November 18, 2021 — Memphis rapper Young Dolph is the latest in a long line of hip hop artists to die violently in the prime of their respective careers. The 36-year old Young Dolph aka Adolph Thornton was slain while waiting to buy a bag of homemade cookies at a boutique South Memphis bakery. He survived a 2017 shooting where fellow Memphis rap star Yo Gotti was investigated, but cleared for playing a role in. His biggest radio hit was 2016’s “Cut it” with O.G. Genasis. More recently. Young Dolph started his own music label called Paper Route Empire.
Below is an index of rap world slayings dating back to the 1980s:
The Hip-Hop Murder Timeline (1987-2021)
August 27, 1987 – New York DJ and early-hip hop music impresario Scott (La Rock) Sterling
*Co-founder of the influential east coast rap contingent Boogie Down Productions is shot to death behind the wheel of his jeep in the Bronx projects
August 8, 1990 – New York rapper Brandon (B-Doggs) Mitchell
*Founding member of the Motown Records rap group Wreckx-n-Effect from Harlem is killed in argument over a girl at picnic in the wake of the group’s first album hitting shelves months earlier
October 6, 1990 – Texas rapper Daniel (D-Boy) Rodriguez
*The Puerto Rican rapper is killed in carjacking in Dallas
December 16, 1993 – West Coast rapper Charles (Charizma) Hicks
*Shot and killed in Palo Alto, California
April 18, 1994 – Louisiana rapper Edgar (Pimp Daddy) Givens
*The Cash Money Records artist is killed in a New Orleans housing project in an alleged domestic dispute
November 30, 1995 – New York rapper Randy (Stretch) Walker
*Live Squad member and Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. affiliate is killed in Queens on the one-year anniversary of the famous Quad Studio shooting-and-robbery attack survived by him and Shakur, which served as the seminal event in the notorious East Coast-West Coast Rap War
January 1, 1996 – San Francisco rapper Kyle (Mister Cee) Church
*Co-founder of the RBL Posse
July 31, 1996 – Bay Area rapper Seagram (aka Seagram Miller)
*The Rap-A-Lot label artist is killed in East Oakland
September 13, 1996 – Historic West Coast rap superstar Tupac Shakur
*Killed in a Las Vegas drive-by following attending a Mike Tyson boxing match (succumbs to wounds a week after the attack)
November 10, 1996 – Tupac Shakur affiliate and Outlawz rap group member Yafeu (Kadafi) Fula
*The lone witness to the Shakur slaying is killed inside a New Jersey housing project
January 15, 1997 – New Orleans rapper and Cash Money Records affiliate Robert (Kilo-G) Johnson
March 9, 1997 – East Coast rap icon Christopher (Notorious B.I.G.) Wallace
*Murdered in a drive by on a promotional tour of Los Angeles after leaving a party
April 5, 1997 – New Orleans rapper and Cash Money Records artist Albert (Yella Boy) Thomas
*Founding member of the rap group UNLV
February 3, 1998 – Houston rapper Patrick (Fat Pat) Hawkins
January 11, 1999 – Texas rapper Steven (Granpappy Mafioso) Eduok
*Gunned down in the parking lot of a Houston nightclub and recording studio by an assailant toting a AK-47
February 15, 1999 – New York rapper Lamont (Big L) Coleman
*On the verge of a Roc-A-Fella contract, killed in a Harlem drive-by
March 28, 1999 – New York rapper Raymond (Freaky Tah) Rogers
*Founding member of the Lost Boyz rap group, killed outside a Sheraton Hotel in Queens
May 21, 1999 – Detroit rapper Karnail (Bugz) Pitts
*Founding member of D-12 and Eminem affiliate is killed in a fight at BBQ in the weeks after Eminem rocketed to international superstardom
May 2, 2000 – Elektra Records artist and east coast rapper Raeneal (Q-Don) Quann
*Founding member of the NAAM Brigade rap group, killed in a Philadelphia
July 4, 2000 – DJ Quick protégé Jonny (Mausberg) Burns
*Murdered in a Compton, California drive-by
July 26, 2001 – New York rapper Eric (E Moneybags) Smith
*His murder was ordered by legendary east coast drug kingpin Kenny (Supreme) McGriff, who had aligned with the music label Murder, Inc.
