A West Coast rapper often known as Drakeo the Ruler was fatally stabbed in an altercation at a Los Angeles music pageant the place he and others had been scheduled to carry out.

A publicist for the rapper, Scott Jawson, confirmed his loss of life on Sunday to the New York Instances and Rolling Stone. The artist’s actual identify was Darrell Caldwell. He was 28.

Drakeo the Ruler was assaulted Saturday night time on the As soon as Upon a Time in LA live performance, which was anticipated to characteristic a number of artists, together with Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent and Ice Dice. Organizers known as off the pageant after the stabbing.

A battle broke out behind the principle stage shortly after 8:30 p.m., leaving one man severely injured by a suspect wielding an edged weapon, the California Freeway Patrol mentioned in a naked bones information launch that didn’t identify Caldwell. The sufferer was taken to a hospital, the place he later died.

The Los Angeles Police Division and Los Angeles Hearth Division additionally responded.

LAPD spokesman Officer Luis Garcia informed the Los Angeles Instances that no arrests had been made as of Sunday.

Caldwell, who began releasing mixtapes in 2015 and this previous February debuted his first album “The Fact Hurts,” has been known as “probably the most unique stylist on the West Coast” for his darkly comedic lyrics and deadpan supply. His mixtape “Thank You for Utilizing GTL” comprises verses recorded on the Males’s Central Jail in Los Angeles.

He grew up listening to acts like Sizzling Boyz, Boosie, Webbie and Dipset, however mentioned it was a battle rapper named Cocky who influenced him to rap.

“He was so easy and calm whereas rapping, regardless of saying a number of the craziest stuff,” he informed Billboard earlier this 12 months. “It confirmed me you didn’t must yell or be loud to get your level throughout.”

Caldwell pioneered a kind of rap known as “nervous music,” with songs that had been cryptic and darkish, the Los Angeles Instances wrote in 2018: “His cadences run counterclockwise to the drums, by some means each herky-jerky like a stickshift and swift and easy like a luxurious sports activities automotive it controls.”

Caldwell was launched from jail in November 2020 after reaching a plea cope with LA County prosecutors who needed to attempt him on conspiracy fees within the 2016 killing of a 24-year-old man. Beforehand he had been acquitted of felony homicide and tried homicide fees within the man’s loss of life.

The As soon as Upon a Time in LA Fest confirmed in an Instagram submit that the occasion had been known as off early. Organizers didn’t give a motive.