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 Know Me
Lil Durk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I gotta stay off the 'Gram when the opposition DM me threats (let's get it)
When bro'nem died, he got an autopsy, they said he full of that X
I'm a young nigga who gettin' that check and I don't have problem with sex
I'm a young nigga who pop my shit, they say I'm cocky, aggressive
I get that vibe you turned to snake, I swear I'ma turn to Melly (let's get it)
Locked up with the nigga who told on his mans, that shit Tom and Jerry
Plus two bracelets say the voice, he got my arm buried
I look out, don't know who to trust, I say it's all scary
I'm checkin' up on one of my dawg, he ain't respond lately
I took a bag full of stacks to a bond lady
I gave you drugs, you ain't bring the profits and you say I'm crazy
I don't know
I don't know (let's get it)
I don't know
I don't know
Is you niggas really with me? I don't know
Do you think these niggas out to get me? I don't know
Man, you think you made it out the city? I don't know
Do you believe the rumors he was snitchin'? I don't know
And I don't know too many
I heard them rumors that you was tellin'
But I know you didn't
One nigga say he didn't but I know he did
And I know he's shitty
You gon' get snaked tryna hang with different blocks, I know my city
They my brother hopped out the streets, I'm like, "No he didn't"
Headshot, fucked up memory
Perky pill, fucked up kidney
Spin 'round, like, "Who did it?"
Fed call, free my niggas
The guard I told him, "Three more minutes", yeah (hmm, hmm)
I don't know
I don't know (let's get it)
I don't know
I don't know
Is you niggas really with me? I don't know
Do you think these niggas out to get me? I don't know
Man, you think you made it out the city? I don't know
Do you believe the rumors he was snitchin'? I don't know
In the song "Don't Know Me" by Lil Durk, he begins by talking about not being able to stay on Instagram as his enemies are messaging him with threats. He then reflects on his friend's death from Xanax overdose, where the autopsy showed high levels of the drug in his system. Lil Durk reassures us that he is a young man living lavishly and not shy about his success. He also suggests he has a no-nonsense approach to his critics who claim he is too aggressive. He wants us to know that he'll do what it takes to protect himself and his own, even if it means turning to extreme measures like the late rapper YNW Melly. He then touches on the fact that he knows people who've been incarcerated and shared cell blocks with people who snitched on their own crew, hence him saying that the system became like a Tom and Jerry cartoon, with enemies chasing each other around without any regard for moral values, loyalty, or trust.
Throughout "Don't Know Me," Lil Durk makes it clear that he has many questions and doubts about who he can trust. He doesn't know if people are truly with him or if they are out to get him, he isn't sure if he believes the rumors of snitching he's heard, and he wonders if anyone can make it out of the city without getting tangled up in illegal activities. Lil Durk reflects on his experiences with people who have taken advantage of him and the situations he's been involved in. He mentions that he's given drugs to someone but never got the profits he was promised. The lyrics give us a glimpse into Lil Durk's life and the kind of complex and transitory relationships he has with people as he navigates his way through the music industry and the crime-infested streets he comes from.
Line by Line Meaning
I gotta stay off the 'Gram when the opposition DM me threats (let's get it)
I need to avoid using Instagram because the opposing party sends me threats through direct messages, so I have to be careful.
When bro'nem died, he got an autopsy, they said he full of that X
When my friend died, they conducted an autopsy, and it showed that he had consumed a significant quantity of drugs, frequently known as 'X.'
I'm a young nigga who gettin' that check and I don't have problem with sex
I'm a young man who's earning a lot of money and isn't worried about his sexual life.
I'm a young nigga who pop my shit, they say I'm cocky, aggressive
As a young person, I am confident and self-assured, but people think I am arrogant and aggressive.
I get that vibe you turned to snake, I swear I'ma turn to Melly (let's get it)
I sense that you are behaving like a traitor, and if you continue, I will resort to violent actions, like rapper YNW Melly.
Locked up with the nigga who told on his mans, that shit Tom and Jerry
I was imprisoned with a guy who gave information to the authorities about his friends, resulting in a conflict like the Tom and Jerry cartoons.
Cartier skeletons on my arm, got my arm skelly
I wear Cartier bracelets with skeleton designs that embellish my skinny arms.
Plus two bracelets say the voice, he got my arm buried
I also wear two bracelets that have a soundwave design, representing a specific person's voice. It feels like my arm is buried beneath the weight of these jewelry pieces.
I look out, don't know who to trust, I say it's all scary
I look around and feel that I can't rely on anyone; it seems terrifying to me.
I'm checkin' up on one of my dawg, he ain't respond lately
I am trying to contact a friend of mine, but he hasn't responded to any of my messages recently.
I took a bag full of stacks to a bond lady
I took a considerable amount of money to a bail bondswoman as part of a legal procedure.
I gave you drugs, you ain't bring the profits and you say I'm crazy
I gave you drugs to sell, but you couldn't make any money from it. And now you are rejecting my offer of further business, making me feel frustrated.
Is you niggas really with me? I don't know
I am uncertain whether my acquaintances genuinely support me or not.
Do you think these niggas out to get me? I don't know
I am unsure whether some people might want to harm me.
Man, you think you made it out the city? I don't know
I'm not sure if you believe that you have escaped from the danger and struggles associated with living in our city.
Do you believe the rumors he was snitchin'? I don't know
I am not sure if you agree with the speculation suggesting that someone was informing the authorities about our illegal activities.
And I don't know too many
I admit that I don't know many trustworthy people.
I heard them rumors that you was tellin'
I have heard the speculations that you were talking to the authorities about our illegal activities.
But I know you didn't
However, I believe that these rumors are not true, and you did not betray us.
One nigga say he didn't, but I know he did
One of my acquaintances denies the allegations against him, but I know that he is guilty.
And I know he's shitty
I am aware that he is a terrible person because he betrayed his friends.
You gon' get snaked tryna hang with different blocks, I know my city
If you mingle with new people from another neighborhood, you'll get betrayed, and I'm confident in saying that because I know how dangerous our city could be.
They my brother hopped out the streets, I'm like, 'No, he didn't'
When my friend told me that he no longer involved in illegal activities, I didn't believe it because I doubt that anyone can escape the streets.
Headshot, fucked up memory
My traumatic head injury made me lose some of my memory and affected my ability to think clearly.
Perky pill, fucked up kidney
Taking a certain kind of drug called perky pills/dilaudids has harmed my kidneys.
Spin 'round, like, 'Who did it?'
I get disoriented and confused when I try to figure out who is responsible for something.
Fed call, free my niggas
The FBI called, and they have arrested some of my friends; I wish they could be released soon.
The guard I told him, 'Three more minutes', yeah (hmm, hmm)
The prison guard told me that my visiting time is over, but I asked him politely to give me three more minutes to meet my loved ones.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Durk Banks, Trenton Turner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind