The late Florida emcee and record producer XXXTentacion’s murder trial has concluded in the U.S. Born Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy, the ‘Schizophrenia’ rapper was fatally shot during an armed robbery on June 18th 2018. The young rapper, who left a lasting impression on Hip-Hop, later succumbed to gun wounds.
As per The New York Times, three men – Michael Boatwright, Trayvon Newsome and Dedrick Williams have been found guilty of XXXTentacion’s murder and face life sentences. Another fourth accused, Robert Allen, plead guilty to second murder charges in August last year.
The rapper was just 20 years old at the time. Upon his murder, a slew of Hip-Hop emcees and record producers mourned his loss and expressed serious concerns about America’s gun laws.
Earlier this year, Harlem’s legendary emcee A$ap Rocky remembered XXXtentacion alongside Takeoff, DMX, Drakeo the Ruler, Juice WRLD, King Von, Lil Keed, the Notorious B.I.G., PNB Rock, Trouble, Slim 400, ASAP Yams, Fredo Santana, Bankroll Fresh, 2Pac, Pop Smoke, Young Dolph, Nipsey Hussle, Mac Miller, MF Doom, Ricky Black, and Adrian Duke Mayers during his Amazon Music Live debut. Notably, a majority of these emcees, mostly African American, were killed in violent altercations across the U.S.
Just a week ahead of the conviction, XXXTentacion’s prosecutor Pascale Achille played cell phone footage which showed the four accused “dancing and smiling” hours after killing XXX.
“This is who they are. This is their real character. Killers that within 24 hours after shooting the victim dead and stealing $50,000 from him, this is what they do,” Achille told the court at the time. “Look at how happy they look. Look at how excited they look.”
As per many, XXXTentacion was one of the most influential Hip-Hop artists across generations. Recognised for his deeply personal rap records, which were often influenced by classic rock and heavy bass, XXXTentacion’s brief yet affecting discography includes four provocative LPs – “17”, “?”, “Skins” and “Bad Vibes Forever”.
Rest in Peace, Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy.
