By: Arianna Santiago
An increase of celebrity rappers getting killed is a trend many are starting to notice.
Celebrities risking their safety and privacy has started to take a turn for the worst in the most recent years. Social media and the internet have become bigger threats to celebrities than realized. Rather than it being a flex it’s a massive ‘rob’ me target.
On Monday, Sept. 12, well-known rapper PnB Rock was sadly gunned in an armed robbery while dining at Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles in South Los Angeles.
According to LAPD, social media had a big factor in his untimely death. Before eating, PnB’s girlfriend used a geotag on Instagram tagging them at Roscoe’s. Minutes later, the gunman entered the restaurant and started adamantly requesting PnB’s jewelry and other valuables. When he resisted, the firearm was pulled. The investigation is actively ongoing.
Several infamous rappers have been subjected to this kind of violence for years. The content of a majority of rap songs are heavily charged with discussions of gang affiliation, drugs and violence. Now, this isn’t saying these lyrics reflect the artists’ own life, but these attacks seem to have something to do with the rappers and their lifestyles. Considering this factor as well as the reach social media has, incidences such as these are bound to happen.
“I think that social media comes into play because now everyone can portray any life they want to thousands, millions, of people,” said Macie Opalinski, senior public relations major. “I think that when you have a life that people are envious of and want, people are gonna try and have it and take it away from that person. So, I think social media absolutely plays a huge role in their safety.”
In an interview with DJ Akademiks, PnB Rock, a week prior to the shooting, discussed how common it has become for rappers to be robbed. PnB, at the time, said he had never been robbed.
“I never got robbed, ever in my life. I ain’t going to say never, because I don’t like saying never. I’m not superstitious or nothing like that, but I haven’t been robbed,” said PnB as reported by The Daily News. He also stated in the interview that there was an incident where he was followed in a car with his girlfriend and daughter.
According to CNN, since 2018 at least one celebrity or upcoming rap artist has been killed due to gun violence.
Gun violence has been a problem in the US for several years, with shootings happening daily. Notable movements that have drawn attention to this are Black Lives Matter and March For Our Lives. They both show the staggering rates the people are getting killed at – especially black males. I think the fact that people are starting to notice only when it happens to their beloved celebrity should be hard hitting news of how much of a problem it has become. Even celebrities can be targets for gun violence.
“There has been a disproportionate number of rappers dying through gun violence and it would be foolish to ignore the lifestyle they promote while looking for the reason,” said Laura Finneran, junior marketing major. “Social media plays a huge role because it gives them the platform to flex all their wealth, making people jealous and knowing their location.”
One other rapper who faced the same circumstances is the late Pop Smoke. In Febuary 2020, he was murdered during a home invasion. In his investigation, authorities concluded that various social media posts, one including a black gift bag, including his address, that led to his perpetrators finding his location.
Social media being used as a platform to share details of people’s everyday lives has shown its downsides. Not only does it affect individuals safety but it also affects their privacy.
“In today’s society, rappers have a lot more at risk when it comes to violence. I think it’s sad that they should hide their locations and whereabouts just to protect their own safety,” said Madeline Martin, senior allied health major.
“Social media can give hints or clues to where an artist or rapper may be located which criminals can use as a tool to find them,” said Martin.
Gun violence has been an issue in America for decades. The use of social media has drawn more attention to these shootings, calling for a need for action. Legislation and laws need to be in place to save potential innocent lives, many of which have succumbed to this imploding matter.