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The Art And Profiteering Of Death: 100 Rappers Who Were Murdered

The Art And Profiteering Of Death: 100 Rappers Who Were Murdered

rappers murdered

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).

50. L’A Capone: Career had yet to start

L’A Capone was just 17 when he was murdered on Sept. 26, 2013. He was shot in the right thigh and lower back as he walked through an alley on the way home from a recording session.

Capone (born Leonard Anderson) was a longtime friend of Lil Durk and appeared in many of his music videos. 

Capone’s only release was the posthumous “Separate Myself,” and he also had several YouTube videos with views numbering in the millions.

51. Doe: Artist on T.I.’s Grand Hustle Records

Doe B image: Instagram

Doe B, a member of Grand Hustle’s Hustle Gang hip-hop clique, was shot and killed in his hometown of Montgomery, Ala. on Dec. 28, 2013. The up-and-coming artist was born Glenn Thomas. He and another person were fatally shot during an incident at the Centennial Bar and Grill.

In his brief career, Doe B specialized in the trap style of hip-hop and was known for his laid-back delivery and signature eye patch, which was the result of another shooting three years earlier, Billboard reported. 

He was signed to Atlanta-based label Grand Hustle Records by founder T.I. and appeared on the Hustle Gang’s “G.D.O.D.” compilation, later releasing the buzz-grabbing mixtape “Baby Jesus.” Prior to his death, he released videos for tracks including “Let Me Find Out” featuring T.I. and Juicy J, “Trap Muzik” and “2 Many,” featuring Rich Homie Quan.

52. Lil Phat: Murder for hire plot with hidden GPS trackers and hired assassins

Melvin “Lil Phat” Vernell was killed in a twisted murder-for-hire plot at the hospital where his fiancé was waiting to give birth.

It happened at Northside Hospital in Sandy Springs, Georgia, on June 7, 2012. Lil Phat, 19, was shot in his car in the parking lot. He had four bullet wounds in his back. 

A police search of Vernell’s home revealed it had been ransacked and the Atlanta office of the FBI uncovered a complex plot to kill the artist.

Investigators had four main suspects who were hired to do a hit on Lil Phat, whose car had a GPS tracker on it, Oxygen reported. Lil Phat made enemies by robbing a marijuana courier, according to “The Real Murders of Atlanta.”

53. Lil JoJo: Killed for taunting a rival gang member

Up-and-coming hip-hop artist Lil JoJo’s life was cut short due to gang wars. Born Joseph Coleman, the 18-year-old was killed after taunting a rival gang online. Some blame the record company for not squashing the beef. His death was due to the “heedless greed of a big-time recording company, Interscope Records,” The Daily Beast reported. 

Somebody posted on the World Star Hip Hop site a four-minute and 40-second video in which a boy of about 6 years old said he was excited that “Chief Keef’s out of prison!” 

Chief Keef was 16-year-old Chicago rapper Keith Cozart, whom police said was affiliated with the Black Disciples gang. Keef was signed to Interscope.

Lil JoJo reportedly started the feud with Keef by posting videos taunting him. Lil JoJo was affiliated with the rival Gangster Disciples, according to police.

JoJo and his friends can be seen in the video brandishing firearms including a Tech 9 and an AK 47, The Daily Beast reported.

“These n—as claim 300, but we BDK,” they chanted, using gang shorthand for Black Disciple killers.

On Sept. 4, 2012, JoJo posted a video of himself and his buddies driving into Keef’s territory and shouting insults at one of Keef’s best buddies, Lil Reese.

Later that day, JoJo was killed in a driveby.

In the immediate aftermath, Keef tweeted, “Its Sad Cuz Dat Nigg-a JoJo Wanted to be Jus Like Us #LMAO.”

54. Magnolia Shorty: Queen of Bounce

New Orleans artist Magnolia Shorty was one of the first female hip-hop artists signed to Cash Money Records. Her debut album, “Monkey on the Dick,” released in 1997, is considered a bounce classic.

