Lil Durk offered a pointed response to politicians like  Sе𝚗аtσɾ TеԀ Cɾuz а𝚗Ԁ fσɾmеɾ U.S. PɾеsιԀе𝚗t Dσ𝚗аlԀ Tɾumρ

In a recent interview with MSNBC’s Ari Melber, Lil Durk responded directly to political figures, including Senator Ted Cruz and former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had previously voiced concerns about Chicago’s crime rates and incidents of gun violence.

The rapper, known for hits like “All My Life,” underscored the prevalence of violence across various cities. He expressed, “I really don’t pay it no mind ’cause it’s violence everywhere. You can get self-defense anywhere, you can kill anywhere, you can stab anywhere, you can choke anywhere, you can kidnap anywhere. Every city has its murder rates. Every city has [its] rates. If you look up right now who got the [highest] murder rates right now, I bet you it ain’t Chicago.”

Contrary to perceptions, a report from real estate platform PropertyClub revealed that Memphis holds the top spot as the most dangerous city, with a crime rate 237% higher than the national average and 289 murders in 2022. Chicago, in comparison, ranked ninth on the list.

Durk’s comments were made against the backdrop of ongoing political discussions about his hometown, particularly Trump’s 2020 statement likening the city’s conditions to Afghanistan. The rapper added, “Now the story transpires to that city. So that’s why I never really comment on it ’cause every city has its day.”

Beyond his music career, Lil Durk has actively worked towards improving life in Chicago through his Neighborhood Heroes Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to “empower and collaborate with everyday Heroes who are taking the lead to make a positive difference in the lives of those within under-resourced neighborhoods.”

In 2022, the foundation launched a career program for Chicago teens, providing them with information about Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other career opportunities. As part of this initiative, Durk and his foundation treated 20 students to a White Sox game, with the rapper even throwing the first pitch.

During the same MSNBC interview, Lil Durk also touched on Drake’s lyrics in Young Thug’s “Oh U Went,” where the Toronto native referred to a woman flirting with the Almost Healed artist. In response, Durk humorously stated, “I hope so. I’ll feel more confident and more happy with myself.” He further elaborated, “If [Drake] said it, he seen it.”