The Chicago rapper has reached new heights in the music industry, and one unexpected supporter played a pivotal role in this ascent—Drake. Speaking on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game Podcast, Lil Durk shared the transformative moment when he transitioned from a low-earning rapper to one commanding six figures.

During the peak of the pandemic, Lil Durk collaborated with Drake on the 2020 track “Laugh Now Cry Later,” reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. This collaboration not only marked Durk’s highest-charting single but also became a career-defining moment.

According to Lil Durk, this song was a game-changer for him.

“Regardless of how hot the next song is, it doesn’t necessarily mean your price goes up. We debated for a long time if we should go to sixty [thousand]. While in the studio, this guy comes through the DMs saying, ‘Send your number,'” Durk recounted Drake’s outreach.

“When he said ‘DM your number,’ I’m thinking… he sent the song through, I called everyone, ‘we’re rich, it’s over,'” Lil Durk exclaimed.

“He has that Midas touch for real. I called everyone—mom, it’s over, I’m about to do this. We’re about to mess him up; we’re about to go,” he added.

Lil Durk revealed that his booking fee skyrocketed from $40,000 to $100,000, along with increased earnings from music and streaming. Last year, he proudly announced on Twitter that his booking fee had reached $200,000 for an event, a significant leap from the $40,000 starting point.

“Shout out to Drake; he definitely helped a lot,” acknowledged the OTF rapper.

Although Drake played a crucial role in Lil Durk’s rise, the Chicago rapper believes that within certain rap demographics, he is bigger than Drake.

“To us, in this realm, we’re bigger than [Drake], you know what I’m saying? We touch people. Drake is at a level where he can stay in the house if he wants to,” Durk shared with Gillie Da Kid and Wallo.

He commended Drake for consistently collaborating with emerging artists, recognizing his impact on the youth. However, Durk emphasized that many people Drake associates with might not know him.

“I’m in the middle of the trenches, doing an interview with a million dollars, that’s why,” Lil Durk added.

Meanwhile, Drake remains the highest-streamed artist for 2022, according to Chart Data, with 1.4 billion streams up to March. Interestingly, Lil Durk’s rival NBA Youngboy closely follows, boasting 1.3 billion streams.