Compton rapper Roddy Ricch has spoken out to condemn the gang violence in L.A. via Instagram. Taking to social media, the rapper has expressed his disappointment in the people of his hometown after the murder of Philadelphia rapper PnB Rock during an attempted robbery at Roscoe’s Waffle House.
PnB Rock was murdered on September 12th, 2022, as he was targeted for his jewellery while eating at the restaurant chain Roscoe’s with his girlfriend. The rapper, who was celebrated for his groundbreaking take on the trap genre, was shot multiple times during the robbery attempt and was fatally injured.
Posting a lengthy Instagram story, Roddy Ricch spoke out in condemnation of the murder as he told his community, “we gotta do better.” Calling the act “senseless”, Ricch now joins Fat Joe, Tony Yayo, Ice-T, and more who have spoken against violence in Los Angeles and rappers for being insensitive to the dire situations of others. Rapper Ice-T has blasted artists for underestimating the ferocity of L.A. gangs as they descend upon deprived neighbourhoods during their L.A. visits.
The lengthy story posted by Roddy Ricch (real name Rodrick Moore Jr.) read, “L.A.! Usually, I try to mind my business and let the world rotate, but we gotta do better. It’s too much senseless violence. Too much opportunity and motivation to take things other people work hard for. It’s too much life to live to take someone else’s away. I love my city, but we can’t keep going out like this. Before you know it, it’ll be nobody left to take from or kill. Let’s stay on point, stay aware and find better ways to pursue our dreams because this sh*t turning into ALL NIGHTMARES.”
Similar messages have been posted by other rappers who empathise with the gang members on some fronts but condemn the murder. New York rapper, Fat Joe of the Terror Squad, told his Instagram followers during a live video that, with regard to robbing individuals, he “understands the plight” as he has been there before and as a kid used to have “that get rich or die trying mentality”. However, the question he posed is, “why you can’t just rob a brother? Why you gotta kill him?!” Further condemning the violence in L.A., he bluntly proclaimed, “anyone who robs a brother then kills him for no reason except just to kill him is evil!!”
You can view the Roddy Ricch Instagram story below, but as more rappers speak up in condemnation of the killing, it begs the question, will the Los Angeles gang mentality change?