Beginning his career, from 2011 to 2012, Durk released his debut, un-official mixtape, I’m a Hitta which was released on August 26, 2011. On April 3, 2012, Durk released his sophomore mixtape, a sequel to his previous tape, I’m Still a Hitta. Durka later released his third mixtape on November 5, 2012, titled Life Ain’t No Joke
Like many drill artists, Durk’s early career was plagued with legal issues and accusations of violence. These issues eventually led to his shows being canceled.
From 2013 to 2015 Durk released a total of four projects, three mixtapes, and an album. October 10, 2013, marked the release of the first Signed to the Streets, one of Durk’s most notable mixtapes and the start of a series. In the summer of 2014, specifically July 4, Durk released a sequel to Signed to the Streets and released Signed to the Streets 2 featuring his “What You Do to Me”.
2015 would be an enormous year for Lil Durk as in July 2015, Durk released his debut studio album, Remember My Name which featured his Jeremih-assisted “Like Me.” Later that year, Durk released his sixth mixtape 300 Days 300 Nights which included his then-girlfriend, Dej Loaf-assisted, “My Beyoncé.”
From 2016 to 2017, Durk released a total of four solo projects and one collaborative project. On July 22, 2016, Durk released his sophomore studio album, Lil Durk 2X accompanied by features such as Future, Young Thug, Yo Gotti and more. Ending the year, Durk released They Forgot, his seventh mixtape.
Beginning 2017, in February, Durk released his seventh mixtape, Love Songs for the Streets, which is deemed as one of his most notable projects including features from Moneybagg Yo and YFN Lucci. Later that year in August, Durk released a collaborative EP with Lil Reese titled Supa Vultures; the project included his “Nobody Knows”. On October 19, 2017, Durk carried on with his Signed to the Streets series with the highly anticipated Signed to the Streets 2.5. The mixtape included the start of yet another song series titled “India” dedicated to his fiancé India Cox otherwise known as India Royale.
In 2018, Durk released two projects, he began with Just Cause Y'all Waited, Durk’s highest-charting mixtape peaking at #57 on the Billboard 200. Durk then released a sequel to Love Songs for the Streets titled Love Songs 4 the Streets 2. Durk was extremely successful prior to this album, however, many say that this exact album broke Durk into the mainstream rap industry as it had been his first project to chart in the top 10 of the Billboard 200.
2020 was an even better year for Lil Durk as he released his almost chart-topping Just Cause Y’all Waited 2 which peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200. It was later followed up with a deluxe.
The scars of violence run deep in Durk’s discography, particularly arising from the loss of OTF members Nunu (Nuski) and King Von at the hands of gunfire. Both artists are commemorated on his album The Voice, for which a deluxe version was released in 2021.
Anointing himself as the voice of the streets, Durk followed up this project with the release of the collaborative album The Voice of the Heroes with Lil Baby which brought the Chicago native artist his first #1 album.
Marking his first solo #1 album, in March 2022, Lil Durk released a melodramatic take on the deaths of his loved ones through an album titled 7220. The album became Durk’s first solo project to top the charts.
Don't Judge Me
Lil Durk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I thought that they loved me
But they don't really know me
Please don't judge me (don't judge), don't judge me (don't judge)
They be tryna judge me
They don't know my story
Tell me why they hate me
Don't judge me (don't judge me), don't judge me (don't judge me)
Loyalty was the key to these street niggas (let's get it)
Chains, cars, cribs, since a kid I used to think I was Meech nigga
Starving, crib full of family I can't sleep without balling
So I watch D Rose play often
Aunty died from cancer so I rap to keep the laughs
I'd rather pray when I'm alone than steady giving shit to pastors
Steady gone since I was a pamp, we get out when I'm a pamp
Old and a dead man, hands still on the hammer
Niggas talking 'bout they my mans and we friends
Where you was you at when that man with that lanz offered me ten?
