Only The Family (OTF)

King Von

Before King Von had even been rapping for six months, his two music video singles had earned him two million views. That’s because the 23-year-old signed to Lil Durk’s OTF Records makes songs without compromise or imitation. “Problems” and “War Wit Us” are represent heartbeat of Chicago’s roughest section, delivered with a raw intensity that rings authentic.

“I’m signed to the streets,” Von recently told The Breakfast Club alongside Durk whose mixtapes coined that phrase. Hailing from the notorious “O Block” recognized for its violence, the rapper, whose first name is DaVon, says that it was not until he saw the world recently that he had anything to compare that world to. In early 2018, it appeared that Von might never the outside again. He faced a life sentence for a murder charge. Innocent, Von took the case to trial and eventually won. Deliberation took years, causing anguish for his devoted mother and grandma.

“I never had it in my mind that I was gonna rap. When you’re in there, you’re so far from the door, so far away from getting out that you are just focused on that. My big goal was just being free. There was no ‘you’ve got 8 months left’ awaiting trial. If found guilty, I was getting 100 years. I wasn’t thinking past just hoping to get out.” When he left the cell, his childhood friend Durk reached out with an opportunity and invited Von to get away from the violence, in Atlanta.

Durk’s label, Only The Family, embodies a deep sense of brotherhood. Like Durk, labelmates Booka600, OTF Ikey, and Doodie Lo knew Von long before the viral videos and hot tracks. “We all grew up together. Other people are brought together because of label stuff. We’ve been together; the music is just giving us the business. We’re just hanging with our friends and doing what we do,” says Von, who, despite his aggressive music, is chatty, humorous, and polite. He now permanently lives in the ATL while he tours with his team and tends to his family back home. Chicago’s storied Englewood section is where Von’s family remains and is the gruff backdrop of those two videos. “I’ve been booked since I was 16; I haven’t been out a whole year since 2010,” he admits. Although innocent of his most serious charges, the time out of the streets took away a piece of Von’s life but allowed him to see a bigger perspective. “That time is gone. I done messed up so much. So many people went and done this or accomplished that, and I’m still stuck where I was at 16.”

That kept Von from social media and cheap trends in music. He admits that he was unaware of The Breakfast Club until he arrived for the interview. That isolation also keeps his sound and style unadulterated and pure of trend-chasing. Despite newfound fame, he writes rhymes while taking long bus-rides through his new hometown for inspiration, soaking up the freedom he very nearly lost to a flawed criminal justice system. “Now that I’ve moved away and experienced other places and see how everything else is, I realize how messed up it is back home. But if you grew up there, how would you know? It’s regular. Now, every place that I go feels like a vacation.”

King Von is an integral part of OTF’s upcoming 2019 compilation. Releasing potent music, he is also crafting a solo debut. In the meantime, he values his freedom and hopes to give the same streets that he is forever bound to, a message that there is more out there for the taking.

OTF Ikey

OTF Ikey Press Bio (Draft #1)

Singer/rapper OTF Ikey has a cool and laid-back demeanor. Even as a part of charged-up songs like his crew’s “Play Your Role” (2+ million YouTube views), or “We Dem Ni**as” with Lil Durk and Mozzy, Ikey says he just feels regular. A self-proclaimed older brother within the OTF crew, the 26-year-old says he enjoys making music and playing the background. However, the naturally-talented vocalist’s melodic sound is anything but low-profile; it stands out proudly.

Ikey comes from a large family that dealt with fracture and hardship. He was raised by an older sister in Parkway Garden Homes in Chicago’s South Side. “We were all split up; my mama had like 14 kids. I had some brothers and some sisters that stayed around, but we were all in different places. But we still eventually stuck around each other when we got older,” he notes, adding that he had no relationship with his parents. The sister that brought up Ikey was a street figure, and he admired how she was perceived. Growing up, he learned the survival tactics in a cutthroat environment. “Once the projects got tore down, you had people from different hoods living together. It’s a decent area, but you gotta know some people, or you gotta be known.”

