A friendship that OTF Jam says survived years of incarceration and grew into a close OTF bond has now fractured in federal court, where he told jurors he still loves Lil Durk but no longer respects him. OTF Jam, whose real name is Kacey Hester, returned to the witness stand Thursday, August 27, during Durk’s federal murder for hire trial in Los Angeles. While discussing what it feels like to testify against someone he once considered a close friend, Jam made it clear that his feelings toward Durk are complicated.
“I still got a lot of love for him. Blood was there for me… I feel bad. I know he probably hate me. I got love for him, I just don’t have respect for him,” he said in court.
That statement carries even more weight when placed against Jam’s testimony about how far back their relationship goes. Hester testified that he first met Durk in 2007, years before Durk became one of Chicago drill’s biggest stars.
Hester said their friendship became stronger while he was incarcerated beginning around 2012. He testified that Durk contributed $1,000 toward his attorney and regularly put money into his prison account.
More detailed courtroom reporting from Los Angeles Magazine said Hester recalled Durk calling him during his 12 years behind bars, sometimes speaking frequently and making time for conversations even when Durk was busy. Hester said the deposits Durk made to his prison account ranged from smaller amounts to as much as $1,000.
“People forget about you [in prison],” Hester testified. “I ain’t gon’ lie, Durk didn’t do that.”
The friendship reportedly continued after Jam returned home. According to Los Angeles Magazine’s courtroom account, Hester testified that he visited Durk within several days to a week of his release and later traveled with him frequently. Hester said Durk’s business associate Jason Smith often handled those travel arrangements after receiving approval from Durk.
Their connection was also publicly reflected in Durk’s music long before the current criminal case. Lil Durk’s “Times” shows the 2013 record included a reference calling for Jam’s freedom. Years later, Jam was referenced again on King Von’s 2020 track “Back Again,” which featured Lil Durk and Prince Dre.
That history now sits in sharp contrast with OTF Jam’s role in Durk’s federal trial.
Hester testified Wednesday that Durk was involved in the alleged 2022 plot targeting Quando Rondo. He also described Durk’s state of mind following the November 2020 killing of King Von, telling jurors, “He didn’t like that people were trolling him. It was getting to him.”
Federal prosecutors have alleged that the plot was retaliation connected to Von’s death and resulted in the August 2022 killing of Quando Rondo’s cousin Saviay’a Robinson in Los Angeles. The U.S. Justice Department has accused Durk of financing and ordering the alleged attack.
Durk has denied the allegations. According to the Los Angeles Times, he pleaded not guilty, and his defense told jurors that Durk had nothing to do with the murder plot. His attorneys have instead argued that former assistant Kavon Grant was responsible for organizing key logistics connected to the shooting.
The Los Angeles Times also reported that Hester accepted a plea agreement and agreed to testify for the prosecution, making his credibility and past relationship with Durk central issues for jurors to consider.
What remains unclear is exactly why OTF Jam says his respect for Durk is gone. His own words, however, draw a striking distinction between affection and respect. After years of phone calls, financial support, music references, and personal loyalty, Jam says the love for his former friend remains even as he sits across a federal courtroom testifying against him.