Shackled up, with the niggas that we hit with the fan
Eating shit that we gathered in blan
President still black, I hope he change shit
Niggas out here fifty, doing the same shit
When he say he got my back it rain pit
Don't judge me, I know the streets love me (yeah, talk to 'em)
They be tryna judge me
I thought that they loved me
But they don't really know me
Please don't judge me (don't judge), don't judge me (don't judge)
They be tryna judge me
They don't know my story
Tell me why they hate me
Don't judge me (don't judge me), don't judge me (don't judge me)
Dope dealers, cold killers, they want niggas told nigga
Half them killers told on 'em, had my chopper and road with 'em
My mouth close though, I can't snitch on a nigga
Pillow talking to ops and hoes, bitch of a nigga
Summer nights, all them drugs made me kill shit
I lost so many niggas if they down I ain't feel shit
Been on IG with my nigga, the feel rent
Them niggas just made me, I kept it real with it and they ain't loyal though
Mind of a psycho twelve posted on light poles
Sold crack to the light though, going crazy I might though
RIP who I cry to, hold my hands on my head cause I got to
Yeah, I'm loyal nigga
They be tryna judge me
I thought that they loved me
But they don't really know me
Please don't judge me (don't judge), don't judge me (don't judge)
They be tryna judge me
They don't know my story
Tell me why they hate me
Don't judge me (don't judge me), don't judge me (don't judge me)
The lyrics to Lil Durk's song "Don't Understand Me" express the frustration and pain of judgment and misunderstanding from others. Durk expresses how others try to judge him and do not know the real him. He pleads with people not to judge him, even though they may hate him. Durk believes that loyalty is important in the streets, and he has stayed true to his loyalty even when he has lost friends and loved ones. The lyrics showcase Durk's vulnerability and show he has a soft side amidst his tough image. He is not perfect, but he remains loyal to his friends, and this is how he wants to be understood.
The song is also about Durk's experiences growing up in the streets, poverty, and the loss of people close to him; his aunt who passed away from cancer. Though he has seen many deaths, he remains emotionally distant, which is a trait of many people living in the hood. The song's production is moody, which complements the lyrics' tone, and the instrumentation is minimalistic, highlighting Durk's emotive delivery.
Line by Line Meaning
They be tryna judge me
People are always trying to judge me
I thought that they loved me
I used to think people loved me despite their judgment
But they don't really know me
They don't truly understand who I am and what I've been through
Please don't judge me (don't judge), don't judge me (don't judge)
I'm asking people to refrain from judging me
They don't know my story
People don't understand my history and the struggles I've faced
Tell me why they hate me
I don't understand why people have started to hate me
Loyalty was the key to these street niggas (let's get it)
Being loyal is important to people who live on the streets
Chains, cars, cribs, since a kid I used to think I was Meech nigga
Gaudy items like chains, cars, and cribs made me feel important as a kid
Starving, crib full of family I can't sleep without balling
Even though we were struggling with poverty, I couldn't stop chasing success
So I watch D Rose play often
Watching Derrick Rose play basketball is an escape from my struggles
Aunty died from cancer so I rap to keep the laughs
I cope with the loss of my aunt through rapping
I'd rather pray when I'm alone than steady giving shit to pastors
I prefer to pray alone instead of giving money to pastors
Steady gone since I was a pamp, we get out when I'm a pamp
I've been caught up in street life since I was young and hope to get out of it soon
Old and a dead man, hands still on the hammer
Even when I'm old or dead, I'll still hold onto the gun
Niggas talking 'bout they my mans and we friends
People often claim to be my friends, but they're not true friends
Where you was you at when that man with that lanz offered me ten?
No one came to my aid when I was threatened with violence
Shackled up, with the niggas that we hit with the fan
I'm in jail with the same people I committed crimes with
Eating shit that we gathered in blan
We have to eat whatever we can, even if it's not good for us
President still black, I hope he change shit
I hope the black President can help make positive changes in society
Niggas out here fifty, doing the same shit
Older men are still caught up in the same street life as before
When he say he got my back it rain pit
When someone claims to have my back, it often leads to trouble
Don't judge me, I know the streets love me (yeah, talk to 'em)
I'm asking people to avoid judging me because I know the people on the streets support me
Dope dealers, cold killers, they want niggas told nigga
Drug dealers and violent people want others to snitch on each other
Half them killers told on 'em, had my chopper and road with 'em
Many violent people snitch on each other, even though we were once friends
My mouth close though, I can't snitch on a nigga
I refuse to snitch on people even if it means I'll face consequences
Pillow talking to ops and hoes, bitch of a nigga
People who gossip to the police and others are not trustworthy
Summer nights, all them drugs made me kill shit
Drugs fueled my violent behavior during summertime
I lost so many niggas if they down I ain't feel shit
I've lost so many friends that it doesn't phase me anymore
Been on IG with my nigga, the feel rent
I get nostalgic when I see pictures on social media with my friends
Them niggas just made me, I kept it real with it and they ain't loyal though
My friends made me who I am today, but they weren't truly loyal to me
Mind of a psycho twelve posted on light poles
I have the mindset of a madman and my face is posted on wanted posters
Sold crack to the light though, going crazy I might though
I sold drugs in front of streetlights, becoming more and more unstable
RIP who I cry to, hold my hands on my head cause I got to
I don't have anyone to talk to about my grief, so I hold my head and mourn alone
Yeah, I'm loyal nigga
Despite everything, I'm still loyal to the streets
Lyrics © GREAT SOUTH BAY MUSIC GROUP INC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brandon Michael Whitfield, Durk D Banks, Sydne Renee George
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind