List of murdered hip-hop musicians
This is a list of notable rappers and hip hop musicians murdered since 1987.
Two studies in the mid-2010s concluded that murder was the cause of half of hip hop musician deaths. The average age of death is between 25–30 years of age. Hip hop artists have a higher rate of homicide than artists of any other genre of music, ranging from five to 32 times higher.[1][2]
Some reasons cited for the high homicide rate include poor background of many artists, criminal gang activity, drug use, and inadequate pastoral care among artists and record labels.[3][4][5] In 2020, XXL wrote that of 77 rapper deaths they examined, more than 40 remain unsolved, including the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur, the 1997 murder of the Notorious B.I.G., and the 1999 murder of Big L.[6]
List
Name | Date of death | Age at death | Place of death | Cause of death | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scott La Rock | August 27, 1987 | 25 | New York City, New York, U.S. | Shooting | [7] |
Paul C | July 17, 1989 | 24 | New York City, New York, U.S. | Shooting | [8] |
Danny "D-Boy" Rodriguez | October 6, 1990 | 22 | Dallas, Texas, U.S. | Shooting | [9][10] |
Charizma | December 16, 1993 | 20 | East Palo Alto, California, U.S. | Shooting | [11][12] |
Stretch | November 30, 1995 | 27 | New York City, New York, U.S. | Shooting | [13] |
Seagram | July 31, 1996 | 26 | Oakland, California, U.S. | Shooting | [14][15] |
Tupac Shakur | September 13, 1996 | 25 | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | Drive-by shooting | [16][17][18] |
G-Slimm | October 13, 1996 | 21 | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | Shooting | [19] |
The Notorious B.I.G. | March 9, 1997 | 24 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Drive-by shooting | [20][21][22] |
Fat Pat | February 3, 1998 | 27 | Houston, Texas, U.S. | Shooting | [23][24] |
Big L | February 15, 1999 | 24 | New York City, New York, U.S. | Shooting | [25][26][27] |
DJ Uncle Al | September 10, 2001 | 32 | Miami, Florida, U.S. | Shooting | [28][29] |
Jam Master Jay | October 30, 2002 | 37 | New York City, New York, U.S. | Shooting | [30] |
Sabotage | January 24, 2003 | 29 | São Paulo, Brazil | Shooting | [31][32] |
Camoflauge | May 19, 2003 | 21 | Savannah, Georgia, U.S. | Shooting | [33] |
Soulja Slim | November 26, 2003 | 26 | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | Shooting | [34][35] |
Mac Dre | November 1, 2004 | 34 | Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. | Shooting | [36] |
Papa Touwtjie | June 9, 2005 | 36 | Paramaribo, Suriname | Shooting | [37] |
Proof | April 11, 2006 | 32 | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | Shooting | [38][39] |
Big Hawk | May 1, 2006 | 36 | Houston, Texas, U.S. | Shooting | [40] |
Dolla | May 18, 2009 | 21 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Shooting | [41][42] |
Speedfreaks | March 26, 2010 | 37 | Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Shooting | [43] |
Lele | July 1, 2010 | 23 | Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico | Shooting | [44] |
Messy Mya | November 14, 2010 | 22 | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | Shooting | [45] |
Magnolia Shorty | December 20, 2010 | 28 | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | Shooting | [46] |
Bad News Brown | February 11, 2011 | 33 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Unspecified violence | [47][48] |
Adán Zapata | June 1, 2012 | 21 | San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico | Shooting | [49] |
Lil JoJo | September 4, 2012 | 18 | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | Shooting | [50] |
MC Daleste | July 7, 2013 | 20 | Paulínia, Brazil | Shooting | [51] |
Lil Snupe | June 20, 2013 | 18 | Winnfield, Louisiana, U.S. | Shooting | [52] |
Pavlos Fyssas | September 18, 2013 | 34 | Keratsini, Greece | Stabbing | [53] |
