Lil Durk Cuts Signature Dreadlocks While Awaiting Federal Trial

Lashawnda Woodard, the mother of Chicago rapper Lil Durk, has provided a rare update regarding her son’s well-being and a notable change to his appearance as he remains in federal custody. During a recent appearance on the Victim or Villain podcast, Woodard confirmed that the Grammy-winning artist has cut off his signature blond-tipped dreadlocks while awaiting trial on federal murder-for-hire charges.

The rapper, born Durk Banks, has been detained since October 2024. Prosecutors allege that he served as the mastermind behind a plot targeting rival rapper Quando Rondo, an incident that resulted in the 2022 death of Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson in Los Angeles. Despite the gravity of the legal proceedings and the potential for a life sentence, Woodard shared that her son is maintaining a surprisingly positive outlook during their communications.

“Every time I talk to him, it’s never serious,” Woodard noted, describing her son as doing “pretty good” given the difficult circumstances. When directly asked about the rumors surrounding his haircut, she confirmed the change, stating simply, “he did.”

This transformation marks a significant shift for the 32-year-old artist, whose hairstyle had become a defining element of his public image throughout his ascent in the hip-hop industry. Woodard also opened up about the emotional toll of the arrest, drawing parallels to the grief she experienced following the 2021 death of her other son, Dontay “DThang” Banks Jr. She recalled the harrowing period leading up to the news of Durk’s arrest in Florida, noting that she knew something was wrong when he ceased responding to her calls.

“It’s like I lost another child,” Woodard said during the podcast. “It hurts. I couldn’t believe it.” She emphasized that despite the federal indictment, the rapper remains deeply committed to his children and his hometown of Chicago.

Lil Durk has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges, which include conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and various firearm offenses. The case also involves five other associates linked to the Only The Family (OTF) collective who were charged in connection with the Los Angeles shooting. As the legal process continues, defense attorneys have moved to exclude certain song lyrics and music videos from being used as evidence, arguing that these artistic expressions do not serve as proof of criminal intent. For now, Woodard says she continues to rely on her faith and the brief, lighter moments shared with her son during their phone calls.