Over the years, we’ve seen many celebrities quickly rise to fame before it all comes tumbling down because of their careless mistakes and reckless decisions. But it’s something about this new wave of rappers, who find themselves squandering fame and riches before the age of 35.
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In Florida, a 24-year-old rapper named Ksoo was just found guilty of murder after rapping about committing the crime. In the case of folks like Young Thug and Bobby Shmurda, detailing their alleged crimes in the music has landed them in serious trouble.
We also can’t forget about those like Chicago’s King Von, who lost his life because of a rap beef. Now, we’re taking a look at some of the most tragic examples of Black stars who just couldn’t get it together…and in many cases, they paid the ultimate price.
Tay-K
The tragic rise and fall of Texas rapper Tay-K began in 2017 with the release of the biggest song of his career, “The Race.” The record has over 253 million views on YouTube. And as fans became infatuated with the then-16-year-old rapper’s music about going on the run from police, Tay-K would soon face the consequences for his actions. He cut off his ankle monitor and fled after the 2016 home invasion and murder of 21-year-old Ethan Walker, according to NBC News.
This inspired the story behind “The Race.” Tay-K was eventually caught and found guilty in 2019, being sentenced to 55 years behind bars. This past April, the rapper was also found guilty of the separate murder of Mark Anthony Saldivar, we previously reported. In the meantime, his 2017 EP “Santana World” reached the U.S. Billboard 200, but Tay-K will never get the chance to reap the true benefits of his musical success after a series of bad decisions landed him in prison for decades.
Bobby Shmurda
Brooklyn, N.Y. native Bobby Shmurda exploded onto the rap scene in 2015 with his hit song “Hot Nigga.” With a viral dance, memes galore and cosigns from some of hip-hop’s finest, Shmurda was predicted to take over the New York City rap wave… that is until he was arrest and indicted on conspiracy charges. As we previously reported, the rapper was facing 25 years to life in prison. And shockingly, some of the prosecution’s key evidence came from Shmurda’s own rap lyrics. In the end, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six to seven years behind bars. In 2021, he was granted an early release. Although many were excited to see the “Shmoney” rapper get back to dropping hits, he’s quietly faded into the musical background.
YNW Melly
The curious case of YNW Melly has held hip-hop in a chokehold since 2018. Like many others on this list, Melly’s 2018 breakout hit just so happens to be his biggest to date. But what’s more interesting about the song titled “Murder on My Mind” is just a few months after gaining major success, Melly was arrested and charged with a double homicide, according to HotNewHipHop.
Since then, the rapper has been sitting in a jail in Florida without having been convicted. His first trial, which went down in 2023, ended in a mistrial. Now, Melly is waiting for his second to commence. If convicted, Melly is facing the death penalty.
Young Thug
In the longest criminal trial in Georgia history, the racketeering case against Young Thug and Young Stoner Life (YSL) was messy, shady and shocking. Investigators had been monitoring the rapper and his alleged gang for over a decade before making the arrest. He was also facing charges on participation in criminal street gang activity, violation of the Georgia controlled substances act, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a machine gun and drug charges, we previously reported. Despite it all, including hilarious outburst from several key witnesses, Young Tug ended up pleading guilty in Oct. 2024. Since he’s been out, Thug has been spotted in the studio which has fans waiting patiently for new music. But between the songs Thug has since released and his continued one-sided beef with fellow Atlanta rapper Gunna, many think Thug hasn’t yet learned his lesson.
Max B
Max B was hit with a 75-year sentence at the peak of his career in 2009. The Harlem rapper and his stepbrother, Kelvin Leerdam, were arrested following a 2006 robbery and murder, Billboard reported. Leerdam was given a life sentence for his role in the crime. Before that, Max B was certainly living your typical rapper lifestyle, filled with smash hit records, riches and even a touchy rap beef with fellow rapper Jim Jones. But like the others on the list, a series of mistakes and questionable decisions completely derailed Max B’s career.
Now, he has officially ended his beef with Jones and is looking forward to his early release. “At the end of the day, we all grow,” said Max according to Complex. “We overcome, man. We all got responsibilities. It’s time to elevate. Time to build. You know what I’m saying? It’s time to get ready to pass this shit down to the young man, the young man’s world.”
Young Dolph
For fans of Memphis rapper Young Dolph, his 2021 murder came as a shock. But for those familiar with the ongoing beef between him and another Memphis rapper, Yo Gotti, this was just the end to a tragic story of rivalry turned fatal. The two men came up in the rap game around the same time, but disagreements over women, money and gang affiliations quickly gave wind to the tensions brewing in the city.
