Lil Zay Osama and Lil Durk are two of the most prominent rappers from Chicago, Illinois. They have collaborated on several songs, including the recent single “F\*\*k My Cousin Pt. II”. But are they really cousins, or is there another explanation for their close bond? Here’s what we know.
Lil Zay Osama’s Background
Lil Zay Osama, whose real name is Isaiah Dukes, was born on June 3, 1997. He grew up in the Robert Taylor Homes, a notorious public housing project in the South Side of Chicago. He started rapping at the age of 8, inspired by his older brother. He joined a gang at 12 and was involved in violent street activities. He was shot in the chest at 15 and arrested on gun charges. He spent three years in a juvenile detention center, where he focused on writing music. He describes his music as “pain music”, reflecting his traumatic experiences and struggles.
After his release, he returned to the music scene with a new style and perspective. He released his first mixtape, Hood Bible, in 2019, which included his hit song “Changed Up”. He signed with Warner Records in August 2019 and has since released two more mixtapes, Trench Baby and Trench Baby 2. He has collaborated with artists like G Herbo, Doe Boy, Jackboy, Lil Tjay, EST Gee, Benny The Butcher, Sean Kingston and Stunna 4 Vegas.
Lil Durk’s Background
Lil Durk, whose real name is Durk Derrick Banks, was born on October 19, 1992. He also grew up in the South Side of Chicago, in the Englewood neighborhood. He started rapping at the age of 16 and joined the collective Only The Family (OTF). He gained popularity with his mixtapes I’m A Hitta (2011), I’m Still A Hitta (2012) and Life Ain’t No Joke (2012). He signed with Def Jam Recordings in 2012 and released his debut album Remember My Name in 2015. He later left Def Jam and founded his own label, Alamo Records. He has released several successful albums and mixtapes, such as Lil Durk 2X (2016), Love Songs 4 The Streets 2 (2019), Just Cause Y’all Waited 2 (2020), The Voice (2020) and The Voice of The Heroes (2021) with Lil Baby. He has collaborated with artists like Meek Mill, Young Thug, Future, Drake, Roddy Ricch and King Von.
Are They Related?
Lil Zay Osama and Lil Durk are not related by blood. There is no evidence that they share any family ties or ancestry. However, they are related by music and friendship. They have been supporting each other’s careers and showing mutual respect for each other’s talents. They have also been calling each other “cousin” as a term of endearment and solidarity.
The title of their song “F\*\*k My Cousin Pt. II” is not meant to be taken literally. It is a reference to their previous collaboration “F\*\*k My Cousin” from 2019, which was about their loyalty to each other despite their different gang affiliations. Lil Zay Osama is affiliated with the Black Disciples (BD), while Lil Durk is affiliated with the Gangster Disciples (GD). The song was a way of showing that they can overcome their differences and work together as artists and friends.
In fact, Lil Durk recently signed Lil Zay Osama to his OTF label, making him an official member of his musical family. Lil Zay Osama shared a video on Instagram of Lil Durk putting an OTF chain on him and calling him his brother.
Conclusion
Lil Zay Osama and Lil Durk are not related by blood, but they are related by music and friendship. They have been collaborating on songs and supporting each other’s careers for years. They call each other “cousin” as a sign of respect and love. They are both from Chicago and have overcome many hardships and challenges in their lives. They are two of the most influential rappers in the industry today.
