Machine Gun Kelly said, “Cause whatever you love can be taken away, so live like it’s your dying day.” A wave of shocking events has struck the music industry this year, and that also includes the hip-hop community.
From rappers like Trouble to Wavy Navy Pooh, many talented rappers left the world too soon. Gang rivalries, drug abuse, natural causes et al, remain notable reasons for their deaths continue to hit the hip-hop world. Here is a list of all the rappers who passed away in 2022. Read on to revisit their memories.
1. Trouble (Mariel Semonte Orr )
The Atlanta-based rapper, Trouble, whose real name was Mariel Semonte Orr, started rapping at the tender age of 14. The 34-year-old rapper who became known for songs such as “Ain’t My Fault”, died on June 5 after he was shot during a home invasion at the Rockdale County Apartment of a female companion. The suspect, Jamichael Jones, did not know Orr and was involved in a domestic dispute with the woman.
2. Lil Keed (Raqhid Jevon Render)
Raqhid Jevon Render, professionally known as Lil Keed was signed to Young Thug’s record label YSL Records, as well as 300 Entertainment. Lil’s song “Nameless” reached number 42 on the Billboard Hip Hop/R&B Songs Airplay chart.
However, he was just 24 when he died on May 13, 2022. He was rushed to Burbank Hospital in Los Angeles when he was allegedly complaining of serious stomach pain, leading to his death. He died due to kidney and liver failure or possibly linked to drug abuse.
3. Snootie Wild (LePreston Porter)
LePreston Porter, better known by his stage name Snootie Wild, was best known for his first single, “Yayo”, whose success helped launch his career. However, the 36-year-old rapper died a brutal death on Feb 25, 2022, after he was found unconscious in a ditch in Houston with gunshot wounds to his neck. He was hospitalized in critical condition.
4. DJ Kay Slay
Keith Grayson, professionally known as DJ Kay Slay, was an American disc jockey (DJ) from New York City. Famously known as the “Hip Hop’s One-Man Ministry of Insults”, the 55-year-old music promoter died on April 17 after contracting Covid-19.
5. Tdott Woo (Tahjay Dobson)
Brooklyn rapper TDott Woo passed away after being shot in Canarsie, Brooklyn on February 1, just hours after inking his first record deal. The 22-year-old artist and dancer was struck in the head and left knee during a drive-by shooting in the neighborhood where he grew up.
TDott Woo had signed a deal with Million Dollar Music just hours before his death, according to their social media. The label described Dobson as a “rising star” and said, “he rose to prominence for his ‘Woo Walk’ from a community whose drill music has and continues to electrify the world”.
6. Wavy Navy Pooh (Shandler Beaubien)
Miami rapper Wavy Navy Pooh (born Shandler Beaubien) died on January 14 following a reported drive-by shooting in his hometown. The “M.I.A.M.I. (Murder Is A Major Issue)” rapper was just 28 when he was gunned down while driving a Toyota Camry near Zoo Miami. Beaubien was said to be connected to multiple North Miami-Dade shootings in the past year.
7. Goonew (Markelle Morrow)
Born Markell Morrow, Goonew was a rapper from the Washington D.C. area. He had gained attention for his song “Stain” but died before reaching mainstream success. He was just 24 when he was shot and killed on March 18 this year. It was reported that he was shot dead in Prince George’s County and pronounced dead at a hospital.
Family members reportedly believe that Goonew was killed in a robbery. The rapper was born and raised in Maryland, a place notorious for its violence and poverty. He was noted for his distinct flow and was regarded as one of the most influential “new waves” of rappers.
8. Lil Devin (Devin Swain)
Lil Devin, who was born in Indiana as Devin Swain, gained recognition for tracks such as “MVP” and his remix to Coi Leray’s “No Parties.” Devin was killed in January while celebrating the New Year at a party at his family’s home.
Witnesses revealed that the rapper was fatally shot at a New Year’s Party after several masked men allegedly broke in and attacked Swain. The rapper was found with injuries to his chest He was transported to a hospital, where he died. Devin was just 24.
9. Archie Eversole (Arthur Lee “Archie” Eversole)
Archie Eversole was an American rapper best known for his 2002 single “We Ready”. Eversole was born in Germany while his military parents were stationed in the country. On March 25, 2022, Eversole was found by police at a Decatur gas station with a gunshot wound to his face.
The rapper revealed that someone had broken into his bedroom and shot him while he was asleep. He was hospitalized but sadly died from his injuries at the age of 37 on April 3, 2022. His brother, Alexander Krause, was arrested at Eversole’s home and charged with murder after officers had noticed bloodstains on his socks.
