Man convicted and sentenced for killing J Cole’s mentor
A man whom J Cole considered a mentor was shot and killed several years ago. Now, the murderer has been convicted.
45-year-old Filthe Ritch (real name Carlos Brown), who was one half of the rap duo Bomm Sheltuh, was lost his life in May 2023.
According to The Fayetteville Observer, 42-year-old Joshua Tashun Joyce was sentenced to 20 to 25 years in prison on February 6th.
Joyce was found guilty of second-degree murder, but filed an appeal following the verdict.
Fayetteville, North Carolina, rapper Ritch was a member of Sheltuh alongside Nervous Reck (real name Brion Unger). The duo took a 14-year-old Cole under their wing and gave him his start in the industry.
Cole was born at a military base in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1985, before moving to Fayetteville at eight months old.
During an interview with Nardwuar in 2021, Cole claimed he wouldn’t have a career without their music or support.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them because they were from my city and they made music to me that sounded just as good as Outkast or Redman, Method Man,” he said.
He continued, “It was the first time I heard somebody from the city doing quality type music that was similar to what I listened to. They had the coolest rap names I ever heard. Nervous Reck was one of them, and the other one was Filthe Ritch, and they became my mentors.”
Speaking on his death, Ritch’s longtime friend, Unger, said, “Josh robbed, not only us, but Fayetteville and the world of a musical genius that never got his chance to shine. Those of us that really knew [Ritch], knew him as he was a musical genius. He was a lyricist.”