Dolph had been repeatedly targeted in assassination attempts. Although police never found any substantial evidence tying the “Rake it Up” rapper to the violence. But after Dolph’s killer, Justin Johnson, was charged with his murder, he told police it was Yo Gotti’s brother, Anthony “Big Jook” Mims, who ordered the hit, we reported. Johnson was sentenced to life plus 35 years behind bars. Big Jook and Gotti have not been charged in connection to the murder.
Sheff G
Last year, New York rapper Sheff G joined President Donald Trump at one of his rallies. Now, he wil spend the next few years of his life in prison after pleading guilty in connection to several shootings. The Brooklyn Eagle reported that the rapper was the leader of a small Brooklyn-based gang. And it’s through his leadership that prosecutors say Sheff G orchestrated and directed several shootings across the city. He was one of 32 defendants in the case. Of those, 17 pleaded guilty.
Ksoo
In latest news, Fla. rapper Ksoo and his brother were found guilty for the 2020 murder of 23-year-old Charles McCormick. As we previously reported, prosecutors said McCormick’s killing was in retaliation to a shooting involving Ksoo’s father and his stepbrother, who was killed. In a shocking twist, it was the testimony of Ksoo’s dad, Abdul Robinson Sr., that would lead a jury to convict him. Robinson told the court Ksoo was the shooter after pleading guilty to two counts of accessory after the fact. In exchange for testifying against his son, the state agreed to “cap” the maximum sentence for Robinson at 20 years.
King Von
Before his death, Chicago drill rapper King Von gained a reputation as a one of the most story tellers of his generation. With songs like “Crazy Story” and “Took Her To The O,” Von quickly rose to fame detailing stories of his experiences living in Chicago. But outside his rapper persona, Von also gained notoriety in the city as an alleged killer and violent criminal.
Eventually, things caught up to him after another one of his beefs with Georgia rapper Quando Rondo turned into a full blown shootout in November 2020. In the end, Von was shot and killed and murder charges against the alleged shooter, Timothy Leeks, were ultimately dismissed, according to Complex.
Lil Durk
Lil Durk was a close friend and mentor to King Von, so after his untimely death, Durk allegedly opted to get revenge. Authorities arrested Durk in 2024 on murder-for-hire charges, we reported. They alleged Durk offered payment and future musical opportunities with his record label for anyone willing to kill Quando Rondo. Authorities said the hit on Rondo was unsuccessful, but instead his cousin was shot in broad daylight.
Durk’s charges came the same year he won a Grammy for his song featuring J.Cole, “All My Life.” Durk went from touring across the world to being stuck in a jail cell. Prosecutors have taken the death penalty off the table, but if convicted, Durk is facing life in prison, ABC 7 reported.
6ix9ine
Brooklyn rapper 6ix9ine boasted his gang affiliations and drug life in his rap lyrics. In fact, its this coupled with his colorful hair and hundreds of “69” tattoos that made him an overnight sensation in 2017. But when faced with the real consequences of gang life, 6ix9ine decided to abandon everything he had claimed to save himself.
In 2018, he was kidnapped, beaten and robbed by a group of Nine Trey Gangsters, the same gang he once repped, the New York Times reported. Soon after, 6ix9ine became a star witness against the gang leading to many online deeming him a “rat” and “snitch.” He ended up spending two years in prison. And when he was released, many musicians vowed to never work with him again.
JayDaYoungan
La. rapper JayDaYoungan’s biggest hit is “23 Island” which was even certified double platinum. But he 24-year-old wouldn’t get the chance to unlock all of his potential after he was shot and killed just three years later in 2022. Police say the rapper’s father was also shot but survived the incident, TMZ reported. No one has been charged in connection to the fatal incident, however, one of JayDaYoungan’s best friends, a rapper named FG Famous, was arrested after allegedly attempting to get revenge, HipHopdx reported. FG was taken into custody in New Orleans as he was seen shopping for clothes to wear to Jay’s funeral.
Kay Flock
At just 22 years old, New York City rapper Kay Flock is facing life in prison. According to prosectors, he “was the leader of a neighborhood street gang known as Sev Side / DOA, and with that gang, he committed a series of gang-motivated shootings,” a statement read. In total, he was charged with racketeering conspiracy, use of a firearm resulting in death, attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm for attempted murder, and assault with a dangerous weapon and murder.
The rapper celebrated being aqcuitted of the murder charge. “I beat the top count,” Kay Flock wrote on Instagram. “I made the judge cry. He said now he not force to give me life.” Still, for his lead role in the New York drill scene and gang lifestyle, he was found guilty on racketeering and conspiracy charges, the New York Post reported. He will be sentenced in October.
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