Depzman | September 21, 2013 | 18 | Birmingham, England | Stabbing | [54] |
The Jacka | February 2, 2015 | 37 | Oakland, California, U.S. | Shooting | [55] |
Chinx | May 17, 2015 | 31 | New York City, New York, U.S. | Shooting | [56] |
Bankroll Fresh | March 4, 2016 | 28 | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | Shooting | [57] |
Mr. 3-2 | November 10, 2016 | 44 | Houston, Texas, U.S. | Shooting | [58] |
XXXTentacion | June 18, 2018 | 20 | Deerfield Beach, Florida, U.S. | Shooting | [59] |
Jimmy Wopo | June 18, 2018 | 21 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Shooting | [60][61] |
Smoke Dawg | June 30, 2018 | 21 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Shooting | [62] |
Young Greatness | October 29, 2018 | 34 | New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | Shooting | [63] |
Feis | January 1, 2019 | 32 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | Shooting | [64] |
Kevin Fret | January 10, 2019 | 24 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Shooting | [65] |
Nipsey Hussle | March 31, 2019 | 33 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Shooting | [66] |
RS | September 3, 2019 | 18 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Stabbing | [67] |
Pop Smoke | February 19, 2020 | 20 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Shooting during home invasion | [68] |
Houdini | May 26, 2020 | 21 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Shooting | [69] |
Huey | June 25, 2020 | 31 | Kinloch, Missouri, U.S. | Shooting | [70] |
King Von | November 6, 2020 | 26 | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | Shooting | [71] |
MO3 | November 11, 2020 | 28 | Dallas, Texas, U.S. | Shooting | [72][73] |
Einár | October 21, 2021 | 19 | Stockholm, Sweden | Shooting | [74] |
Young Dolph | November 17, 2021 | 36 | Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. | Shooting | [75] |
Drakeo the Ruler | December 19, 2021 | 28 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Stabbing | [76] |
Snootie Wild | February 27, 2022 | 36 | Houston, Texas, U.S. | Shooting | [77] |
Goonew | March 18, 2022 | 24 | Prince George's County, Maryland, U.S. | Shooting | [78] |
Archie Eversole | April 5, 2022 | 37 | Decatur, Georgia, U.S. | Shooting | [79] |
Sidhu Moose Wala | May 29, 2022 | 28 | Mansa, Punjab, India | Shooting | [80] |
Trouble | June 5, 2022 | 34 | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | Shooting during home invasion | [81] |
Notti Osama | July 9, 2022 | 14 | Manhattan, New York City, U.S. | Stabbing | [82] |
Zayar Thaw | July 23, 2022 | 41 | Yangon, Myanmar | Executed by Myanmar military junta | [83] |
JayDaYoungan | July 27, 2022 | 24 | Bogalusa, Louisiana, U.S. | Shooting | [84] |
Young Slo-Be | August 5, 2022 | 29 | Manteca, California, U.S. | Shooting | [85] |
PnB Rock | September 12, 2022 | 30 | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | Shooting | [86] |
Takeoff | November 1, 2022 | 28 | Houston, Texas, U.S. | Shooting | [87] |
AKA | February 10, 2023 | 35 | Durban, South Africa | Shooting | [88] |
Pacho El Antifeka | June 1, 2023 | 42 | Bayamón, Puerto Rico | Shooting | [89] |
Bigidagoe | February 25, 2024 | 26 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Shooting | [90] |
C.Gambino | June 4, 2024 | 26 | Gothenburg, Sweden | Shooting | [91] |
Julio Foolio | June 23, 2024 | 26 | Tampa, Florida, U.S. | Shooting | [92] |
Gaboro | December 19, 2024 | 23 | Östergötland, Sweden | Shooting | [93] |
See also
References
- ^ Kenny, Dianna Theadora (March 22, 2015). "Music To Die For: How Genre Affects Popular Musicians' Life Expectancy". The Conversation. Archived from the original on September 7, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
- ^ Kenny, D. T.; Asher, A. (2016). "Life Expectancy and Cause of Death in Popular Musicians: Is the Popular Musician Lifestyle the Road to Ruin?". Medical Problems of Performing Artists. 31 (1): 37–44. doi:10.21091/mppa.2016.1007. PMID 26966963.