October 30, 2002 – Rap pioneer and DJ legend Jason (Jam Master Jay) Mizell
*Killed in a recording studio in Queens
October 31, 2002 – New Orleans rapper and Cash Money Records artist Derrick (Bulletproof) Williams
*Nephew to Cash Money Records founder Ronald (Slim) Williams and Bryan (Baby) Williams
February 2, 2003 – San Francisco rapper Ricky (Hitman) Herd
*Member of the popular Bay Area rap group RBL Posse
May 19, 2003 – Georgia rapper Jason (Camoflauge) Johnson
*Killed in his hometown of Savannah leaving PurePain Recording Studios
October 24, 2003 – East coast rapper and SPICE 1 and Kool G Rap affiliate Jasun (Half a Mill) Wardlaw
*Killed in a Brooklyn housing project
November 26, 2003 – New Orleans rapper and No Limit Records artist James (Soulja Slim) Tapp
*Killed inside his mother’s house
September 18, 2004 – Detroit rapper Antonio (Wipeout) Cadell
*Killed in a feud with fellow Motor City rapper Blade Icewood
November 1, 2004 – Bay Area rapper Andre (Mac Dre) Hicks
*Killed in Kansas City, Missouri drive by shooting
April 19, 2005 – Detroit rapper Darnell (Blade Icewood) Lindsay
May 24, 2005 – Kansas City rapper Anthony (Fat Tone) Watkins
*Killed in Las Vegas
April 11, 2006 – Detroit rapper and D12 founding member DeShaun (Proof) Holton
*Killed in a shooting at an after-hours club on Motown’s far north eastside
May 1, 2006 – Houston rapper James (Big Hawk) Hawkins
June 11, 2007 – East coast rapper, Byrd Gang co-founder and Jim Jones affiliate Rayquon (Stacks Bundles) Eliot
*Killed in Queens, New York
March 25, 2008 – New York rapper Leval (Cavlar) Lyde
*Killed outside a Brooklyn seafood restaurant after an argument with fellow patrons in a parking lot turns violent
April 20, 2008 – New Orleans rapper and Hot Boys affiliate Michael (VL Mike) Allen
January 4, 2009 – New York white rapper Joe (29-E) Ryan
*Killed in Seattle after a recent move to the Pacific Northwest
March 18, 2009 – Akon protégé Roderick (Dolla) Burton
*Killed in Los Angeles over beef starting in his hometown of Atlanta
October 30, 2009 –Felon-turned-rapper Mike Beck killed in Brooklyn
*Affiliated with iconic east coast hip hop figures Rakim and Fat Joe
December 10, 2010 – Cash Money Records female rapper Renetta (Magnolia Shorty) Lowe
*Killed in
May 15, 2011 – West Coast rapper Montae (M-Bone) Talbert
*Killed in a drive by in Inglewood, California
November 10, 2011 – San Francisco rapper Markeise (Killa Keise) Henry
December 4, 2011 – East coast rapper John (Tommy Hill) Wilson
*Founding member of the R.A.M. Squad rap group, killed in front of club in Philadelphia after having testified against a set of Philly drug dealers months earlier
December 16, 2011 – Atlanta rapper and Gucci Mane affiliate Mario (Slim Dunkin) Hamilton
*Killed in Atlanta by fellow rapper Vinson (Young Vito) Hardimon . Slim Dunkin was a member of Gucci’s “Brick Squad.”
June 7, 2012 – Baton Rouge, Louisiana rapper Melvin (Lil’ Phat) Vernell III
*The Trill Entertainment label dynasty scion is killed in the parking lot of Georgia hospital while awaiting the birth of a child
September 4, 2012 – Chicago rapper Joseph (Lil’ JoJo) Coleman
January 2, 2013 – Atlanta rapper Justin (Yung Teddy) Mitchell
April 26, 2013 – Atlanta rap label owner James (OG Double D) Lewel
*Killed cruising in his Maybach in a drive-by on the I-20 Expressway
June 20, 2013 – Louisiana rapper and Meek Mill-signee Addarren (Lil’ Snupe) Ross
*Killed in fight over video game
June 21, 2013 – Philadelphia rapper James (Jimmie Wallstreet) Davis
*Killed on the porch of his mother’s house
September 1, 2013 – Texas rapper Jeremy (Jit) Hill
*Killed outside a Houston strip club
September 23, 2013 – West coast rapper Kevin (Flipside) White
*Founding member of the OFTB Gang rap group
September 26, 2013 – Midwest rapper Louis (L.A. Capone) Anderson
*Killed leaving a recording studio in Chicago
December 28, 2013 – T.I. protégé Glenn (Doe B) Thomas
*Killed in his hometown of Montgomery, Alabama
