DJ Akademiks Says Lil Durk Prosecutor Put His Safety at Risk

DJ Akademiks says prosecutors crossed a line by using his reaction to a Lil Durk interview in closing arguments, arguing the move dragged him into a federal murder-for-hire case without ever making him a witness.

DJ Akademiks is pushing back after his 2023 interview with Lil Durk became part of the government’s closing argument in Durk’s federal trial. According to Baller Alert, Akademiks said prosecutors put his life in danger by suggesting his facial expression showed he understood Durk to be making a confession about retaliation connected to King Von’s death.

The disputed moment came from a portion of Durk’s appearance on Akademiks’ Off the Record podcast, where the rapper was asked about people previously telling him to “slide for Von.” Durk answered that, “For some odd reason, I don’t see those comments anymore,” and prosecutors later argued that the exchange carried an incriminating meaning. Akademiks has insisted that interpretation is wrong and said the dramatic pause in the interview was scripted for promotional effect.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Morse was one of three federal prosecutors listed on the case by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. During rebuttal closing arguments, Morse reportedly pointed jurors to Akademiks’ reaction after the clip played, while Durk’s defense later sought to reopen the evidence so jurors could hear more of the interview for context.

U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald denied that emergency defense request after deliberations had begun, with reports noting that closing arguments are not evidence. Akademiks, however, said his larger concern was personal safety: he argued that being portrayed as someone who received or understood a murder confession could make people tied to the case view him as part of the prosecution’s effort.

He specifically contrasted his position with cooperating witnesses who testified in the case, including OTF Jam and OTF Vonnie, saying they may have access to protections that he does not. Akademiks described himself as a civilian media personality with no criminal role in the case and said he should not be treated as if he knowingly helped establish part of the government’s theory.

The controversy lands as Durk awaits a verdict in the Los Angeles federal case stemming from the August 2022 shooting that killed Saviay’a Robinson, who was with Quando Rondo, the alleged intended target. Durk has pleaded not guilty, and Akademiks has said his complaint is about how his name and reaction were used, not an attempt to decide the rapper’s guilt or innocence.

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