Video: Lil Durk – “Cross Roads”

The Chicago Native Mourns Fredo Santana and Pays Tribute to Bone Thugs-N-Harmony in the Complex-Premiered Video Off Just Cause Y’all Waited

4.12.2018

Critical Praise:

“Unshackled from any kind of outline, Durk’s pen game shines. His rise was dotted with blood-soaked tales that summarized much of drill’s appeal: ground-level glimpses at Chicago’s South Side that colored in the outline offered by grim murder statistics.” –Pitchfork

“Lil Durk continues to be one of the most consistent rappers out.” – The FADER

“the rose that blossomed from the concrete of Chi-Town’s drill music scene” – Billboard

The Video:

Specializing in heartfelt, hard-nosed, and melodic street anthems, Chicago’s Lil Durk turns heads with every track. Emoting in the rain and bemoaning gun violence in his hometown, Durk reflects on personal loss in “Cross Roads,” his latest video. Mourning lost loved ones, including the recently departed Chicago rap icon Fredo Santana, Durk shows off his singing voice as the Complex-premiered video cycles through different backgrounds, including black-and-white clips of those no longer with us and a white room with a coffin. The latest video from Durk’s recent Just Cause Y’all Waited EP, “Cross Roads” channels the famous chorus from “Tha Crossroads,” by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, one of Durk’s favorite rap groups.

“The ‘Crossroads’ video means a lot to me because Bone Thugs was a big influence on me growing up,” explained Lil Durk to Complex. “I wish I could’ve had them in the video but this was a way to capture the lyrics of the song into a visual that makes people think. RIP Fredo. Put the cup down, because I did.”

His first project since departing Def Jam, Just Cause Y’all Waited is a twelve-track collection of melodic bangers that thrive on Durk’s trademark emotional honesty. Further evidence of the Chicago-bred aritst’s seamless fit within the vibrant scene of his new hometown of Atlanta, Just Cause Y’all Waited EP is an important transitional record for Durk. Praised by Pitchfork, who wrote “Lil Durk writes about Chicago the way Joan Didion once captured California,” Just Cause Y’all Waited features tracks such as the DY of 808 Mafia-produced “Durkio Krazy,” which has over 5 million combined plays for its audio on YouTube, the buzzing “1-773 Vulture,” a street remix to Logic’s hit single “1-800-273-8255” that reached the 7 million view mark on YouTube, the Lil Baby-featuring lead single “How I Know,” currently featured on Spotify’s Most Necessary playlist, and the flashy “When I Was Little,” which has 813,000 views since its premiere last week. Featuring additional appearances from PartyNextDoor, Ty Dolla $ign, Gunna, and TK Kravitz, and with production from 808 Mafia and others, Just Cause Y’all Waited EP is a formidable appetizer for Signed to the Streets 3, due later this year.

Watch “Cross Roads”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgzTJBcxU5k

Check out the Complex premiere: http://www.complex.com/music/2018/04/lil-durk-crossroads-video

Buy Just Cause Y’all Waited EP: https://Empire.lnk.to/JustCauseYallWaited

Tracklist:

1. “Public Housing” (prod. Sonic)
2. “Just Flow” (prod. Money Bag)
3. “When I Was Little” (prod. DY Krazy)
4. “How I Know” f/Lil Baby (prod. Will A Fool)
5. “Granny Crib” (prod. ATL Jacob)
6. “1 773 Vulture”
7. “Breather” f/PartyNextDoor & Ty Dolla $ign (prod. Nard & B)
8. “Home Body” f/Gunna & TK Kravitz (prod. DY Krazy)
9. “Durkio Krazy” (prod. DY Krazy)
10. “Instigator” (prod. Go Grizz)
11. “Crossroads” (prod. Supreme Beats)
12. “My Bruddas” (prod. ATL Jacob)

Please contact Michelle or Dharmic for more info.

EMPIRE Background
EMPIRE was founded in 2010 as an artist-friendly, progressive digital distribution company. After early success, and identifying future icons such as Kendrick Lamar, Sage The Gemini, and Rich Homie Quan, EMPIRE was quickly regarded as a tastemaker in the industry and throughout the past five years evolved into a full-fledged record label, distributor and publisher for independent musicians. With the company and roster growing at a breakneck pace, EMPIRE has effectively disrupted a stale business model by bringing its energy, expertise, and acumen to its artists and labels.