For much of Ikey’s life, the streets were the only thing that interested him. He followed in his sister’s path. Although running around in the streets with some of the figures that today are part of his OTF crew, he was surrounded by elders at home. They exposed him to classic Rhythm & Blues and Soul music from before his time. It also shaped Ikey to become an old soul in his mannerisms and interests. Since he was young, Ikey says he enjoyed singing, but was not in an environment to build on it. That changed when somebody Ikey had known for a decade, Lil Durk, became a star out of the neighborhood. As Durk launched OTF (Only The Family), Ikey was regularly with him on stage, in the studio, and moving around. “Once Durk got big, people kept telling me to make music. I was already around it,” recalls Ikey. “I just took heed to it and started doing it. I liked the vibe I was coming with. Once I did it more, I realized that I sounded kind of good. A lot of people can’t do this,” he says of rappers who do makeshift singing. Ikey’s voice is strong and confident. “I can come up with a pathway to a song through singing.”

Others like it too. Since late 2016, Ikey has been releasing his own songs, including “Turbulence” with Durk and 600 Booka. That video single achieved more than 500,000 views. “Trenches” is not far behind, and it features Durk and Doodielo, JL, and OJ 3000. OTF represents the bond he always wanted. “We are a family. We came up like that, so we never stopped looking at each other like it,” he admits. “I have blood relatives that I don’t even consider as much family as I do with them.” In 2019, he will take the road with OTF, as he has on past Durk headlining tours in addition to past runs with Meek Mill, Jeezy, and Chief Keef.

In 2018, Ikey was a fixture on both volumes of Only The Family Involved. The compilations have reached well over 500,000 monthly streamers on Spotify alone, with songs like Ikey’s commanding “Trapping Hard” serving as standout moments. Video single “Let It Rain” with Canada’s Park Hill tells a somber story of survival amidst pain and hardship. In the new year, Ikey is hard at work on his debut EP and stepping more into the light with his versatile sound.

Booka600

“I don’t rap like where I come from. In my hood, everybody raps a certain way. I prefer storytelling,” says Booka600. A product of the Washington Park neighborhood in Chicago’s South Side, the artist on Lil Durk’s Only The Family roster has a story to tell, and the wisdom to make it compelling. “I really started music when I was incarcerated. I thought about it and realized that I didn’t want to rap about violence. I wanted to be a motivational artist to change the thought process. Even if you are in the gutter or you are in the trenches, you still need some type of motivation. ‘Cause I was the same person in jail. I wanted to give the people hope.”

At 24 years old, Booka went from a junior high valedictorian to a high school dropout while dealing with circumstances in some of the America’s deadliest streets. “I had a rough childhood. I witnessed guns, drugs, shootouts, violence, the typical street life,” he recalls, as a middle child raised by a single mother. However, even behind bars, the old soul who used to dress up and walk alone down the block to attend church during his pre-adolescence wanted to seek salvation through music. “There’s life beyond shootin’, killin’, and drug dealin’, and it’s a better life than that, for sure,” he touts. In person, Booka is mild-mannered and rarely curses. He says he has known Durk and many of his OTF label-mates all of his life. After a handful of features, the team offered him a roster spot and changed his world. “Durk made me want to rap—like be a real rapper and truly tell my story. He gave me confidence and helped me with a lot of things like a mentor would,” he admits. In early 2017, Durk oversaw a collection of songs that included “Stop Me,” a melodic and soulful track that with more than 300,000 video views.

By 2018, Booka was a heavy presence on OTF’s Only The Family Involved, Vol. 1 compilation. Posse video single “7:30” has climbed to nearly 1.5 million plays, while “Play Yo Role” soared past the 2 million-mark. “Our relationship is not falsified; it’s real. It’s not going out for the money. Durk helps us tell our stories, ‘cause he knows our story,” Booka notes of his team. By late 2018, the rapper released Six Summers, a symbolic ode to his block, his years in the streets, and the six calendars that the OTF family has rapping together, building a brand, brick by brick. Songs like “Pesos” and “Oj” showed an artist putting his life on display, and shedding some skin from his troublesome past. This was the story Booka was poised to tell, and Durk believed in.

