Today in Hip-Hop: R.I.P. Kilo G (August 28, 1977- January 15, 1997)
On this day, Jan. 15 in hip-hop history…
1997: Cash Money artist Robert L. Johnson Jr. aka Kilo G was shot and killed in his home in New Orleans’ 7 Ward.
Kilo was one of the first artists on Birdman’s then fledgling record company when he dropped his debut, The Sleepwalker, in 1992, at the age of 15. While New Orleans was dominated by the bounce scene, Kilo sided more with the horror-core sub-genre. The album sold a few thousand copies independently.
He would put out his second and final album The Bloody City in 1995. The project featured production from Mannie Fresh and had guest appearances from UGK’s Bun B and Pimp C, as well as label mates Lil’ Slim, M$. Tee and Tec-9.
The sophomore LP was a marked improvement, in both sales and quality, for the then 17-year-old MC whose raps had matured.
Kilo was well on his way to being an integral player in the growing Cash Money roster when tragedy struck in 1997. The promising MC died from gunshot wounds after an assailant shot him in his 7th Ward home on Jan. 15. He was 20 years old. He left behind two children. It is unclear if the case has ever been solved.
Another Cash Money artist would be killed that year, when Yella Boy of U.N.L.V. was also shot to death in the city.
R.I.P. Kilo G
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