- ^ "'It's a war zone': why is a generation of rappers dying young?". the Guardian. January 31, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
- ^ "Killings of rappers are more than just a hip-hop problem, experts say". NBC News. October 6, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
- ^ Tapper, Jake; Nelson, Marie. "Is Corporate America to Blame for Hip-Hop Violence?". ABC News. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
- ^ X. X. L. Staff. "The Current Status of Every Murdered Rapper's Case". XXL Mag. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
- ^ "R.I.P. Scott La Rock – Remembering the BDP Legend 23 Years Later". XXL. August 27, 2010. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
- ^ "Search result". nl.newsbank.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ "Remembering Christian Hip Hop Pioneer Danny "D-Boy" Rodriguez (Full Interview)". Wade-O Radio. October 18, 2013. Archived from the original on January 6, 2019. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
- ^ "Confusion for Dallas detectives as D-boy is shot". crossrhythms.co.uk. November 1, 1990. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
- ^ "Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf in Vapors". Stones Throw. February 1, 2004. Archived from the original on December 30, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- ^ Martins, Chris (May 22, 2014). "Peanut Butter Wolf Breaks Down His 10 Favorite Songs From the Charizma Box Set". Spin. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
- ^ Jones, Clarisse (December 1, 1995). "Rapper Slain After Chase In Queens". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- ^ Glover, Malcolm (August 2, 1996). "Oakland rapper dies in gunfire". SFGate. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ^ Baker, Soren (November 11, 1997). "In Bay Area, Rap Rivalries Lead To Deadly Violence". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ^ "Tupac Shakur Biography". Biography.com. Archived from the original on December 30, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- ^ Marriott, Michel (September 22, 1996). "A Death by Gunplay". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ^ Powell, Kevin (October 31, 1996). "Tupac Shakur: 1971–1996". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ^ "G-Slimm (Big Boy Records) in New Orleans | Rap - the Good Ol'Dayz".
- ^ Purdum, Todd S. (March 10, 1997). "Rapper Is Shot to Death in Echo of Killing 6 Months Ago". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ^ "Notorious B.I.G. Killed in Los Angeles". Rolling Stone. March 10, 1997. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ^ Ford, Dana (December 9, 2012). "Notorious B.I.G. autopsy released, 15 years after his death". CNN. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ^ Lindsey, Craig D. (February 11, 1999). "That's the Breaks". Houston Press. Archived from the original on November 5, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- ^ Aguilar, Elva (February 3, 2014). "This Day In Rap History: Houston Rapper Fat Pat Was Gunned Down". Complex. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ^ Mahadevan, Tara (February 15, 2014). "This Day In Rap History: Harlem Rapper Big L Was Fatally Shot". Complex. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ^ Hess, Mickey (2009). Hip Hop in America: A Regional Guide. Greenwood. p. 41. ISBN 978-0313343216.
