Controversial rapper XXXTentacion shot dead in Florida

XXXTentacion: Controversial rapper shot dead in Florida aged 20 (bbc.co.uk).

Certainly one of rap’s more controversial artists with violence inspired lyrics and his latest album debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 but currently facing 15 felony charges including domestic abuse aggravated battery of a pregnant girlfriend.

The motive of the attack was described as “possible robbery” by investigators, with two men approaching him who then fled in a dark-coloured SUV after it is said several shots were fired and a Louis Vuitton bag took from his vehicle, and at least one site (TMZ) has alas published a censored video of him dead behind the wheel with uncensored pictures soon uploaded to various gore sites.

Tributes have poured from from hip-hop luminaries including Sean “Diddy” Combs and Kanye West for the artist who found fame uploading songs to the website SoundCloud as part of a the genre known as SoundCloud Rap.

And documentary filmmaker and broadcaster Louis Theroux saying of XXXTentacion: “Notwithstanding personal demons, he was a huge talent & bringing a beautiful new feel to hip hop. So sad.”

#RIPXXXTentacion (Instagram).

Updated 19th June 2018

But already a familiar conspiracy for “dead” celebs, especially rappers, has grown:

XXXTentacion death: False claims and conspiracy theories suggesting rapper still alive spread across social media (independent.co.uk).

Seemingly social media believing the rapper saying the reports of his death were fake and he’s done it for a music.

Updated 20th June 2018

XXXTentacion: Controversy rages after rapper’s shooting death (bbc.co.uk).

Which had been much debated before his death but which did not hinder his career, and indeed perhaps enhanced it. And his death perhaps hijacked to serve as a catalyst:

XXXTentacion: Fans jump off roofs, close streets during L.A. Memorial (tmz.com).

With hundreds jumping off roofs and climbing on vehicles during a tribute as news crews watched and turning into a mini-riot as officers in riot gear descended upon the crowd, with doubtless all having their say on social media.

Updated 21st June 2018

And shouted in ALL-CAPS like pop culture’s gossip town crier as usual:

XXXTENTACION: SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR MURDER (tmz.com).

The suspect pulled over for driving without a license and then placed into custody an active felony warrant, which was seemingly the murder. The suspect has previous arrests for weapon possession, domestic violence and aggravated assault with a firearm but also followed XXXTentacion on Instagram.

And thankfully hopefully bringing an end to any social media conspiracies about him not being dead to.

Updated 28th June 2018

And regards the video that coincidentally helped fuel those he’s not really dead conspiracy theories:

Murdered rapper XXXTentacion attends his own funeral and has fist fight with his dead body in macabre new music video for SAD! (mirror.co.uk).

A bizarre video seemingly serving as a parable and lifesyle warning in which he not only attends his own funeral but then precedes to fight his dead body as it springs back to supernatural life.

Updated 11th July 2018

XXXTentacion death: Second suspect arrested (bbc.co.uk).

A second 22-year-old suspect served an arrest warrant following an arrest for a drug charge on the 5th of the month.

Updated 20th July 2018

And the number involved kept growing:

Four charged with murder of rapper XXXTentacion (news.sky.com).

Updated 28th September 2018

XXXTENTACION MURDER CAPTURED ON SURVEILLANCE VIDEO (tmz.com).

And shows two suspects follow him into the motorcycle dealership in Pompano Beach and later his BMW is stopped on the street by the gun-wielding suspects and that he struggled with his assailants before they opened fire at point-blank range.