Rapper Drakeo the Ruler has died after he was stabbed at the “Once Upon A Time in LA” music festival Saturday night in Los Angeles.
The stabbing occurred at the hip-hop festival just after 8:30 p.m. local time, according to multiple media reports. Drakeo, 28, was attacked backstage by “a group of people,” the Los Angeles Times reported. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
Early Sunday morning, a spokesperson for Drakeo told The Guardian he had died from his injuries.
Drakeo the Ruler, who was born Darrell Caldwell, had been on the lineup to perform at the festival alongside 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, YG, George Clinton, Al Green and others prominent artists.
The all-day festival was scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., but was halted after the stabbing.
“The Once Upon A Time in LA fest is ending early. All performances are over. Please head for the closest exit,” festival organizers wrote on Instagram Saturday night.
The Los Angeles Police Department posted on Twitter that an “incident” had occurred at the gathering.
“There has been an incident at the Once Upon A Time in LA festival at the Banc of California. The festival has concluded early,” the department’s public information office tweeted. “LAPD will be in the area assisting CHP w/ the investigation.”
Drakeo was born and raised in South Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Times previously called him “the most original West Coast stylist in decades.” His fourth mixtape, “Cold Devil,” was streamed more than 10 million times.
The rapper had several encounters with law enforcement. He was arrested and charged with a 2016 murder, but was acquitted in 2019, The Guardian reported. Prosecutors said during his trial that Drakeo was a gang “leader.”
He was tried again on conspiracy charges related to the killing. The second case ended with a plea deal and the rapper’s release in November 2020.
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