- ^ Johnson, Brett (November 29, 2013). "Donald Phinazee on the Life of Big L". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on March 5, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- ^ "Gunshot Wounds Kill Dj Uncle Al". Sun-Sentinel. September 11, 2001. Archived from the original on December 31, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- ^ Rosario, David (October 13, 2010). "Nine Years After DJ Uncle Al's Death, Miami's Hip-Hop Scene Remembers the Legend". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ^ Soderberg, Brandon (October 29, 2012). "Jam Master Jay's Legacy and Death, 10 Years Later". Spin. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ^ Russell, Paul (January 25, 2003). "Brazilian Rap Star 'Sabotage' Shot Dead". rapnewsdirect.com. Archived from the original on December 31, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- ^ Strong, Nolan (January 25, 2003). "Brazilian Rap Star 'Sabotage' Shot To Death". AllHipHop. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
- ^ "USATODAY.com – Rapper Camoflauge fatally shot outside Georgia studio". Usatoday30.usatoday.com. May 21, 2003. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ "Rap News Network – Hip-Hop News: Soulja Slim's Future Cut Short By Jealousy". Rapnews.net. November 28, 2003. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ "Special Report – Murder". NOLA.com. February 8, 2004. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ "Rapper Mac Dre Killed In Kansas City". Billboard. November 2, 2004. Archived from the original on November 14, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ "Papa Touwtjie". surinamstars.com (in Dutch). Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
- ^ "D12 Rapper Proof Shot And Killed In Detroit". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ "Proof Would Have Been 40 Years Old Today – XXL". Xxlmag.com. October 2, 2013. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ "Houston Rapper Big Hawk Shot To Death". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ "Rapper Dolla is shot, killed at Beverly Center – latimes". Los Angeles Times. March 24, 2013. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- ^ "Roderick Burton". Legacy.com. May 19, 2009. Archived from the original on November 23, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ "Rapper Speed é encontrado morto em Niterói". Globo G1. October 27, 2010.
- ^ "Reguetoneros lamentan muerte de Lele". Primera Hora. July 2, 2010. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
- ^ McCarthy, Brendan (November 16, 2010). "Messy Mya, burgeoning rapper and YouTube sensation, identified as 7th Ward murder victim". The Times-Picayune.
- ^ "Fans Remember Rapper Magnolia Shorty". Wdsu.com. December 21, 2010. Archived from the original on December 4, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ "Montreal rapper found slain". Toronto Sun. February 12, 2011. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- ^ "Rapper Bad News Brown killed in Montreal". Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ^ "Adán Zapata, el cantante de rap mexicano que fue asesinado por error". notimérica. June 1, 2016. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
- ^ McVeigh, Karen (September 13, 2012). "Chicago hip-hop feud deepens after death of Joseph 'Lil Jojo' Coleman". The Guardian. ISSN 1756-3224. OCLC 60623878. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
- ^ "Rapper shot dead on stage in Brazil - Truthloader (DETAILS)". Point. June 9, 2013. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- ^ "Lil Snupe, Meek Mill Protégé, Dead At 18". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
- ^ "Tensions rise in Greece as Golden Dawn linked to murder – Channel 4 News". Channel4.com. September 18, 2013. Archived from the original on November 30, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ "Rapper Joshua Ribera's killer Armani Mitchell jailed". BBC. March 27, 2013. Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
- ^ Silvers, Emma (May 6, 2015). "R.I.P. The Jacka, an Iconic Voice in East Bay Hip-Hop | All Shook Down". SF Weekly. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ "NYPD trying to generate leads in fatal shooting of Queens rapper | abc7ny.com". 7online.com. May 20, 2015. Archived from the original on July 19, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ "Bankroll Fresh, Atlanta Rapper, Dead at 28". Rolling Stone. March 5, 2016. Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- ^ "Houston Rapper Mr. 3-2 Fatally Shot". Complex. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
- ^ Iannelli, Jerry; Hitt, Tarpley (June 18, 2018). "Rapper XXXTentacion Shot Dead in Broward County". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2018.
- ^ "Rising rapper Jimmy Wopo shot dead in Pittsburgh", Fox News, June 19, 2018, archived from the original on October 16, 2019, retrieved October 16, 2019
- ^ "Rapper Jimmy Wopo killed in drive-by shooting". Fox 4. June 19, 2019. Archived from the original on November 17, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
- ^ "Toronto rapper Smoke Dawg identified as 1 of 2 dead in downtown shooting". Global News. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
- ^ Hasselle, Della (October 29, 2018). "Reports: Rapper 'Young Greatness' Shot, Killed Outside New Orleans Waffle House". The Advocate. Archived from the original on February 16, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
- ^ "Vrienden: Slachtoffer schietpartij is rapper Feis". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). January 1, 2019. Archived from the original on January 4, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
- ^ "Latin trap artist Kevin Fret, 24, shot dead". Fox News. January 11, 2019. Archived from the original on February 24, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
- ^ "Nipsey Hussle, Grammy-nominated rapper, shot dead in Los Angeles". Fox News. March 31, 2019. Archived from the original on July 14, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
- ^ Maarten van Dun and Paul Vugts (December 4, 2019). "Jeugdbendes in Zuidoost: drillrapper werd gedood met kapmes" [Youthgangs in the Southeast: drill rapper was killed with a machete] (in Dutch). Het Parool.
