Jay-Z and J. Cole petition for release of Lil Durk on bail

Lil Durk is getting support from two of rap's biggest names in his bid to get out of jail following his acquittal on murder-for-hire charges.

Jay-Z and J. Cole submitted letters to a federal judge on Tuesday, Billboard reports.

The music heavyweights are supporting Durk's motion for bail.

The Chicago rapper, real name Durk Banks, was found not guilty last month of taking out a hit on rival rapper Quando Rondo. Despite the acquittal, he remains in custody awaiting a second racketeering trial.

In his letter, Jay-Z wrote that he found Durk to be "kind, respectful and focused on his career" when they met several years earlier.

"What stood out most to me was how he used his success," he noted.

"Durk was signing young artists from his community to recording contracts and giving them a real path into a legitimate industry. Many of us come from neighbourhoods where the options are limited, and the risks are high. Durk understood that, and he worked to help others find a way out of those conditions rather than leaving them behind.

"Release would allow him to support his family and continue the work in his community that I saw firsthand," Jay-Z concluded.

J. Cole's letter focuses on his collaboration with Durk on the Grammy-winning 2023 track All My Life.

Cole notes that the song has a message of peace and growth, for which Durk had advocated.

"It speaks to the vision of Durk to mature and realise the impact his art could have, and then to be willing to fight for the chance to make that impact a positive one, even if it meant going against the instincts of an artist he respects and looks up to," wrote J. Cole.

Durk was denied bail earlier after being deemed a flight risk.

A hearing to review his bond is set for 4 November.