Lil Durk is no longer a Def Jam artist after five years on the label. Durk shared news of his departure from the storied label during an interview with Billboard.
“I’ve been with Def Jam Records for five years and they gave me my first recording contract so for that I’m forever grateful,” Durk told Billboard. “But I’m a different artist than I was five years ago, and the time is right for a change. At the same time, Def Jam is making changes in their offices and trying a new direction. I didn’t want to be a part of another regime change.”
In 2016, Durk had many of his fans speculating whether he was still with Def Jam Records after the release of song “With Me.”
Durk said he was no longer signed to Def Jam in the Izze The Producer record, rapping, “They say I’m signed to Def Jam, no I’m not/I’m signed to OTF, they took they spot.”
Durk denied he was dropped from Def Jam during an interview with XXL Mag.
“I’m definitely signed to Def Jam,” he said in a phone call. “The song got leaked and it was a freestyle I did a long time ago. At the time I made the song, I was independent.”
On Twitter, Durk wrote Def Jam was “family.”
@DefJamRecords is family
— LILDURK2x (@lildurk_) February 28, 2016
