Lil Durk was living his best life, celebrating his 32nd birthday with a huge concert at the United Center in Chicago on October 19, 2024. But just days after the celebration, everything changed. The Chicago rapper was arrested in South Florida on federal charges related to a 2022 shooting that targeted Quando Rondo and ended with a tragic death. Durk’s world came crashing down, and his plans for his new album, Deep Thoughts, had to shift.
With Durk behind bars, his management team, Cedrick “SB” Earsery and Kelvin Sherman, took charge of finishing the album. The duo worked with Durk’s in-house A&R DJ Bandz, his engineer Jusvibes, and creative director Fred Foster to bring the project to life. Despite being locked up, Durk still had a hand in the album’s direction through phone calls and approval from his legal team.
According to Earsery, Durk was going through a personal transformation when he was arrested. “He was in a space where he was ready for elevation,” he explains. “He was getting closer to religion, working on himself, and even got married last year.” Earsery has known Durk since he was a kid, and he recently returned as the rapper’s manager after a couple of years. Sherman, who joined the team around the time of Durk’s 2023 album Almost Healed, also played a key role in the album’s production.
What started as another installment of Durk’s Love Songs for the Streets series soon turned into something much deeper. Deep Thoughts shows off Durk’s full artistic range, from hard-hitting trap bangers to more melodic and introspective tracks. The album explores his personal struggles, relationships, and growth, all while appealing to his diverse fanbase, including his female followers with romantic, heartfelt lyrics.
Although Durk’s legal situation limited the amount of direct input he could provide, the team made sure he was involved every step of the way. “Everything was with [Durk’s] blessing,” Sherman says. “Even though we tweaked some things, the bulk of this is really Durk.”
The album features appearances from heavy hitters like Future, Lil Baby, Jhené Aiko, and Hunxho. Sherman recalls how excited Durk was when Aiko’s feature came through. “Durk loved it so much, he played it over and over in the studio,” he shares. “It was one of his favorite moments before everything changed.”
Despite the challenges of working with limited access to Durk, the team pulled together to craft what they feel is a masterpiece. “We went through everything on the hard drive, piecing together what worked for the direction we were going,” SB says.
The anticipation surrounding Deep Thoughts is immense, and there’s a lot of pressure on Durk’s management team to get it right. Sherman admits, “I feel the weight of responsibility because fans are going to cook us. They’ll say, ‘It’s y’all fault! Y’all should’ve been communicating with him the best.’”
But it seems like the hard work is paying off. On the eve of the album’s release, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced that Durk had earned an additional 53 certifications, placing him among the top 50 artists of all time with a total of 52.5 million units. That announcement helped ease some of the pressure on the team.
SB spoke with Durk just the day before their interview, and he shared that the rapper’s mindset is in a good place despite being behind bars. “He’s happy with how things are going,” SB says. “He’s in a positive space.”
Looking ahead, there’s a deluxe version of Deep Thoughts in the works, though nothing is officially confirmed yet. Durk’s management team is dedicated to keeping his name in the spotlight as he prepares for his trial, which has been postponed until October. Durk has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him, and his team is focused on supporting his career while he navigates these difficult circumstances.
“A lot of people miss him in the marketplace,” Earsery adds. “We’ve got his career in our hands, and he’s trusting us to handle it.”