In 2019, Booka is at work on his next album. He’s collaborated with Tee Grizzley, Durk, King Von, and spending time trading verses with Atlanta artists. “It’s all based on how I’m feeling now. I talk about transitioning from poverty to living in my own house, to owning other buildings and whatnot,” he says. The Southsider transformed his life and experienced the world. He tours with Durk, fresh off of a list of dates with Meek Mill. “I got a different vibe than everybody else. I perform for real, but don’t get hyper. I’m cool and mellow, so the fans can really pick up on my vibes.” His stage show matches his energy on songs: authentic, sincere, and the young guy with an old-head’s sense of wisdom and calm. He adds, “It’s been a blast these last two years, breathing different air and being in different time zones and seeing a different world than home.”

Booka600 takes his neighborhood with him everywhere that he goes, but he wants all of his fans to see the possibility behind the housing projects and cutthroat blocks, wherever they are.

JusBlow

JusBlow is one of the new and exciting voices within Lil Durk’s OTF roster. His 2019 video single “GangBangin’” quickly soared past 1 million YouTube views. From the Washington Park section of Chicago’s South Side, Jus’ chuckles when he admits that the 600 block gave him his self-explanatory name. Even with a foothold in one of the Windy City’s most violent areas, his air is thoughtful and polite. A few years ago, as a student, Jus’ boasts that he was near the top of his class, despite a whirlwind youth. He aims for that same status in a burgeoning Rap career.

“I always used to listen to Rap music. I liked how they created the similes and metaphors. That’s what really caught my eye,” the 24-year-old reflects, looking back at songs like 50 Cent’s “A Baltimore Love Thing” and Kanye West’s “Homecoming” that were popular during his adolescence. The music was a creative escape. “When I started rapping, I focused on making concepts too.” Growing up, Jus’ was close friends with the Chi’s La Capone. “He was a rapper who was really getting hot. Around that time, in 2013, I caught a gun case. I had to go to jail for six months.” While Jus’ was serving his time, Capone was fatally shot. “He was the next thing out of Chicago when he passed away due to gang violence. That’s what truly inspired me to rap.” JusBlow is on a mission to live out the dream of his late friend, the only member of the South Side crew who attended his graduation

Things have ramped up since. In 2016, Jus’ released a self-titled EP with a friend’s EMPIRE-distributed label. On “Regardless,” he connected with another key indie figure, Sacramento’s Mozzy. “That’s my brother-brother; we’re really locked in,” he says, noting that the rapper who appeared on the chart-topping Black Panther soundtrack will be on his next project. Following JusBlow, Lil Durk, who had known the rapper for years, offered him a situation with Only The Family. “In 2017, I took the whole year off. There was a lot going on; I was losing friends in the streets. There were money problems; I was not able to go to the studio and create. I also had to help my mom,” he admits. “We all knew each other before music. We were focused on solo careers to come back and reach for everybody else. You can’t pull everybody up with you on the way up. That’s too heavy.” In late 2018 the promise was kept with a record contract.

For 2019, JusBlow is planning his next project. While details are forthcoming, the OTF debut will be anchored by upcoming turnt up single “Perky Perk” with Detroit’s Tee Grizzley as well as family-first posse cut “Gang Forever” alongside Durk and King Von. “I’m gonna put out a lot of work,” says the rapper. “I haven’t had the chance to release a ton of music, so catalog is my focus right now.” He is at work on “Snitch 2K 2X,” a menacing sequel to his 2017 mantra.

“GangBangin’” shows where Jus’ energies are now. The catchy song with its seven-figure audience adheres to the cutthroat turf wars that he has survived. “It’s an anthem, sort of. A lot of people in my culture can relate to gang violence. Everybody felt it; ain’t nothin’ made up,” he says emphatically. Although his music is rooted in a grim reality, the rapper feels it is a necessary distraction from what is happening outside. In the meantime, one of the next artists out of Chicago is carrying on a rich tradition, with a purpose.

