Atlantic Records described the killing of the Philadelphia rapper, whose name was Rakim Allen, as a “senseless loss.” On September 12, Philadelphia rapper PnB Rock, whose legal name was Rakim Allen, was robbed and fatally shot at a Roscoe’s House of Chicken ’N Waffles restaurant in Los Angeles. As news of his death surfaced, many of his music-industry colleagues offered heartfelt condolences. Meanwhile, a tense debate over who was to blame spread across social media. While there are still more questions than answers about the death of another rap and musical talent, here is everything we know about PnB Rock’s death so far.
Michel Moore, the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, told area reporters the rapper was “brutally attacked by an individual who apparently, or we believe, came to the location after a social media posting of the artist and the woman accompanying him, posting on Instagram a picture of the meal,” according to the New York Times. Authorities said the shooter walked into Roscoe’s around 1 p.m. local time. The killer demanded PnB Rock’s property, and there was an argument. The suspect then shot PnB Rock several times, took his valuables, and rushed out of the restaurant to a waiting vehicle before fleeing, according to authorities. PnB Rock was later pronounced dead at an area hospital, according to KTLA. Moore said “PnB Rock was shot and killed” because of his valuables. PnB Rock, a rapper known for his melodic style and songs like “Fleek” and “Selfish,” was killed on Monday afternoon in what the police said they believed was a robbery that took place after the artist was tagged on social media at a restaurant in South Los Angeles. The rapper was “brutally attacked by an individual who apparently, or we believe, came to the location after a social media posting of the artist and the woman accompanying him, posting on Instagram a picture of the meal,” Chief Michel Moore of the Los Angeles Police Department said on Tuesday in remarks to local reporters that were posted online. Chief Moore said Mr. Allen was “enjoying a simple meal” with the woman and that the location was tagged in the posting.
He said the attacker entered the location, Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles in South Los Angeles, and a struggle ensued. “PnB Rock was shot and killed” because of the valuables that he had with him, he said. PnB Rock was the stage name of Rakim Allen, Atlantic Records his label, described his death as a senseless loss. “PnB Rock was more than an artist,” the company said in a post on Instagram on Tuesday. “To many, Rakim Allen was a great friend. He was also a wonderful father to two beautiful little girls.”
A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department said early Tuesday that the shooting occurred at 1:15 p.m. on Monday at the restaurant. The spokeswoman said a male suspect entered the restaurant and demanded the property of the 30-year-old victim. The police did not immediately identify the victim by name, but news outlets rapidly did so, and the police chief then confirmed he was the rapper. The suspect fled after the shooting, and the artist was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A number of burglaries and robberies targeting actors, musicians and athletes have occurred in recent years. Bashar Jackson, who performed as Pop Smoke, was killed in a home invasion in early 2020. Fans noted that the day before he was shot, he had posted photos on Instagram showing a stack of cash and a gift bag label with his Los Angeles address.
A little more than a week before PnB Rock was killed, he spoke about being targeted in Los Angeles and recalled a situation in which he was followed. “Where I’m from, we like sneaky criminals,” he said in a YouTube interview with DJ Akademiks. “In L.A., it’s like they bold.” PnB Rock was part of a wave of rappers whose popularity and unique sound was partly built on their ability to effortlessly switch between singing and rapping.
He said that Drake had inspired him to start a career in music and that at 19, while serving time in prison for what he described as “robbing, stealing, drilling,” he got hold of a keyboard. “I never heard anybody sing, rap, and making it smooth for the girls,” he said about Drake. “If I had a choice to only make one type of music, it would be some melody” songs. PnB Rock’s career began to rise in 2015 with his song “Fleek.” Then came “Selfish,” which peaked at No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He collaborated with some of hip-hop’s most touted acts, including Lil Baby, City Girls and XXXTentacion.
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