Lil Duval has officially entered his HBCU dad era. The comedian and musician recently dropped his daughter off for her freshman year at Tuskegee University.
He celebrated the milestone the only way Lil Duval could: with jokes, a proud-parent post, and a lesson in one of the summer’s hottest dances.
After completing the Tuskegee move-in, Lil Duval invited Texas rapper JhonnieDamnD to his waterfall pool. There, the man behind “Murda Bend” personally taught him how to perform the viral dance.
“I wanted to celebrate dropping my daughter off to Tuskegee this week,” Lil Duval wrote.
The resulting video turned a major family moment into a celebrity-HBCU crossover with a built-in “new dance alert.” It may also have given HBCU bands and dance lines an early look at a move that could be everywhere this fall.
Lil Duval becomes a Tuskegee HBCU dad
Lil Duval first revealed his daughter’s college choice in June. He explained that he initially planned to keep the decision private. After speaking with her, however, she allowed him to share the news.
His pride came from more than the Tuskegee name. According to Lil Duval, his daughter chose the HBCU route on her own.
That decision brought her to one of the nation’s most historic Black institutions. Founded in 1881, Tuskegee has produced generations of leaders while building a culture that extends far beyond the classroom.
Move-in week also brought out Lil Duval’s protective side.
“I just dropped my daughter off to Tuskegee today and I’m so excited for her,” he wrote. “But ion trust these YNs down here.”
He then singled out students wearing “gold boots,” a playful reference to members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Lil Duval warned the Tuskegee campus to prepare to see plenty of him during his daughter’s college career.
Before the move, he also started an online debate about the proper allowance for a college freshman. Lil Duval floated a budget of roughly $100 per week, as parents, students, and alumni offered advice in the comments.
It was a familiar HBCU move-in experience with a celebrity twist: dorm supplies, budgeting, emotional goodbyes, and a father keeping one eye on the young men around campus.
What is the Murda Bend?
Lil Duval’s celebration also introduced some of his audience to the “Murda Bend.”
The dance is connected to Dallas rapper JhonnieDamnD and his song of the same name. Its signature movement features a deep bend at the waist followed by rhythmic hip and lower-body isolations.
It is more difficult than it looks.
The Murda Bend requires balance, flexibility, and enough confidence to commit to the move once the camera starts rolling. That combination has helped the dance spread across TikTok, Instagram, and the Texas hip-hop scene.
The “Murda Bend” performance video has attracted millions of views. Athletes, entertainers, and social media creators have since added their own versions.
Lil Duval did not settle for watching a tutorial. He brought JhonnieDamnD directly to the pool and received an in-person lesson.
Consider that one of the perks of officially becoming an HBCU parent.
Could the Murda Bend reach HBCU band season?
The timing of Lil Duval’s video could not be better.
Students are returning to HBCU campuses as football teams, marching bands, and dance lines prepare for the fall. If the Murda Bend continues its climb, it is easy to imagine the move appearing in the stands, during fifth-quarter performances, or across campus social media.
HBCU culture has long helped regional dances become national traditions.
Songs and dances can begin in local clubs or online videos. HBCU bands then give them new life through booming brass arrangements, percussion, and synchronized movement. That cultural pipeline has helped everything from “Swag Surfin’” to “Knuck If You Buck” remain relevant across generations.
Tuskegee University’s Marching Crimson Pipers understand that process better than most.
In April, the band appeared in the music video for T.I.’s “Trauma Bond.” The production placed Tuskegee’s signature rendition of “Ball ’N Parlay” on a much larger stage.
The campus version traces back to 2004. Tuskegee student Stefan A. Smith arranged the song—originally recorded by Houston rapper Big Pokey—for the band. Students later created lyrics that reflected the Tuskegee experience.
During the T.I. shoot, the Marching Crimson Pipers had to translate modern ideas into full-band movement. Tuskegee Director of Bands Dr. Warren Williams said the students learned much of the choreography in real time.
“T.I.’s team would suggest something from a TikTok video, and we had to quickly reimagine and scale that for a full marching band,” Williams told Tuskegee University.
That makes Tuskegee the perfect landing spot for Lil Duval’s latest cultural moment. The university already has a band capable of transforming an internet trend into a game-day experience.
Lil Duval’s long HBCU connection
Although his daughter’s enrollment makes the relationship more personal, Lil Duval is no stranger to HBCU culture.
The Jacksonville native has publicly supported Edward Waters University, Florida’s first independent HBCU. In 2024, he surprised Edward Waters graduates with a performance of his hit “Smile” during commencement.
He has also performed at major HBCU celebrations. That includes North Carolina A&T’s homecoming and The Big Homecoming festival, an event built around HBCU music, bands, tailgating, and culture.
Now, Lil Duval has a permanent reason to return to the yard.
His daughter is beginning her own journey at Tuskegee University. Her father is celebrating, keeping watch, and already learning the latest dance.
Whether the Murda Bend reaches the Marching Crimson Pipers remains to be seen. But with band season approaching, Lil Duval may have just delivered an early preview of what HBCU stands will look like this fall.