. Freedom. Freedom."
That's the whole statement, per HotNewHipHop. Read the middle sentence again. "Let me be free" is a request, not a status. He is still in federal custody.
## Where the case actually stands The jury cleared him of all five counts: conspiracy to stalk, two stalking counts, and two murder-for-hire counts that carried mandatory life. Co-defendants OTF DeDe and Browneyez were convicted on stalking, acquitted on murder-for-hire. The severed racketeering and firearms charges, tied to a 2022 Chicago killing and a 2019 Atlanta shooting, go to trial October 5 if the schedule holds. Expect a bond fight before then. Durk has been locked up almost two years.
Say it exactly on air: not guilty on all five counts, remains in custody pending the October 5 trial. Not "free." Not "home."
## Meek Mill vs. Akademiks The day after the verdict, Meek Mill turned from celebrating to going after DJ Akademiks on X: that Ak farms beefs, that he exploits Black men from the streets, that he amplified 6ix9ine's trolling of Durk during the trial in ways that could have hurt him with a jury. Meek said he'd start streaming to counter Ak and threatened to pull up to his house. He also brought up the grooming allegations that have followed Ak since March.
Ak's reply was a shrug. "My only response for you going forward is 'lol,'" then: "Meek want this to be 2015 again. It will never be." Meek's earlier "innocent kid" take on Durk already drew backlash in early September, so this is two men who've been circling each other for a decade using Durk's win as the ring.
## Thug goes at the witnesses Young Thug, whose lawyer Brian Steel co-led Durk's defense, took a bow with "Thank me later," then went after OTF Jam and OTF Vonni by name. Both testified for the prosecution. That's the part that keeps the story alive past the verdict: a case built on cooperators ended with the jury not believing the cooperators, and now the cooperators are getting named in public by one of the biggest rappers alive.
Charleston White blamed Akademiks for the acquittal. 6ix9ine, who spent the trial trolling, posted a reaction and Doodie Lo answered by pulling up to his old block. 50 Cent saluted Findling. Quinn Cook gave Findling an OTF chain. NBA and rap both showed up for the lawyers.
## Why this matters beyond Durk Two federal rap trials in two years, two acquittals on the top counts, same defense attorney. Brian Steel is now the name every rapper with a case wants, and the government's playbook of cooperators plus lyrics plus Instagram has lost twice in front of juries. That precedent outlasts any one artist. October 5 is the test of whether it holds a third time.
## Sources - HotNewHipHop, September 13, 2026 - Lil Durk Breaks His Silence On His Murder-For-Hire Acquittal: https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/1009469-lil-durk-breaks-silence-murder-for-hire-acquittal - HotNewHipHop, September 12, 2026 - Meek Mill Puts DJ Akademiks On Blast After Lil Durk Verdict: https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/1009457-meek-mill-dj-akademiks-on-blast-lil-durk-verdict - HotNewHipHop, September 12, 2026 - Young Thug Disses OTF Jam & OTF Vonni After Lil Durk Verdict: https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/1009449-young-thug-disses-otf-jam-otf-vonni-lil-durk-verdict - HotNewHipHop, September 12, 2026 - Lil Durk Will Remain In Custody After Not Guilty Verdict: https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/1009415-lil-durk-remain-custody-not-guilty-verdict

