Dirk Derrick Banks, better known as Lil Durk, built his career from the ground up, starting with social media, where his talent caught the attention of Def Jam Records. In 2013, he signed a joint venture deal between his label, Only the Family (OTF), and Def Jam, marking a major turning point. A Chicago native with a gritty style and honest lyrics, Lil Durk shot to fame with hits like All My Life featuring J. Cole, his joint album with Lil Baby, and his unforgettable feature on Drake’s Laugh Now Cry Later. He’s not only known for his music but also for his relationship with social media star India Royale, which has captivated fans who are both intrigued by their love story and cautious about what they see as “red flags.” This story isn’t just about fame and fortune; it’s got all the drama of love, betrayal—and, yes, even murder.
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Durk was born on October 19, 1992, on Chicago’s South Side. He dropped out of high school to chase his music dreams, against his family’s wishes, and became part of the Black Disciples street gang. In 2008, he started dating a girl named Nicole, and while there are rumors they may have married, we couldn’t verify that. By 2011, they had their first child, a son named Angelo. Determined to make a name for himself and provide for his young family, Durk worked tirelessly on his music.
His breakthrough came in 2012 with the release of L’s Anthem, which led to OTF’s partnership with Def Jam. However, 2013 was a turbulent year—he served time for a weapons charge but was released by June. Just a month after his release, he and Nicole welcomed their daughter Bella. Then, in November 2013, he announced the arrival of his third child, a son named Zaden, on Twitter. Nicole’s response hinted at her surprise, congratulating him on the new addition but subtly indicating she wasn’t the mother. Around this time, their relationship came to an end, and Durk’s life took yet another turn in his journey through fame, love, and music.
In 2014, Durk went through both heartache and change. That year, his cousin OTF Nunu was tragically killed in Chicago. But amidst the grief, he welcomed a baby girl, Skyler, with a woman named Tamara, and also stepped into the public eye with a new girlfriend, rapper Dej Loaf. The two even collaborated on a song called My Beyoncé. But fans were skeptical, questioning if their relationship was genuine, especially as rumors about Dej’s sexuality swirled.
“I’m not… whatever people keep saying I am,” Dej responded in an interview, putting the gossip to rest.
After two years, Durk and Dej ended things in 2016 but stayed on good terms. Then, in 2017, he welcomed his fifth child, a son named Dumier, with his fourth baby mama. With five kids from four women, one might think Durk’s plate was already full with his career and family. But that didn’t stop him from starting something new when he met India, who was already a mom herself.
They connected quickly over texts and phone calls, and Durk even invited her to move in before they met in person. India later admitted, “At first, I was like, ‘I’m not taking this seriously.’ I didn’t think he was really serious, and I wasn’t looking for anything anyway.” But after just two weeks, she told Durk she needed space to focus on herself. “Bye, ashy,” she joked as she cut off contact.
Durk was stunned. “I’d never been cut off like that before,” he admitted. “That’s when I knew she was different.”
A few months later, India reached out after a night of drinking, and they reconnected. They officially started dating—even though they still hadn’t met in person. “We’d go to sleep and wake up on FaceTime for six months before we met,” India shared.
In 2017, they went public with their relationship, and Durk expressed his love for her in several songs, like India and India Pt. 2, where he raps, “I told my mom you’d make a hell of a wife, I know they mad, we live a hell of a life.” He even playfully added, “They say I’m nasty ‘cause I wanna lick your…” hinting at his affection.
In a candid Instagram live session, India opened up about their relationship’s quirks. “I’ll call once and that’s it. I don’t do all that calling back,” she laughed.
“Lies!” Durk teased.
“Nope,” she insisted. “If you don’t call back in 10 minutes, I figure you’re busy. You’ll never see my number come up 15 times. Never.”
In 2018, Dirk and India welcomed their daughter, Willow, making Dirk a father to six children from five different women. Their relationship, however, was far from smooth sailing. Infidelity rumors and constant breakups plagued their connection. Things took a darker turn in January 2020 when they both removed each other from their social media accounts and unfollowed each other on Instagram. Dirk, frustrated and heartbroken, took to Twitter with a cryptic message: “If a [expletive] lie to you in your face, don’t trust her.”
India wasn’t about to let him get away with it, and she fired back with a response, “Who you calling a [expletive]? You and I-T-Y!”
Around this time, fellow Chicago rapper King Von, who was close to Dirk, was caught up in a series of legal troubles. The tension only escalated when King Von was tragically killed. The loss of his close friend sparked fury among Von’s fans, many of whom pressured Dirk to “slide for Vaughn”—essentially, to seek revenge. The phrase “slide for Vaughn” was often seen in comments, but strangely, those comments started to fade over time. Why did they quiet down? One might wonder.
