2013 ended on a tragic note for the hip-hop world. Shortly after the death of down-south rap veteran, Lord Infamous, rising star Doe B was murdered in an Alabama nightclub on December 28. The humble and soft-spoken 22-year-old rapper, signed to King of the South, T.I., on his Grand Hustle record label, was just beginning to enjoy the success of his growing buzz, most notably making an appearance on BET’s “106 & Park”.
“It was like a dream come true. Watching it since [I was] a kid and getting the attention that I got that day,” said Doe B, prior to his performance at the BET Music Matters Showcase at last year’s A3C Music Festival in Atlanta. “It was a great experience.”
Doe B, who survived another shootout three years earlier (that was to blame for the trademark eye patch he wore), had also started to make moves in working with hip-hop heavyweights, notably having Juicy J featured on his single “Let Me Find Out”. “It was bigger than life to be on a track with the peers that you’ve looked up to for so long,” said Doe B. “[For them] to take the time out of their day to do a verse… I salute them for that.”
December didn’t get any better with rapper and producer Kayo Redd, brother of Waka Flocka and Wooh Da Kid, committing suicide a few days after Doe B’s death. As ego driven and competitive as hip-hop is known to be, tragedy has shown how closely knit the community is. Rappers, producers and fans have expressed an outpour of condolences and support for one another. Gucci Mane, known for his beef with Waka Flocka and his affiliates, even paid his respects for the death of Redd and artists such as Drake, Meek Mill, B.O.B., Young Dro and Juicy J all paid their respects to Doe B on Twitter. Thousands gathered outside of where Doe B was shot for a candlelight vigil, at which his three-year-old daughter was comforted and honored.
Doe B fans can also hope to hear him on the upcoming Hustle Gang album as it was one of the final projects he was working on. “It’s just work, whenever they’re ready for me to drop an album [I’m] just being prepared,” he said at A3C. Unfortunately, he won’t be able to drop an album, but he’ll live on through his mixtapes and possible features on the now even more anticipated Grand Hustle album, releasing later this year.
Urbanology Magazine would like to send its sincerest condolences to the friends and family of Doe B. Rest in Paradise.
Words By. Shakiyl Cox
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