Drake, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B & More Mourn PnB Rock's Death Following Fatal Shooting
Tributes to PnB Rock have poured in from across the Hip Hop community in the wake of his tragic death.
The Philadelphia rapper — best known for hits like “Fleek,” “Selfish” and “Everyday We Lit” — was fatally shot during a robbery at the Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles in Inglewood, California on Monday afternoon (September 12), according to the Los Angeles Times. He was 30 years old.
According to Los Angeles Police Department Captain Kelly Muniz, Rock (real name Rakim Allen) was at the restaurant with his girlfriend when at least one suspect approached the couple and demanded jewelry.
After a verbal exchange, the suspect shot the rapper multiple times and fled in a getaway car. Rock was transported to a local hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 1:59 p.m. local time.
Police have yet to identify the shooter, although they’re hoping security video from inside the restaurant will aid their investigation.
As news of his untimely death spread, many of PnB Rock’s rap peers took to social media to mourn his passing, including Drake, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, 21 Savage, Meek Mill and more.
Drizzy — whose 2011 Take Care album inspired Rock to start rapping — posted a photo of them partying together on his Instagram Stories, while Nicki described her “Fendi” collaborator as a “pleasure to work with.”
However, the Queen rapper also questioned Rock’s girlfriend’s decision to share a location-tagged photo of their lunch date on her Instagram Stories.
“After Pop Smoke there’s no way we as rappers or our loved ones are still posting locations to our whereabouts. To show waffles & some fried chicken????!” she wrote. “He was such a pleasure to work with. Condolences to his mom & family. This makes me feel so sick. Jesus. #SIP #PnbRock.”
After Pop Smoke there’s no way we as rappers or our loved ones are still posting locations to our whereabouts. To show waffles & some fried chicken????! He was such a pleasure to work with. Condolences to his mom & family. This makes me feel so sick. Jesus. #SIP #PnbRock ?
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) September 13, 2022
Cardi, meanwhile, defended Rock’s girlfriend from the criticism while sending her condolences to the rapper’s loved ones.
“I highly doubt nikkas was looking at PMB’s babymom IG,” she tweeted. “He was in a bad location and people stay outside plotting. It’s very irresponsible and inconsiderate to blame her for something so tragic. We should be sending nothing but love to her and his family at this time.”
I highly doubt nikkas was looking at PMB’s babymom IG. He was in a bad location and people stay outside plotting. It’s very irresponsible and inconsiderate to blame her for something so tragic. We should be sending nothing but love to her and his family at this time.
— Cardi B (@iamcardib) September 13, 2022
Meek, a fellow Philly native who worked with PnB Rock on 2018’s “Dangerous,” shared a photo of the two of them on Instagram soundtracked by Rock’s “Too Many Years” collaboration with Kodak Black. “Shit burnnnneedd my soul bad today,” he wrote in the caption.
21 Savage, who was the victim of a near-fatal shooting prior to his music career in 2013, posted a photo of the TrapStar Turnt PopStar MC on his Instagram Stories with the caption: “Praying for your family kids girl and your team bro [broken heart emoji].”
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Offset, Quavo, YG, Kodak Black, Tee Grizzley, 2 Chainz, G Herbo, Fabolous and Pusha T were among those who also mourned PnB Rock’s passing on social media.
His death adds to an alarming trend of violence against rappers in Los Angeles following the deaths of Nipsey Hussle, Pop Smoke and Drakeo The Ruler. Just last month, Quando Rondo was the target of a shooting in L.A. that claimed the life of his friend, Lul Pab.
In a clip from a recent interview with DJ Akademiks making the rounds online, PnB Rock spoke about being confronted by L.A. gangsters while shopping on Fairfax with his girlfriend and daughter.
“Where I’m from, we, like, sneaky criminals; in L.A., it’s like they’re bold,” he said. “I ain’t go in the store for two seconds, [these] people hop in the store, hype as shit. He started talking to me on some gangsta shit. I’m like, ‘Bro, do you know me from somewhere?’
“I flagged him off and I just walked out the store ’cause I already know where this shit ’bout to go … When [my girlfriend and daughter] got to the car, that’s when I let n-ggas know like, I’m not on that. I ain’t gon’ say what happened, but n-ggas know that I’m just not on that.”
Check out more reactions to PnB Rock’s death below. HipHopDX sends our condolences to his family, friends and fans.
Pray for pnb rock….the man got family and kids smh God be with the man‼️
— OFFSET (@OffsetYRN) September 13, 2022
R.I.P PNB Rock Sending Prayers To His Family ??
— QuavoYRN (@QuavoStuntin) September 13, 2022
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R.I.P. PNB ROCK ?? damn mane this is so sad
— juicy j (@therealjuicyj) September 13, 2022
Rip PNB Rock rest easy Yung king ? u will be missed ?
— GILLIE DA KING (@gilliedakid) September 13, 2022
strength to our brother PNB. God protect his soul & protect his family
— Dr. Love (@questlove) September 12, 2022
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Sending love to PNB rocks family and loved ones ?????
— BIA (@BIABIA) September 13, 2022
Pnb Rock ?
Saddest part it’s our own people who did this shit. You really gone kill a nigga over jewelry?
Now if the police killed my boy it a be a riot right now but since it’s sum hood shit it’s just posts & Rip tweets.
As black people we gotta STOP & DO BETTER
— HitMaka! (@_Hitmaka) September 13, 2022
R.I.P. PNB ROCK
— Denzel Curry (@denzelcurry) September 13, 2022
R.I.P to @PnBRock ?
I remember like yesterday 2016 you was the 1st big artist to put me on
You did songs with me before my deal
You put me on big stages & let me rock
You brought deals to me
Man you was a Sweet Sagittarius Always making sure everybody Eat
This hurts bro love you pic.twitter.com/lN74biJy1R— Queen Of Drill (@AsianDaBrattt) September 13, 2022
Damn man. RIP PNB Rock. So sad
— RUSS (@russdiemon) September 13, 2022
We are cursed as a race and culture smh Rip PNB Rock he was a super cool guy ???
— CYHI (@CyhiOfficial) September 13, 2022