Tragedy struck the Atlanta music scene as rapper Young Scooter, known for his impactful contributions to hip-hop, passed away on Friday, March 28, shortly after celebrating his 39th birthday. While the official cause of his death has not been released, reports indicate Young Scooter succumbed to injuries sustained during an attempt to evade police.
During a recent press conference, Atlanta police commander Lt. Andrew Smith provided details about the incident. A disturbance call, reportedly involving gunfire, led officers to a residence in Atlanta. As police arrived, two men fled the scene, with the 39-year-old man reportedly jumping two fences and sustaining injuries in the process. He was later pronounced dead at a local hospital, with preliminary investigations suggesting that he may have died from these injuries. Lt. Smith confirmed that no gunfire was exchanged with the officers during the incident, nor did police inflict any injuries.
Born Kenneth Edward Bailey in Walterboro, South Carolina, Young Scooter moved to Atlanta with his family during his childhood, where he would ultimately build his music career. Emerging in the early 2010s, he collaborated with fellow artist Future and became associated with the Freebandz label.
Renowned for his straightforward lyrical style, Young Scooter carved out a niche within the trap genre, coining it “count music” to reflect his focus on themes of money and street life. “I call it count music because all I talk about is money, and hustling and trapping and doing different street stuff,” he stated.
Young Scooter gained widespread recognition with his 2013 mixtape, Street Lottery, which featured collaborations with well-known artists such as Future, Bun B, and Gucci Mane, and included his hit track “Colombia.”
Throughout the 2010s, he consistently released impactful mixtapes and worked alongside prominent figures in the hip-hop community, including Lil Wayne and Migos. His final project, Streetz Krazy, was released in October 2023, which he anticipated would become one of his classics.
