Lashawnda Woodard spoke on losing Lil Durk brother OTF DThang during her book 7220 interview. The book talks about her life growing up in Chicago. She also talks about dealing with depression.
7220 reveals many struggles Woodard faced while living on the south side of Chicago. Including sexual assaults. Along with 8 siblings and a single mother she turned to writing as an escape from the tragedies around her and involving her.
Nevertheless, she still experienced depression and low self-esteem.
Woodard became a pregnant teen and a single mom. However, her children would later become successful artist. But suddenly tragedy would hit her life again.
Lil Durk brother, Dontay Banks Jr. — DThang’s government name — was found deceased on the 7900 block of S. Loomis Blvd. in Chicago and has been assigned a case number. According to reports, DThang was shot in the head outside of a nightclub and died on the spot … citing alleged witnesses who say they saw the shooting go down.
OTF DThang also created music, additionally, he wrote his moms new book 7220 in less than 2 weeks.
During her radio appearance Woodard stated, she can’t accept the passing of her son. “It’s still kind of hard for me to acknowledge that I can’t facetime him anymore”. “I’m dealing with it and I’m going to deal with it head on, because I have to be here for his kids”.
She continued to say, the depression and the anxiety that I’m dealing with now, it got a little worse. As a child it kind of subsided a little bit. But when this happened it got a little worse. “But I’m going to deal with it. Because that’s something that Dthang wanted. He said Ma you got to get out there”.
As the mom of a rapper, she also stated that she’s always been in Lil Durk’s ear about his rap lyrics. “I tell him just to change up, change up your lyrics. Do something different”. “Nobody wants to hear about someone’s child who passed away. Your brother passed away and we are hearing the same thing. I understand the hurt, but you have to deal with it in a different aspect”.
Lashawnda Woodard not only advocates for the redemption from anxiety, depression, and hurt for her children but she also ensures a staple in her community. “Chicago is still home and will always be home for her family”.
The mother and author also a founded of Woo’s Helping Hand. The non-profit helps those in the Chicagoland area in need of food, clothes and general necessities.