MK

“I feel like I live a double-life,” says 18-year-old rapper and singer MK. From 78th & Green in Chicago’s Southside, the versatile voice heard on OTF’s Family Over Everything album is one of the new sensations on Lil Durk’s label. He has balanced street-smarts and book-smarts from his a cutthroat upbringing in some of the nation’s toughest neighborhoods. However, after studying at Purdue University for a semester, he is now going all-in with his gift. “There are two parts of me: there’s one good side and one bad side. I’ve made bad decisions and did a lot of stuff that I regret. But I’m changing, and I want to do better with my money, and make things better for me and my crew. I want everybody to eat,” he insists. Following the success of breakout OTF compilation hit “Better,” MK plans to make his life just that.

Raised by his mother within a large family, music was a constant in MK’s life. Performing with an abbreviated nickname for Malik, the singer remembers always having songs playing in his ear. From Chris Brown and Trey Songz, to Drake and Lil Wayne, to locals Chief Keef and G Herbo, he studied a variety of rappers and singers. MK recalls, “I always wanted to know what I had to do to be able to make music myself.” He started writing, filling up notebooks with song lyrics, and recording into his phone. “Back then, I was just writing song after song after song,” he remembers. “Now, I take my time; I let it come to me instead of rushing. To me, my voice is an instrument. When people hear me, I really want them to know it’s MK.”

Although he was churning out songs, that recognition followed. MK made the No Surrender mixtape and uploaded it several places online. Although the quality was a far cry from the studio, the talent stood out. People took notice. Meanwhile, MK was offering to perform at parties for free. “That’s how my fan-base got started,” he remembers. As some of these homemade songs (which were subsequently deleted) started to climb to 40,000 views on YouTube, MK pushed on with the Unlocked EP. It was around this time that Malik’s brother, an associate of OTF staff, presented some music. “I look up to Durk. I mess with his music; it hits home ‘cause he’s from the same city.” After taking a listen, Durk and OTF extended an offer to MK in 2019. He accepted the opportunity. “The label is full of real people with stories that I feel. I always wanted to be a part of OTF anyway. I still have much to prove, and am willing to grind.”

“Better” now has over 100,000 YouTube streams and nearly half of that on Spotify—even before MK steps into the spotlight. Appearing alongside Durk, Lil TJay, Polo G, King Von, and others on a major label release has promoted MK’s talent and changed his life. Admitting that he experienced alienation and racism from students and police while attending Purdue’s Fort Wayne campus, Malik returned to the Windy City. The teenager who recorded hundreds of songs to his phone now spends his day honing his skills in professional studios. “I have improved so much,” he notes of his catalog. “I listen back to my old music, and I keep leveling up. I may have come from a bad environment, but music has always been the one positive thing in my life. Music was what I counted on when I was a kid, bouncing around from place to place and school to school. Now, it’s changing my environment.” On a path to helping others, “Better” has become a poetic turning point for the artist who is steadily building towards his OTF debut.

Timo

“There’s no cappin’ in any of my music,” proclaims 22-year-old Chicago rapper Timo. “It’s all based on real stuff going on.” The latest artist to sign with Lil Durk’s Only The Family makes music that is raw and resonant to the streets. A handful of Timo’s videos have over one million views dating back to his days as a DIY artist. His latest loosie, July’s “30,” includes a charged up visual that achieved a quarter-million views in its first week. With ringing endorsements from Pitchfork and Lyrical Lemonade, Timo is set to become OTF’s next hometown hitter.

Timo grew up in Wentworth Gardens, a historic housing project that neighbors Cellular Field in Chicago’s South Side. Raised by his parents along with his grandmother, the rapper remembers a fun environment, despite being a legendary gangland within the Windy City. “Mama kept me good,” he shares, acknowledging that his family provided for him despite sparse surroundings. Although he was a good student, Timo was allured by the South Side streets. It is where Timo got his moniker, an adaptation of his first name, Timothy. “The people that I was running with when I was 16 never called each other by our government names,” he shares with a laugh.

