Aside from the known tragic deaths of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G., there were quite a few rappers murdered in their prime back in the day.
As you may know, on September 7, 1996, a then-25-year-old Shakur was targeted in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nearly a week after the occurrence, he succumbed to his injuries on September 13. Ironically enough, the following year, on March 8, 1997, B.I.G. was shot and killed at a red light in Los Angeles, California. He was 24.
From industry-infused rivalries to hometown jealousy, senseless killings in the hip-hop game are (unfortunately) quite common. However, as years pass and popularity decreases, many of our fallen rhymers’ demises have gone off the radar.
But… despite them no longer being with us, their contributions to the culture still live on to this very day.
These are rappers murdered in their prime who were gone way too soon.
Rappers Murdered in Their Prime Who Should Still Be with Us Today
There are a few conspiracies regarding Live Squad member Stretch’s death in 1995.
Randy “Stretch” Walker was a close friend of fellow rapper Tupac Shakur and a part of the hip-hop groups Live Squad, out of Queens, New York, and Thug Life (with Shakur). On November 30, 1995, Stretch was involved in a high-speed chase while going to one of B.I.G.’s events. Ultimately, his car was found crashed with four bullets to his back. Per reports, it had been suspected that Stretch’s murder was the result of robbing a heavyweight drug dealer.
However, others theorized that it may have been in connection with the 1994 Quad Recording Studios incident, where Stretch witnessed three armed men attacking Shakur and leaving him with five gun wounds. Shortly after, he and the “California Love” phenomenon fell out. Shakur cited in an interview with The Source that Stretch failed to “ride for him” and began hanging with B.I.G. (who Shakur blamed for the setup) after the shooting.
Years later, Jam Master Jay’s killer, Ronald Washington, was tied to Stretch’s death.
This past July marked Oakland rapper Seagram’s 28th death anniversary.
Seagram Miller was a rap artist from Oakland, California. Throughout his short-lived career, he unleashed two albums: The Dark Roads (1992) and Reality Check (1994), which spawned the records “The Vill” and “Gangsta Livin.”
On July 31, 1996, Seagram was shot upon exiting a vehicle with a friend in East Oakland, an area riddled with crime. An hour after the 26-year-old’s arrival to the hospital, he died. However, this wasn’t the first time that Seagram had been targeted. Three years earlier, in 1993, he was the victim of an attempted assassination but fled the scene.
According to a court document, Seagram was a member of a drug gang called the 69th Village Mob. There are no new developments in his murder case at this time.
Fat Pat was killed while visiting someone else’s home on business.
Straight out of Houston, Texas, Fat Pat was a member of DEA (Dead End Alliance) with his brother, John “Big Hawk” Hawkins, DJ Screw, and Kay-K who were all a part of the hip-hop collective Screwed Up Click.
On February 3, 1998, Fat Pat went to Meadows Southwest Apartments to pick up some money from a promoter for an appearance. He was shot outside of the complex by an “unknown gunman.” Pat was only 27 years old.
His albums, Ghetto Dreams and Throwed in da Game, were released through Wreckshop Records after the tragedy. Details regarding his death are limited. An old police flyer was spotted around the internet, where authorities were searching for the alleged promoter, Kenneth “Weasel” Watson. Per XXL, some sources have claimed that Watson may have been involved in the killing due to his rumored belief that Pat had set him up to get robbed.
Soulja Slim fell dead on his mother’s lawn and rocked the entire community.
Soulja Slim was a No Limit Records signee from New Orleans, Louisiana. He’s most known for his appearance on Juvenile’s 2004 hit “Slow Motion.” His debut album, Give It 2 ‘Em Raw, came out in 1998.
On November 26, 2003, Soulja was shot four times in his mother’s front yard in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. Police originally arrested a guy named Garelle Smith who was rumoredly assigned to kill the lyricist. However, no eyewitnesses caused the case to turn cold and dropped. Smith was murdered in 2011.
The motive behind Soulja’s death is still a mystery.
The reports about Proof’s death have been conflicting over the years.
Detroit rhymer Proof (main picture) was a member of D12, alongside mainstream heavy hitters Eminem, Bizarre, Mr. Porter, Kuniva, and Swifty McVay.
According to the Los Angeles Times, 32-year-old Proof was struck by a bullet in the head on April 11, 2006, at The CCC Club in Detroit. Reportedly, a heated argument ensued between him and a man, Keith Bender, which soon turned physical.
Wikipedia cites that Bender’s cousin, Mario Etheridge, let off a warning shot, with Proof following up by shooting and injuring Bender in the head. Etheridge allegedly retaliated and shot and killed Proof. Bender died a week later.
Another account from Proof’s friend, Reginald “Mudd” Moore, claimed that Etheridge’s shots were responsible for murdering both men instead. He told XXL, “Before I could get over there, Mario had came through and started shooting in the direction of Proof and his cousin, Keith Bender.”
Moore added, “I see them both drop. There’s smoke everywhere. Mario Etheridge leaves. I’m moving people out of the way. I see Proof lying there hit, blood everywhere. Keith Bender is lying there bleeding, blood slowly running out of his head.”
Etheridge’s actions were ruled as lawful defense, but he was convicted of carrying a concealed weapon and discharging a firearm inside a building.
It’s been almost 14 years since Magnolia Shorty’s passing.
Magnolia Shorty was a staple in the New Orleans bounce music arena. Deemed the “Queen of Bounce,” she was one of the first women to be signed to Cash Money Records. Her debut effort, Monkey on the D$ck, is still recognized today.
On December 20, 2010, Magnolia was shot 26 times after pulling into her apartment’s parking lot to retrieve some things before heading off to a Miami performance. Her passenger was killed as well. The shooting took place in the New Orleans East neighborhood of Edgelake.
Years later, McCoy “Rat” Walter and Terrioues “T-Red” Owner were found guilty of her murder.
Which of these rappers murdered in their prime were you most saddened by? Share below.
Main Image Credit: Johnny Nunez/WireImage
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