Photo: (L-R) Drakeo the Ruler (Walik Goshorn/MediaPunch /IPX), FBG Cash in his video for "YB Flow" (Official FBGCash via YouTube), Young Dolph (mpi04/MediaPunch /IPX) Dayvon "King Von" Bennett (provided to NPR courtesy of the artist).
Up-and-coming Louisiana rapper Marley G was signed to iconic record label Rap-A-Lot Records. Born Taji Simon, the 20-year-old had been enjoying a night out with friends at a local club on Oct. 14, 2018 when he and another man were shot and killed. A 28-year-old suspect was quickly arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, Nicki Swift reported. The suspect never explained why he shot Marley G.
Marley’s mother, Wakena Williams, would later tell KALB that her son’s chain was missing from the scene, leading some to believe the artist might have been killed in a robbery.
During his short career, Marley G racked up several regional hits including “I Got Em” and “Worried Bout It.”
The controversial hip-hop artist XXXTentacion, 20, was killed in Florida on June 18, 2018. Born Jahseh Onfroy, he died in hospital after being shot in a robbery attempt.
He was gunned down outside a motorcycle dealership in Deerfield Beach, where he had been approached by two masked men. The men were armed and “demanded property” from XXXTentacion, according to police.
At the time of his death, XXXTentacion was awaiting trial on charges including domestic battery, aggravated battery and false imprisonment against his pregnant girlfriend dating back to 2016. The artist pleaded not guilty but a leaked recording later released contained a confession, USA Today reported.
Four men have been charged with the murder of XXXTentacion.
His music, which explored dark themes of depression, loneliness, abandonment and suicide, attracted millions of followers including fellow artists.
Houston hip-hop veteran Mr. 3-2 (born Christopher Barriere), 44, was shot and killed on Nov. 11, 2016, at a gas station in southwest Houston.
He was shot the back of the head, XXL reported.
Two years later, a friend of Mr. 3-2 was sentenced to 30 years in prison for the murder. The night of the murder, the two men had argued, ABC 13 reported.
Mr. 3-2, who was signed to Rap-A-Lot Records, was a member of Houston’s Screwed Up Click. He was involved with three groups: The Convicts, Southside Playaz and Blac Monks, and released one solo album. He also collaborated on tracks with Snoop Dogg, UGK, Scarface, 8 Ball & MJG, South Park Mexican & Too $hort.
A video shows exactly what happened in the moments leading up to the death of Atlanta hip-hop artist Bankroll Fresh, whose birth name is Trentavious White.
He died after a shootout outside Street Execs Studio in northwest Atlanta on March 24, 2016. Police officially closed the case, concluding that White was shot in self-defense, Sgt. John Chafee with the Atlanta Police Department told 11Alive.
The video shows there was a fight between the shooter, rival artist No Plug, and Bankroll Fresh inside the studio.
No Plug had been reportedly invited to the Street Execs Studio to try and make peace between the two men. But Bankroll Fresh reportedly confronted No Plug and a fight broke out between them in the back room. It soon spilled outside the studio where the gunfight took place.
Queens, New York artist Chinx (born Lionel Pickens Jr.) was on his way to music superstardom, by all accounts, when he was shot and killed over a conflict that dated back nearly a decade.
Quincy Homere, 32, and Jamar Hill, 26, “hunted” and killed Chinx due to a feud that started while Chinx was incarcerated, Lt. Richard Rudolph, Commanding Officer of the Queens South Homicide Squad, told XXL. Chinx and Homere, a fellow artist who performs under the name Qwality, fought each other on Sept. 27, 2009, while both were housed in Rikers Island prison.
After stalking Chinx, Homere fired a 9 mm handgun into the rapper’s Porsche, striking and killing Chinx.
Hill and Homere were charged with second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. A two-year investigation led to their arrest.
Dominic “The Jacka” Newton, 37, was shot dead on Feb. 2, 2015, in East Oakland while rhyming with friends in a van and enjoying the evening, a friend said at the time.
“He was just making music,” Reggie Grant, who described himself as Jacka’s “godbrother,” told NBC Bay Area, adding that from his perspective, his longtime friend could not have been the intended target.
“Everyone was enjoying the night, just enjoying life,” he said.
As Grant told it, there were about seven or eight people rapping in a van and The Jacka was outside on the sidewalk when the bullets flew. The Jacka was hit with a bullet in his head.
“Bullets don’t have no name. I don’t know who did it,” the 51-year-old said.
The Jacka’s last song release was “What Happened to the World.”
The Jacka converted to Islam as a youth and went by the name Shaheed Akbar before using The Jacka name after a one-year prison sentence for carjacking, NBC Bay Area reported.
May 29, 2015, was the date that 20-year-old artist Young Pappy (born Shaquon Thomas) was killed in Uptown Chicago. He was shot twice in the back and succumbed hours later at a nearby hospital.
This wasn’t the first attempt on his life. He was previously the target of two high-profile shootings that resulted in the death of innocent bystanders, Hot New Hip Hop reported. The first shooting was in February 2014 at a McDonald’s parking lot. The second was in July 2014.
Windy City artist Capo, part of Chief Keef’s Glo Gang crew, was shot and killed on July 11, 2015.
The 22-year-old Capo was shot in the back and hip while standing on the street. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital but he died, TMZ reported.
Capo’s alleged killers are suspected of running over and killing a 13-month-old baby in a stroller as they fled in a vehicle in broad daylight.
Police described Capo as a “documented gang member,” DNA Info reported.
Two men were arrested for his murder.
Blood Money’s date of death is April 9, 2014. He was 30 years old. Born Mario Hess, Blood Money also went by the name Big Glo. He was shot 10 times and killed in Chicago as he and his cousin talked to a group of girls on a South Side sidewalk. He had been scheduled to be in a studio at the time of the shooting, but the session got rescheduled, Hot New Hip Hop reported.
The artist had signed a deal with Interscope just before his death. His team released a posthumous record “Believe In Da Glo” 12 hours after his death.