She was discovered by hip-hop legend Birdman and got her nickname from another veteran, Soulja Slim, because both had grown up in the infamous New Orleans Magnolia Projects. Magnolia Shorty also got the nickname “Queen of Bounce.”

On Dec. 20, 2010, Magnolia was going back to her apartment to pick up something before traveling to Miami to perform at a music festival. Two cars blocked hers and two men started shooting through her windows. She was hit with 26 bullets. Jerome Hampton, who was also in her car, was also killed. 

Lil Wayne, B.G., Juvenile, Mack Maine, and Birdman were among the more than 100 mourners at her funeral.

In 2014, a 22-year-old admitted gang member, heroin dealer, and murderer confessed to the killing, Nola.com reported.

55. Dolla: Hip-hop artist on the verge

Up-and-coming Atlanta rapper Dolla was shot and killed in an altercation outside a shopping mall in Los Angeles on May 18, 2009. He was 21. Dolla was shot while he waited at the Beverly Center’s mall valet with rappers DJ Shabbazz and Scrapp DeLeon, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Dolla (born Roderick Anthony Burton II ) was in Los Angeles to continue work on his debut album, “A Dolla & A Dream.” At one point in his new career, he was recruited by Diddy to be a model for his Sean John fashion line. Dolla also hooked up with hip-hop star Akon, who signed Dolla to his Konvict Music Records in 2007, Rolling Stone reported.

Dolla went on to record the hit single “Who the Fuck Is That?” with T-Pain. His next single, “Feelin’ Myself,” was featured on the “Step Up” soundtrack.

56. R.I.P. to VL Mike

New Orleans artist VL Mike, born Michael Allen, was exiting his car on April 20, 2008, when a gunman approached and began firing bullets. The 32-year-old emcee was taken to University Hospital, but was soon pronounced dead, according to the New Orleans Times Picayune

Before his death, VL was on his way to big things. Having broken onto the hip-hop scene in the early 2000s, he gained exposure with B.G.-backed clique Chopper City Boyz. He split from the group after having disagreements with his label boss, also B.G., in 2007.

His murder remains unsolved.

57. Big Hawk: Shot to death

Big Hawk (born John Edward Hawkins) was a member of the late DJ Screw’s rap collective the Screwed Up Click. 

His self-titled 2001 album reached No. 45 on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums chart. He scored a regional hit in 2002 with “You Already Know.” 

On May 1, 2006, the artist planned to meet up with a friend at a house in Houston but arrived early. When he walked to the side of the house, he was shot several times and died on the scene, Billboard reported. He died eight years after his younger brother, Fat Pat, was murdered.

Hawk was 36. No arrest was ever made.

58. Proof: Close friend of Eminem and D12 member

Proof, a member of rap group D12, shown on March 13, 2003 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Proof, a longtime friend of hip-hop veteran Eminem, was shot and murdered on April 11, 2006, at the Detroit club 3C, located on the city’s famed Eight Mile, Rolling Stone reported. Proof was shot three times by Mario Etheridge, once in the head and twice in the chest, after a fight broke out during a game of billiards.

Born Deshaun Holton, the 32-year-old Proof was part of the D12 hip-hop clique, which he co-founded in 1995 with his friends Eminem, Bizarre, and Mr. Porter. Proof often performed as Eminem’s hype man at concerts. 

In 2001, D12’s debut album, “Devil’s Night,” was released on Eminem’s Shady Records and Interscope Records. Proof also released a six-song EP called “Electric CoolAid: Acid Testing,” followed by a solo album.

59. Blade Icewood: Detroit underground legend

Blade Icewood was just 28 when he died but he was considered one of the most influential hip-hop artist in the Detroit underground rap genre.

Born Darnell Quincy Lindsay, he died on April 19, 2005. He was shot while at a carwash on the west side of Detroit. A gunman, who was later caught, pulled up alongside Icewood’s Range Rover and fired 17 rounds into the passenger’s side, Celebrity Deaths reported. 

Ironically, just a year before his death, Icewood hosted a nonviolence rally about a mile away from where he was killed.

His family founded Icewood Entertainment after his death.