While moving with what became 30 Gang, Timo tried his hand at rapping. By 18, he stepped forth with videos, including “52 Bars,” that confronted rivals by name. These raw, gun-toting videos caught on fast, achieving 100,000 views. “When I made my first video, I got kicked out the crib,” Timo admits. “My mom told me if I kept the video up online that I couldn’t stay with my grandmother anymore.” Although he wanted to make his family proud, the visual’s viral response was too tempting. Reluctantly, Timo moved in with a friend and kept making songs.

After a few successful videos, Timo put down the mic and enrolled at a Colorado junior college. He received room and board for serving as the basketball team manager. However, his experience was disrupted. “The feds came looking for me. I wasn’t even doing anything wrong; it was over some old stuff,” he says of a past probation violation. Timo went on the run,” making videos before eventually turning himself in. “I couldn’t go back after that, so I had to rap.”

During his months behind bars, Timo’s small catalog continued to captivate new viewers. “I’m way better now, and I rap way different,” admits the artist who says he studies other cities’ styles and incorporates it into his Drill music. Sharper and faster, videos like the viral “51 Dead Opps” caught the attention of Durk and OTF. Chicago’s premiere label had been sharing his music and videos, even before signing him in 2019—just one day after Timo’s best friend, 30, was killed.

Since joining OTF, Timo has charged ahead. Late 2019’s “Kill Switch” provided a detailed account of maneuvering the most dangerous streets. It now has over 2.5 million views. Meanwhile, 2020’s “No Cap” and brand new “30” maintain the rawness that made Timo a DIY star. However, behind the scenes, Timo says he’s maturing. With a son on the way, he prefers being home and in the studio than going anywhere else. “I just feel blessed, and I want to work.” Part of that comes from studying the moves of Durk, King Von, and the other members of his crew. Crafting one compelling song at a time, Timo is supported by OTF and his devoted fanbase. However, his family also now embraces the career that he has boldly built for himself.

Sydny August

Sydny August is a versatile singer-songwriter with lush harmonies and emotive lyrics representing a new sound coming out of Chicago. The 22-year-old independent artist has just signed with OTF, the thriving hometown label launched by Lil Durk. “It’s crazy and surreal,” says Sydny, “but I’m so glad that the hard work is paying off.” The move happened just weeks after the release of Sydny’s most complete and polished work to date, June 2020’s Miss August.

Her musical journey began early and at home. She was exposed to music spanning different genres and eras, informing her style. “I grew up in a creative environment,” says the artist who learned piano and guitar. This climate also influenced her sister, Piper, a visual artist and stylist.

By age 10, Sydny was recording covers and renditions of herself singing an array of styles while playing piano and posting them to YouTube. She continued to pursue her passion for singing while attending the Performing Arts Program at Nicholas Senn High School. Sydny posted original songs to Soundcloud and other social platforms, beginning her career as an independent artist. Tracks like “Over” and “Let You Know” did exceptionally well, reaching over 70,000 combined streams. Apart from the school stage, she was introduced to the city’s underground music scene, performing original songs in Chicago venues. Becoming introduced to Drill at this time, Sydny was drawn to the distinct sound of Durk and Chief Keef’s music.

After graduating from Senn, Sydny took her talent to the University of Kansas, where she released six independent projects while in college. 2017’s 6th Floor EP marked Sydny August’s self-released debut. However, 2018’s August Project yielded two of Sydny’s best-loved songs: the playful and dreamy “Ride” as well as the soulful “Like That,” both became music videos. While “Ride” was directed by the highly sought-after DGainz (Chief Keef, Montana of 300, Durk), “Like That” premiered on the Elevator YouTube channel. This sophomore EP showed a singer that refuses to get complacent in any genre. Instead, she swirled those influences together in a way that feels timeless and classic. Her unique sound and talent led to more shows in Chicago and Kansas, coverage on Lyrical Lemonade, and strong support from Hot Rod, an on-air personality from Power 92.3.

