Steph Deschamps / December 20, 2021
American rapper Drakeo the Ruler died Sunday after being stabbed backstage at a music festival in Los Angeles, his agent Scott Jawson said.
Real name Darrell Caldwell, the 28-year-old artist was scheduled to perform this weekend at the Once Upon a Time in LA concert with hip-hop stars Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube and 50 Cent.
The incident that caused his death was reported at 8:40 p.m. Saturday, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing a city fire department official.
One person, whose identity was not initially disclosed, was taken to hospital in critical condition.
It was later announced that the victim was Darrell Caldwell, who died as a result of his injuries.
Live Nation, which helped organize the festival, closed the event shortly after the incident was announced. There was an altercation backstage, the promoter told AFP in a statement. Out of respect for those involved and in coordination with local authorities, artists and organizers it was decided not to continue the planned shows.
Snoop Dogg tweeted that he was in his dressing room when he was informed of the incident and decided to leave immediately.
Caldwell had burst onto the scene in 2015 and many of his songs were particularly well received by critics.
He had been arrested in 2017 for weapons possession and in 2018 for murder in connection with the shooting death of a 24-year-old man. He had served several years in prison on that charge.
He had been acquitted in 2019, but had been charged with criminal gang association. He had accepted a plea deal and was released from prison in 2020.
While still in prison, he released the album Thank You for Using GTL, in reference to the company that controls the telephone services in prisons. Drakeo had recorded the lyrics of his songs using these services.