Posted by Drakeo The Ruler performed at the Once Upon A Time In L.A. Festival on Saturday (December 18) and as fate would have it, it turned out to be the last time he’ll ever hit the stage.
Later that evening, the 28-year-old rapper was involved in an altercation backstage that ended with him being stabbed in the neck. He was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition where he died as a result of his wounds. As the rap community grapples with yet another violent death, Drakeo’s partner Noel is speaking out on social media and expressing her raw grief with a series of Instagram posts.
“You asked me last Monday, ‘So does this mean we are soulmates’,” she wrote. “They took my baby from me on my birthday. I will never be the same without u my rib. Thank u for the prayers. God give me strength.”
She added in a follow-up post: “If I had one birthday wish it would be for my man to be bear hugging me one more time. He gave me the best hugs. I don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel right now. I just wish u were here Darrell.”
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It became apparent something was terribly wrong on Saturday night when the festival organizers abruptly pulled the plug on the entire event.
“The Once Upon A Time In LA Fest is ending early,” they wrote in an Instagram post. “All performances are now over. Although no explanation was given as to why, the Los Angeles Times reported police had the backstage area blocked off with yellow crime tape by 9:20 p.m. local time.
Hours after he passed on Sunday (December 19), Noel shared a pair of photos showing them together and wrote in the caption, “Darrell you knew everything about me and still loved me. I will miss our drunk nights, our arguments over nothing, u singing Sam Smith to me in the car, holding my hand 24/7, massaging my feet, staring at me while I’m sleeping. This loss is unbearable.”
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Drakeo The Ruler marks at least the 22nd rapper to be either fatally shot or stabbed this year. Snoop Dogg, who was expected to hit the stage right around the time the fight broke out, issued a statement to Instagram not long after Drakeo was declared dead.
Snoop Dogg Explains Why He Fled L.A. Festival Following Drakeo The Ruler Stabbing
“Last night I was in my dressing room when I was informed about the incident and chose to immediately leave the festival grounds,” he wrote. “My prayers go out to everyone affected by tragedy. Please take care, love one another and stay safe ya’ll. IM PRAYING FOR PEACE IN HIP HOP.”