Rapper Shawty Lo, known for his song “Dey Know” and an abandoned reality TV show about the mothers of his 11 children, died Wednesday after a car crash in Atlanta, his manager told a local radio station.
He was 40 years old.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed his death to CNN. The official cause of death is pending.
Born Carlos Walker, the Jonesboro, Georgia, native was a founding member of the group D4L, whose song “Laffy Taffy” peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 100 chart in 2006.
The song made it into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2007 as the most downloaded song. It was one of the biggest hits in the hip hop sub-genre known as “snap” music.
In 2008 he released a solo single, “Dey Know,” which helped him win the “Rookie of the Year” award at the BET Hip Hop Awards the same year.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the car crash involved a white Audi that “went over a guardrail, hit two trees and burst into flames.” Two women in the car were taken to a hospital, the newspaper said.
Hours before the crash, photos posted on Walker’s verified Instagram page showed him partying at a local strip club.
Known as the “King of Bankhead” (though that title led to a dispute as many fans believe that fellow rapper and Bankhead neighbor T.I. held that title) for his affiliation and love for the Atlanta neighborhood, Walker was embraced by the industry.
He was mourned by several high-profile rappers, including Wu Tang Clan member Raekwon the Chef, who tweeted about Walker’s death.
Source: CNN.com