January 3, 2014 – G-Unit and 50 Cent affiliate Jamal (Mazaradi Fox) Green
April 9, 2014 – Chicago rapper and Interscope Records artist Mario (Blood Money) Hess
*Rapper and Kanye West-affiliate Chief Keef’s cousin
May 31, 2014 – Chicago rapper McArthur (OTF NuNu) Swindle
*Killed in a Southside Chicago shopping mall parking lot
February 2, 2015 – Bay Area rapper Dominic (The Jacka) Newton
*Killed in East Oakland
May 17, 2015 – New York rapper Lionel (Chinx Drugz) Pickens
*Killed in Queens
May 29, 2015 – Chicago rapper Shoquon (Young Pappy) Thomas
June 23, 2015 – Bow Entertainment founder and Louisiana rapper Shannon (Young Ready) Hudson
July 11, 2015 – Chicago rapper, Glo Gang member and Chief Keef affiliate Marvin (Capo) Carr
*Killed in a drive-by shooting in Chicago
September 7, 2015 – Detroit rapper Bryon (Dex Osama) Cox
September 23, 2015 – Chief Keef affiliate and Glo Gang member Marquese (Wolf Da Boss) Tann
*Killed in a Los Angeles marijuana dispensary robbery-homicide
March 4, 2016 – Georgia rapper Trentavious (Bankroll Fresh) White
*The 2Chainz and Gucci Mane affiliate is shot inside a Atlanta recording studio allegedly by fellow rapper “No Plug”
June 25, 2016 – Baltimore rapper Tyriece (La Scoota) Watson
*His manager was killed days later
November 10, 2016 — Houston rapper Chris (3-2) Barriero
*Part of H-Town’s iconic Rap-A-Lot Records regime
January 26, 2017 — Jacksonville rapper Maurice (Ramboe Slice) Hobbs
April 29, 2017 – New Orleans rapper and Cash Money/Rich Gang member Desmone (BTY YoungN) Jerome
May 2, 2017 — Chicago rapper Ulysses (Bando Bandz) Pole
June 8, 2017 — Alabama rapper Paul (Bam Bam) Carter
August 6, 2017 –Atlanta rapper Jibril (Yung Mazi) Abdur-Rahman
*Kevin Gage disciple
September 6, 2017 — Washington D.C. rapper Theodore (30 Glizzy) Pigford
*He was the third member of the Shy Glizzy crew to be murdered in less than 18 months
September 9, 2017 — Louisiana rapper Garrett (Da Real Gee Money) Burton
October 9, 2017 — Detroit rapper Rodney (Doughboy Roc) Yeargin of the CTE-signed Dopeboyz Cashout crew
*Young Jeezy’s disciple
October 21, 2017 — California rapper Roberto (Blackie Fontana) Diaz
June 18, 2018 — Fast-rising Florida rapper Jahseh (XXXTentacion) Onfroy
June 18, 2018 — Pittsburgh rapper Travon (Jimmy Wopo) Smart
*Wiz Khalifa disciple
June 30, 2018 — Toronto rapper Jahvante (Smoke Dawg) Smart
*Opening act for Canada’s favorite son in the rap game Drake
October 29, 2018 — Texas by way of the Big Easy rapper Theodore (Young Greatness) Jones
*The Quality Control Music label rapper was shot to death in the parking lot of a New Orleans Waffle House
March 31, 2019 — L.A. rapper and Atlantic Records artist Ermias (Nipsey Hussle) Asghedom
*The Crips affiliated wordsmith is gunned down outside his Marathon Clothing shop in South Central just a year removed from a Grammy nod for his debut studio album Victory Lap releases on his own All Money In Atlantic Records imprint in 2018.
February 19, 2020 – New York rapper Bashar (Pop Smoke) Jackson
*The Brooklyn drill music king is murdered in home invasion at his Hollywood Hills home in L.A.
June 25, 2020 – St. Louis rapper Lawrence (Huey) Franks
*The former Jive Records artist is shot in front of his Missouri residence
July 11, 2021 — Atlanta rapper Rudolph (Marlo) Johnson is shot dead while driving on the highway
*Signed to Quality Control Records
August 4, 2020 — Chicago rapper Carlton (FBG Duck) Weekly
*The 21 Savage-affiliated rapper was gunned down in broad daylight waiting in line outside a designer mens clothier in the Windy City’s Magnificent Mile tourist district
November 6, 2020 – Chicago rapper Dayvon (King Von) Bennett
*Killed in a fight in an Atlanta nightclub with an associate of rival rapper Quando Rondo. Bennett was signed to Lil’ Durk’s label.
November 11, 2020 – Texas rapper Melvin (Mo3) Noble.
*Boosie Badazz protege is killed in a shootout on a Dallas expressway.
November 17, 2021 — Tennessee rapper Adolph (Young Dolph) Thornton
*Gunned down inside a South Memphis bakery