Loss is nothing new to the Hip Hop culture but looking at hip hop stars lost, in the past 4 years, is heartbreaking. If you aren’t a hip hop connoisseur, it was introduced in the 80’s. The music was reflective of the streets. Chuck D commonly referred to hip hop as “Black America’s CNN“. In the late 90’s and early 2000’s, “Versace rap” was the status symbol. High fashion labels and expensive cars, from the likes of Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Puff Daddy, became the sound. Add the numbers race of the 2010’s where everyone wanted to outsell the rest. Thanks to 50 Cent, selling the most was the wish of every artist. Hip hop stars lost in past 4 years is a sad collection. Even more sad that it’s not as shocking as it should be.

Today’s Artists Are Different

With the wave of newer artists rapping more about “what they’re doing” instead of “what they did”, the line between winning and wiping out has gotten very thin. Instead of rapping to get OUT of the game, many straddled both sides and gunplay is the result. In 2017, there were 7 deaths in various stages of hip hop. From Yung Mazi to Lil Peep. Tragedies not all attributed to guns. In 2018, by the time of the June murder of XXXtentacion, hip hop already matched the 7 of the previous year. Something about the brash nature of that XXX murder, in broad daylight, outside of a store that feels like the tipping point of where we are today. With this week’s death of Takeoff (of Migos), the murders of PNB Rock and Young Dolph, bodies continue to fall.

Takeoff (June 18, 1994 - November 1, 2022)
One third of Migos, Takeoff born Kirshnik Khari Ball, was shot and killed, in Houston. He was a bystander to an altercation involving his uncle, Migos member Quavo.
PNB Rock (December 9, 1991 - September 12, 2022)
Born Rakim Hasheem Allen, PNB Rock was stranger to success but it got him targeted, at lunch, in Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles, where he was shot and killed.
Rollie Bands (April 13, 1999 - July 12, 2022)
Ari Williams pka Rollie Bands, from our own Tampa streets, was getting meetings to be the next one! His sound was garnering deal talk from major labels and he was snuffed out after challenging opps to pull up, via social media. Tragedy.
Drakeo The Ruler (December 1, 1993 - December 19, 2021)
Born Darrell Wayne Caldwell, Drakeo was signed to Empire Independent label and was known for his lazy, left coast flow. Killed by stabbing, backstage at a festival, this loss shocked many, when a crown of 40 rushed the rapper.
Young Dolph (July 27, 1985 - November 17, 2021)
Another life taken, in broad daylight, while buying his favorite cookies, Young Dolph (Adolph Robert Thorton Jr.) was a serious loss.
Mo3 (May 13, 1992 - November 11th, 2020)
MO3 was shot and killed in his hometown of Dallas, after being tailed during a car chase on the highway, with a jealous baby daddy, according to his team.
King Von (August 9th, 1994 - November 6th 2020)
One of the bigger names, in Chicago’s drill music scene, this loss hit the current hip hop space hard. Dayvon Daquan Bennett, signed to Lil Durk’s OTF was gunned down, in Atlanta.
Huey (September 12, 1987 - June 25, 2020)
With his biggest success, in 2006, Huey (born Lawrence Franks Jr.), unfortunately lost his life to a gun shooting in his hometown of St. Louis
Pop Smoke (July 20, 1999 - February 19, 2020)
Probably the biggest, new artist, with hit records all over, Pop (born Bashar Barakah Jackson) was gunned down, at his Hollywood Holls rental, after opps saw his address, on a social media shared post.
Nipsey Hussle (August 15, 1985 - March 31, 2019)
Ermias Joseph Asghedom was know worldwide as “Neighborhood Nip” aka Nipsey Hussle. Besides being an artist, he was an inspiration to a generation for bulding your hood, generational wealth, real estate portfolios and motivation, to name a few. As when Tupac was taken, most say both where snuffed out before they could truly show their total potential for leading the culture.
Young Greatness (September 19, 1984 - October 29, 2018)
Born Theodore Jones, Young Greatness, a truly humble and warm guy, who visited WiLD often, was killed in the parking lot outside a Waffle House, in his hometown of New Orleans
XXXtentacion (January 23, 1998 - June 18, 2018)
XXXtentacion (Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfrov) was a voice to a generation of kids who felt unheard, unappreciated and unseen. His death, outside a motorcycle shop, in broad daylight, began utter disregard for life, and started this dark journey, in recent hip hop gun violence.