Lil Durk doesn't just rap. He bleeds onto the track. Honestly, if you’ve been following the Chicago drill scene since the early 2010s, you know that Durkio’s evolution from a gritty street rapper to "The Voice" wasn't some lucky accident. It was a survival tactic. One of the most raw examples of this is the 2017 track "Make It Out."
Released as part of his Signed to the Streets 2.5 project, this song is basically a diary entry set to a Will-A-Fool beat. But here’s the thing: most people just hear the Auto-Tune and the melodic hooks and think it’s just another "struggle song." They’re wrong.
The Reality Behind Lil Durk Make It Out Lyrics
The Lil Durk make it out lyrics aren't just about getting rich. That's a shallow take. When Durk says, "I get so high I put these drugs into my system," he isn't glorifying a party lifestyle. He’s talking about numbing the pain of losing his cousin, LA Capone.
Capone was a rising star in Chicago, a close friend of Durk, and his death in 2013 left a massive hole in the OTF (Only The Family) camp. In "Make It Out," Durk delivers one of his most haunting lines: "I was so high, I wish I replied to LA's text."
Think about that for a second.
The weight of a missed text message from a dead friend. That’s the kind of survivor's guilt that fuels the best of Durk's discography. It’s not just music; it’s a public processing of trauma. He’s grappling with the fact that while he made it to the private jets and the 'Raris, he left a lot of people behind in the dirt.
Why This Track Still Hits in 2026
You might wonder why we’re still talking about a song from 2017. Simple. Hip-hop moves fast, but authenticity has a long shelf life. "Make It Out" serves as the blueprint for the more polished introspection we saw later on albums like 7220.
He’s talking about the "piss case" (a reference to his legal battles) and the sheer exhaustion of being "ten toes down" while everyone is trying to extort him or claim his spot.
Durk’s lyrics often touch on a few recurring themes:
- The paradox of "robbing the robbers" to survive.
- The tension between family loyalty and street betrayal.
- The constant surveillance by the "state's attorney."
- The use of substances as a buffer against PTSD.
He literally raps, "I was dressing my homies up for they funerals." It's a line that hits like a gut punch because it’s a literal reality for him, not a metaphor.
Breaking Down the Hook
The chorus of "Make It Out" is surprisingly optimistic compared to the verses. It’s a call to action.
"Two wrongs don't make it right / Get with your dog and make it right."
This is Durk trying to be a peacemaker in a city where peace is often seen as a weakness. He’s telling his listeners to squash petty beefs because the bigger goal is—you guessed it—making it out.
He also takes a swing at the political climate of the time, famously rapping, "Fuck Trump them bitches racist." While some rappers shy away from politics, Durk’s perspective is rooted in how those high-level decisions affect the "generation" he's praying for in the very next line.
What Most People Miss About the "Make It Out" Title
There's actually another song titled "Make It Out" that Durk is featured on—this one with Lil Baby from their 2021 collaborative album The Voice of the Heroes.
It's easy to get them mixed up.
The 2021 version is a victory lap. It’s polished, triumphant, and features two of the biggest stars in the world reflecting on their success. But if you want the raw, unedited version of that journey, you have to go back to the 2017 solo track.
The 2017 Lil Durk make it out lyrics are desperate. They’re the sound of a man who isn't sure if he’s going to be alive next week, let alone at the top of the Billboard charts. That’s the version that matters for the fans who actually live the life he’s describing.
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Actionable Takeaway for Listeners
If you’re trying to understand the depth of Chicago’s musical influence, don’t just listen to the hits. Look for the turning points. "Make It Out" was the moment Durk stopped trying to just be the "toughest" and started being the most "honest."
To get the full experience of his narrative arc, listen to "Make It Out" (2017) immediately followed by "Started From" or "Headtaps" from 7220. You’ll hear the voice of a man who transitioned from fighting the streets to surviving his own mind.
The next time you hear these lyrics, remember that for Durk, "making it out" wasn't just about moving to a mansion in Atlanta. It was about finding a way to live with the ghosts of the people who didn't get to come with him.
Check your local streaming platforms for the Signed to the Streets 2.5 version to hear the original, raw performance that defined an era of melodic drill.