Since cementing her place in music, Sydny August has only shown development. She wrote, recorded, and released 2020’s debut album, Miss August, during her final semester as a Creative Writing major and a minor in Business. The musician flaunts her skills across 15 diverse songs. “I write a lot about relationships. In-person, I can be pretty quiet. But when I write, that’s when I open up and play with words,” she explains of an exciting transition point in her personal life, including a 2020 degree and a return to Chicago. “That’s when I can talk about what I don’t often say.” The enhanced writing shined with superior production and engineering from her musical partner, Castle. “The quality in my music has contributed to my growth,” she notes.

Weeks after releasing her most ambitious project, Only The Family extended an offer. Durk discovered Sydny’s music through Instagram. Now the only female artist of her kind to join one of the hottest teams in music. This puts Sydny August in a position to turn up the volume.

Doodie Lo

“If one of your teammates is closer to the rim, throw them the ball. That’s what Von did for me,” declares OTF’s Doodie Lo. When the seasoned rapper was waiting for his turn to shine amid Lil Durk’s Only The Family roster, King Von decided to give his friend an alley-oop in the form of the 2020 video collaboration “Me and Doodie Lo,” which achieved over 7 million streams. “He knew what he was doing too. We were just getting a vibe in the studio. Then he said, ‘When I title this song, the whole world gonna know your name.” Even after his tragic 2020 passing, King Von’s intent lives on. The song, one of five Doodie appearances on OTF’s Lil Durk Presents: Loyal Bros., paved the way for the upcoming Big Doodie Lo debut, featuring Durk and others.

While much of OTF hails from Chicago’s South Side, Doodie Lo is a native of Kankakee, Illinois—50 miles south of the Windy City. “I grew up behind the K-Mart, in the Crestview Apartments, better known as ‘the bricks,'” shares the 29 year-old-rapper of his small town. “I jumped out into the streets around 12, 13,” the former athlete admits. The stakes would become higher during his teens. “I had my first daughter at 17, so I started hustling.”

Raised on Wayne, Master P, Jeezy, and Gucci, Doodie Lo had been rapping since grade school talent shows. “I used to get on my mama’s nerves by beating on the table, freestyling, waking the whole house up.” By his twenties, Doodie would make songs sporadically. “I was already getting money, so I didn’t care about having a rap career. So it wasn’t about the money; I loved the music,” he admits. “I’d just do a little bit to keep me relevant.” Doodie posted songs he made at home onto Facebook and other platforms and received a bit of recognition in his region.

However, nobody was more interested in Doodie Lo’s music than Lil Durk. The two met in 2013 through a close mutual friend, OTF’s Chief Wuk. Eventually, the Chicago star wanted to provide an opportunity to Doodie, who now had several children depending on him. “Durk told me to get the hell out of the streets and to move to Atlanta,” he says. After a few attempts at convincing Doodie, he listened. “I moved out there, and it changed my life. From there, it’s just been up.”

Since relocating to the ATL, Doodie has been focused. “I stayed in the studio, so I got better.” He witnessed sessions by Future and Young Thug. “Back then, I wouldn’t have felt comfortable playing my music in front of the whole studio. Today, I don’t care if JAY-Z is in there; I’m showing him my music.” Fans can chart the growth. After some loosies, Doodie appeared on OTF’s compilations, including Only The Family Involved, Vol. 1, and Family Over Everything. Frequently working with his label-mates, Doodie always stands out. “I got a different voice and my own style,” he says in contrast to the drill music. “I can talk about money, relationships, life.” It was King Von who built a bond with Doodie and helped his breakthrough. “Me and Doodie Lo.” The video, approaching 5 million views, ensured viewers got to know its charismatic guest.

“Me and Doodie Lo” appears on Loyal Bros., as does the BIG30 collab “Took Down.” Its video grabbed a million streams in four days. “When you’re a genuine person, you build authentic relationships. I’ve built those with Pooh Shiesty, BIG 30, and Moneybagg Yo,” Doodie shares. He promises exciting features on 2021’s OTF/EMPIRE debut, Big Doodie Lo. “This album is showing people that I’m an artist.” Doodie says of storytelling on “Growing Up” and some flexing on “Mr. Kankakee.”  “I feel ready to talk my ish and tell people what it is and what it ain’t.”