Dirk reflected on the pain of Vaughn’s passing in his song Old Days, and revealed just how deeply it affected him, touching on his substance abuse struggles:
“The autopsy of Vaughn’s body had me coughing up my vomit. I miss the old days, the old ways, my history iconic. I was taking so many pills; I was so high, I really abused it. Started selling perks; I turned around and started to use it. Took my name off rehab; I replaced my name with duties. Had to get a pacemaker, my heart was skipping deuces.”
With all the crime, loss, and substance abuse weighing heavily on Dirk, many people questioned why India stayed with him. Was she not afraid of the danger surrounding Dirk and his connections? Was she willing to risk everything? The emotional toll of such a chaotic life seemed unsustainable.
In June 2021, the tragedy continued when Dirk lost his brother, Dante Banks Jr. (OTF DThang), who was shot in the head outside a nightclub in Chicago. His death at the age of 32 left many unanswered questions, and although rumors swirled that the suspects were killed a month later, no one was ever caught.
The drama didn’t stop there. A month after DThang’s death, Dirk and India became the victims of a home invasion in Atlanta. Though no one was hurt, the break-in was a stark reminder that Dirk’s enemies were always lurking. The incident left many questioning his safety measures. People couldn’t help but ask: where was the security? Why wasn’t he living in a safer area?
Despite the risks, Dirk seemed desperate to hold onto India, proposing to her on stage at one of his concerts just five months after the shootout. Of course, India said yes. But one couldn’t help but wonder: Does this engagement come with a bodyguard?
Fast forward to August 2022, and tragedy struck again when one of Quando Rondo’s close friends, Phoenix “Fendy” Odum, was killed in a shooting in Georgia. Many believed the shooting was in retaliation for King Von’s death, and though Quando was likely the intended target, his friend Lil PB was tragically caught in the crossfire. This event sparked further speculation about the ongoing street violence and revenge killings. The drama surrounding Dirk, India, and their circle only seemed to deepen.
In September 2022, rumors began to swirl once again about Dirk’s alleged infidelity. India responded by tweeting, “I’m a free agent,” signaling a breakup. Dirk took to Instagram, claiming that “that cat is mine forever. Welcome to death row.” Not long after, India responded with a “cap” emoji and unfollowed him, leaving their fans to question what was really going on behind closed doors.
The couple’s struggles didn’t stop there. By the start of 2023, their relationship was still on the rocks. On Valentine’s Day, Dirk shared a heartfelt message for India, but she wasn’t having it. Her response, though deleted later, read: “People really don’t respect boundaries at all. I try my best to be respectful and not put on a show, but people don’t respect my choices. Let it go.”
Despite this, Dirk wasn’t giving up. In another Instagram post, he warned, “Catch y’all in her comments, I’mma break them jaws,” making it clear that no one was allowed to pursue India. Not even her own freedom.
In March 2023, on India’s 29th birthday, Dirk tried to make amends, saying, “I messed up; she played a small part. She’s really a good girl who lives life. I’m a good guy, good husband; I just never listened to her pain back when she was pregnant. So, I ain’t perfect, but I’m perfect for you.” He also acknowledged the role their children, Willow and Skyler, played in changing him for the better.
However, things got even more complicated when a woman named Travanna Craig came forward, claiming Dirk was the father of her son, Romeo. This made Dirk a father of seven, with five different women. The paternity test was never taken, and though Travanna confirmed that Dirk was involved in Romeo’s life, she and India apparently had a cordial relationship.
By July 2023, Dirk’s health had taken a turn for the worse. He was hospitalized for dehydration and exhaustion, leading to a cancellation of several tour dates. His team downplayed the severity, but fans suspected there was more to the story. Dirk later revealed that he had entered rehab to address his addictions to codeine and Xanax, admitting his desire to build a treatment facility in Chicago.
In October 2024, federal agents arrested five individuals connected to the shooting of Lil PB in Los Angeles. Investigations confirmed that the hit was orchestrated in retaliation for Vaughn’s death, with Dirk allegedly involved. The indictment suggested that Dirk had placed a bounty on Quando, and provided resources to the killers, including rental cars and hotel rooms.
The arrest made headlines, and India was seen outside the courtroom. While some praised her loyalty to Dirk, others questioned how much more she could take. It seemed like India wasn’t ready to walk away, despite all the red flags. She stood by him through all the chaos, but will this love story continue?
We can only hope that India, her children, and Dirk’s kids find peace and safety amidst the ongoing drama. Whatever happens, it’s clear their journey is far from over.