Only The Family

Assembled loosely around Lil Durk's label of the same name, Only the Family gathers artists from the drill scene of the rapper's native Chicago. The label and its shifting roster began releasing mixtapes in the early 2010s, coalescing into more of a group by the time of releases like 2019's Family Over Everything, their first entry on the Billboard 200. Loyal Bros, dedicated to the memory of slain key member King Von, reached number 12. Loyal Bros 2 and Nightmares in the Trenches, issued respectively in 2022 and 2023, showcased OTF affiliates such as Doodie Lo, Chief Wuk, and Lil Zay Osama.

Lil Durk began Only the Family records as a proving ground for talented rappers and vocalists he was associated with. Originally, the label acted as a home for Durk's own mixtapes as well as work from signees like Lil Reese and Tee Grizzley. With 2018's two-volume series Only the Family Involved, Only the Family took on more of a classic rap posse feel. Lil Durk remained in the center of the project, but his melodic, partially sung raps were filled out with street-minded lyrics from King Von, YFN Lucci, Doodie Lo, OTF Ikey, and others. In December 2019, a somewhat different iteration of OTF returned with the mixtape Family Over Everything, which spent time on the Billboard charts.

The collective's next release came in March 2021 with Only the Family – Lil Durk Presents: Loyal Bros, or simply Loyal Bros for short. The album was dedicated to the memory of King Von, who had been part of Only the Family before he was shot and killed in November 2020. In addition to posthumous appearances from King Von, the 23-track project included contributions from Memo600, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Mexico, Doodie Lo, and many others. Loyal Bros debuted at number 12 on the Billboard albums chart. Loyal Bros 2 followed in 2022, peaking in the Top 40. Nightmares in the Trenches appeared in 2023 and delivered a Hot 100 hit with Durk's own "Smurk Carter." ~ Fred Thomas