- ^ "Police arrest 5 people in connection with rapper Pop Smoke's murder". Fox News. July 9, 2020. Archived from the original on July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
- ^ "Toronto rapper Houdini shot dead at 21". Global News. May 12, 2020. Archived from the original on April 13, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ^ Haylock, Zoe (June 26, 2020). ""Pop, Lock, and Drop It" Rapper Huey Killed In Double Shooting". Vulture.
- ^ "Rapper King Von, 2 others, fatally shot in Atlanta". NBC News. Archived from the original on November 6, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- ^ "Rapper Mo3 Killed in Dallas Shooting at 28". Variety. November 11, 2020. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ^ "2nd man charged with murder in fatal shooting of Dallas rapper MO3 on I-35E in Oak Cliff". DallasNews. April 23, 2021. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
- ^ "Swedish rapper shot dead, stoking outrage over gang violence". Reuters. October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ "Rapper Young Dolph dead at 36 after Memphis bakery shooting". Fox News. November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ Mier, Tomás (December 19, 2021). "Rapper Drakeo the Ruler Dies at 28 After Backstage Stabbing at Once Upon a Time in L.A. Festival: Reports". People.
- ^ Coleman, C. Vernon III (February 26, 2022). "Snootie Wild Dies After Allegedly Being Shot". XXL. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
- ^ "Rapper's family defend decision to prop 'dead body' on club stage". The Independent. April 7, 2022.
- ^ Staff (April 14, 2022). ""We Ready" rapper Archie Eversole shot, killed by his brother, DeKalb police say". WSB-TV. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- ^ "Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala shot dead day after govt withdrew his security". Hindustan Times. May 29, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
- ^ Rosenblatt, Kalhan (June 5, 2022). "Rapper Trouble killed in home invasion at residence of 'female friend'". NBC News. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
- ^ Sha Be, Allah (July 12, 2022). "14-Year-Old Yonkers Drill Rapper Notti Osama Stabbed To Death". The Source. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
- ^ "Activist, Ex-Lawmaker Among Detainees Executed in Myanmar". Time. July 25, 2022. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022.
- ^ Helsel, Phil (July 27, 2022). "Rapper JayDaYoungan fatally shot in Louisiana". NBC News. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
- ^ "Stockton rap artist Young Slo-Be shot dead at 29". Cbs News. August 7, 2022.
- ^ Kiszla, Cameron; Leyvas, Gil; Chapman, Elizabeth (September 12, 2022). "Rapper PnB Rock fatally shot at South L.A. Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles". KTLA. Retrieved September 12, 2022.
- ^ "Takeoff: Migos rapper shot dead in Houston at 28". BBC News. November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
- ^ Jeff Wicks; Nkosikhona Duma; Lisalee Solomons. "Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes killed in Durban nightclub shooting". News24. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- ^ "Puerto Rican rapper Pacho El Antifeka is shot to death". Mundo Now. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
- ^ "Dutch rapper Bigidagoe shot dead in Amsterdam". The Brussels Times. February 25, 2024.
- ^ "Grammisvinnaren C.Gambino skjuten till döds på Hisingen". Götenborgs-Posten (in Swedish). June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ "Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio shot, killed in Tampa 'ambush': attorney". News4JAX. Graham Media Group. June 24, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ "Swedish rapper Gaboro shot dead in car park, local media reports". ABC News. December 21, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2024.