Houston, Texas – The recent shooting at a gas station in Houston has once again raised concerns about the safety of artists in the city’s rap community. The incident, which targeted rapper El Picante, resulted in the death of the son of prominent Dominican Republic figure Pacheco Rojas and left another victim hospitalized.
This tragic event is just one in a series of violent occurrences that have rocked Houston’s music scene. From the shooting of Scrappy G at a nightclub to the murder of Snootie Wild, the dangers faced by rappers in the city have become increasingly apparent.
On February 25, 2022, the music world mourned the loss of Snootie Wild, also known as LePreston Porter, who was found with gunshot wounds in a ditch on Alice Street. Ivory Duke Williams was arrested in connection with his murder.
Similarly, the untimely death of Lotta Cash Desto, also known as Destinee Govan, in a shooting on Richmond Avenue in September 2022, highlighted the vulnerability of artists to violence in the city.
The murder of BTB Savage, whose real name was Darrell Gentry, in a drive-by shooting in a parking garage on March 30, 2023, further underscores the dangers faced by rappers in their own neighborhoods.
The loss of Takeoff, whose real name was Kirsnick Khari Ball, in a downtown Houston shooting serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing threat of gun violence within the city’s music scene.
These tragic events paint a bleak picture of the challenges confronted by Houston’s rap community. The cumulative impact of such violence cannot be underestimated, highlighting the urgent need for increased safety measures to protect artists in the city.