Lil Durk Announces Only The Family Involved Vol. 1, A Collaborative Mixtape with OTF Signees Yung Tory, OTF Ikey, and Doodie Lo

The Chicago Native and Melodic Mastermind Shares “Play Yo Role” Video Single, Featuring Three of OTF’s Finest Emccees (OTF Ikey, Doodie Lo, and Booka 600)

7.24.2018

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 Announcement:

Parlaying his masterful sense of melody and starkly honest lyricism into popular and critical acclaim, Lil Durk is a respected emcee ready to take the next step to mogul-dom. Preparing the first group mixtape by his Only The Family (OTF) label, Lil Durk announces Only The Family Involved Vol. 1. Featuring several brand new songs by Lil Durk, the new mixtape finds the Chicago native sharing the limelight with his most accomplished OTF signees, including eccentric trap melodist Yung Tory, warble-voiced drill emcee OTF Ikey, and the aggressive Doodie Lo. A relentlessly melodic project, Only The Family Involved Vol. 1 finds the three labelmates feeding off each others’ styles, relentlessly stacking infectious melodies into verses, hooks, and ad-libs. Hitting the internet on July 31st, the upcoming mixtape showcases Durk’s eye for talent and spotlights a new wave of tuneful trap.

To accompany the mixtape announcement, OTF shares “Play Yo Role,” a dramatic and emotional new single. Anchored by Lil Durk’s rock solid hook, and boasting star turns from all three OTF emcees, “Play Your Role” emphasizes the importance of tradition and order in street life. Without a strong sense of purpose, it’s easy to lose your way or your life. The video finds the four emcees count cash in a neon lit room, displaying the easy chemistry and camaraderie that imbues the Only The Family Involved project.

“Me and the guys have been working on new music since early January,” explains Lil Durk. “‘Play Yo Role’ was a favorite in our inner circle so we decided to put it as the first single for this project. When you have a crew of different individuals and artists, it’s important for everyone play their role for the team to win.”

A tireless and prolific emcee, Lil Durk has already had a busy 2018. In March, he released his first project since departing Def Jam, Just Cause Y’all Waited, a twelve-track collection of melodic bangers that thrive on Durk’s trademark emotional honesty. Further evidence of the Chicago-bred artist’s seamless fit within the vibrant scene of his new hometown of Atlanta, the 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 7 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,” which earned prominent placement 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. Lil Durk turned heads when he performed his hits in a prime time slot, and later joined Tee Grizzley onstage at the Rolling Loud Festival in Miami.

Watch Only The Family – “Play Yo Role” (Lil Durk x Booka 600 x Doodie Lo x OTF Ikey): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VNS3bn-k04

Listen to Only The Family’s “Play Yo Role” (Lil Durk x Booka 600 x Doodie Lo x OTF Ikey): https://soundcloud.com/otflildurk/play-your-role-feat-otf-ikey-yung-tory-doodie-lo

Buy Only The Family’s “Play Yo Role” (Lil Durk x Booka 600 x Doodie Lo x OTF Ikey): https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/play-yo-role-feat-lil-durk-booka-600-doodie-lo-otf-ikey-single/1416314542?ls=1&app=itunes

Please contact Michelle or Kierra for more info.

The Background:

Yung Tory background:

Born and raised in Toronto, with a six-year pitstop as a toddler in ATL, Yung Tory is one of the few artist to combine the rap and rasta lifestyles. A vegan since birth, Yung Tory is a committed Rastafarian, strictly obeying his religious diet and imbuing his life and music with the religion’s spiritual tradition. Yung Tory steeped himself in music from a young age, making his first music as a toddler with a karaoke machine. Studying at the church of Lil Wayne, Dipset, 50 Cent, and others inspired Tory to become a rapper. Earlier this year, Tory struck gold with “Water,” his first hit, which has over 1.3 million views on YouTube and featured a remix with an appearance from Sosamann. With the success of “Water,” Tory caught the ear of Lil Durk, who promptly signed the young artist to his Only The Family label and hopped on a remix of “Run It Up,” which appeared on Tory’s Free Dope mixtape, which dropped last year. Riding the wave of his aquatic-themed hit (“I’m the most hydrated artist,” says Tory. “I’m drippy.”), Yung Tory is ready to win new fans and embrace the rock star lifestyle. “I’m about positive vibes only,” says Tory. “I took negativity and I turned it into positivity. It’s a way of life.”

OTF IKEY background:

Michael Harris (OTF IKEY) born February 2, 1992 in the heart of the Chicago trenches, he attended Dyett High School as a teen to later on become rapper in the “Drill Music” era. His musical influences range from Marvin Gaye, Tim Tatian, and R. Kelly to more modern hip hop artists like Future & Lil Wayne. OTF IKEY jumpstarted his rap career under Lil Durk’s OTF label, and features heavily on the upcoming Only The Family Involved Vol. 1 mixtape.

Doodie Lo bio:

David Saulsberry (Doodie Lo) was born on October 22, 1991 in the small city of Kankakee right outside of Chicago. He went to school in Kankakee, IL as a child, where he was inspired to get into the music business. His musical influences include Cash Money, T.I. Gucci & Yo Gotti. Doodie Lo has joined Lil Durk’s OTF label with a huge up coming project titled “Only The Family Involved Compilation Vol. 1” set to drop summer 2018.