Lil Durk Wants to Leave His Troublemaker Reputation Behind Him

Lil Durk has been beefing up his musical catalog for the past few years, steadily becoming a solid contender in the rap game. After inking a deal with Def Jam Records and joining French Montana's Coke Boys imprint in 2013 and appearing on XXL's 2014 Freshman cover, Lil Durk has anchored himself into today's hip-hop scene and plans to do even more so with the release of his upcoming debut album, Remember My Name.

Although associated with the rugged lifestyle of Chicago's Drill rappers, Durk now has new plans on the horizon. After suffering the loss of two close friends to gun violence—his manager Chino in March and friend and fellow OTF rapper Nunu last June—Durk is adamant that his calling is in curing street violence, not condoning it.

XXL caught up with the MC to hear a preview of his new album, due for a June 2 release date. Aside from getting into the actual logistics of the LP and what to expect feature-wise, Durk also delved into his push to deter bloodshed between Chicago youths with his new anti-violence campaign, as well as his plans to lead other Chicago rappers into the anti-violence movement by example. With a newfound determination and Remember My Name just over a month away, a new Lil Durk is ready to emerge. —Miranda J.