10. JayDaYoungan (Javorius Tykies Scot)
Javorius Tykies Scott, known professionally as JayDaYoungan, was an American rapper and singer, best known for his singles “Elimination”, “Opps” and “23 Island”. He began his rapping career at the age of 18 and dropped out of high school to pursue his career.
On July 27, 2022, JayDaYoungan was shot at least 8 times and died at a local Bogalusa hospital not too far from the scene of the shooting. His father was shot twice in the arm and was in stable condition.
It came out that Scott and his father, Kenyatta Scott were sitting on the front lawn of their Bogalusa home when a black truck arrived and 3 armed gunmen opened fire. They both tried running inside the home, but 2 additional gunmen came and attacked. However, his father started shooting back in self-defense. He survived but his son died on the spot at the age of 24.
11. FBG Cash (Tristian Hamilton)
Chicago rapper FBG Cash, whose real name was Tristan Hamilton, was shot and killed on the city’s South Side on June 10, 2022. The “One Time” rapper was just 31 years old. Sadly, a 29-year-old female who accompanied him was also shot and was in critical condition at the time.
As per the Chicago Police Department, a black four-door sedan, which looked like a Cadillac, approached the vehicle in which FBG Cash and her female companion were seated. An identified offender got out and opened fire before climbing back into the car and fleeing westbound.
FBG Cash dropped his debut album The Heart of the Streets in January 2021 and has collaborated with the likes of Famous Dex and Lotto Savage. He was scheduled to release a new song and video called “Crazy Lane” on the same day he was killed.
12. Rollie Bands
Tampa-based rapper Rollie Bands was fatally shot outside his Tampa home, just minutes after directing a message to his critics on social media. The music artist was emerging on the hip-hop scene in Floridian city and beyond. On July 22, 2022, he was pronounced dead after taking to Instagram with a defiant message for his detractor. He was around 25 years at the time of his death.
Despite receiving immense fame, some of the aforementioned rappers have somehow indulged in the criminal world. The notion of “The harder the crime, the more serious people tend to take your music” among the rap fraternity, has either left rappers behind bars or dead. While the music cannot be blamed, it’s sad to see these talented souls leave the world too soon.
13. Notti Osama (Ethan Reyes)
Ethan Reyes popularly known as Notti Osama got into a fight with another 15-year-old teenager at City College West 137th Street subway station in New York City. He was stabbed during a fight with a 15-year-old rival teenager on July 9 at the 137th Street/City College subway station. Osama subsequently passed away at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital. He was just 14 when he died.
14. Young Slo-Be ( Disean Victor)
Young Slo-Be, whose real name was Disean Victor, was a budding rapper who gained fame from the song, “I Love You”. The rising Stockton rapper became the victim of a shooting on Friday and was found dead in an apartment on Trevino Avenue in Manteca on Aug 5. He died at the age of 29.
15. Earl Swavey
Los Angeles rapper Earl Swavey passed away on January 10, 2022. He was just 26 years old. Swavey made his debut with the mixtape Business Before Pleasure (BBP) in the year 2013. It featured the song “Beef,” which paved the way to meet his mentor A$AP Yams. He also worked with artists like Greedo, Mozzy, and Melly, among others.
His cause of death recently became known recently via his final autopsy report, which was obtained recently. He was driving a car carrying multiple passengers when he was shot by someone outside a party in downtown Los Angeles and subsequently crashed into a parked motorhome.
16. Hypo (Lamar Jackson)
Rapper Hypo, whose actual name is Lamar Jackson, was murdered on 3 June 2022 after attending a Platinum Jubilee party in Woodford Green, Londo. He was a British grime rapper, songwriter, and producer whose songs include ‘First Night’, ‘Run These Streets’, ‘All Summer’ and ‘Flex On My X’. He was just 39-year-old at the time of his death.
If we think closely, overdose or violent crime have claimed the lives of many rappers. Many young rappers have died in the past few years. Mac Miller died in 2018 aged 26 after consuming cocaine and counterfeit oxycodone containing the synthetic opioid fentanyl. In 2019, Nipsey Hussle was shot dead outside his Los Angeles clothing store.
While violent crime and gang rivalries remain the major cause of the recent deaths, we don’t really know how long the bloodshed is going to last on this side of the world. And yea, if I’ve skipped on some names, feel free to suggest. This article was written in the memory of those talented souls, whose music legacy shall live on.
