Shawty Lo
Born: March 22, 1976
Birthplace: Atlanta, GA
Death: September 21, 2016
Place of Death: Fulton County, GA
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Carlos Rico Walker aka Shawty Lo, was a rapper who initially came to prominence as a founding member of the Southern hip hop group D4L, and in 2003, founded D4L Records. The group reached national status in 2005 when their single Laffy Taffy topped the Billboard Hot 100 and went on to be certified 3x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
In 2008, he began pursuing a solo career, releasing his debut single "Dey Know", which was included on his solo debut album Units in the City, released in February 2008. His second studio album, R.I.C.O., was released posthumously in March 2017.
In June 2011, Walker announced he had signed his D4L imprint to fellow American rapper 50 Cent's subsidiary label G-Unit South Records, in a joint venture deal.
In 2003, Shawty Lo formed the Southern hip hop group D4L, with fellow Atlanta-based rappers Fabo, Mook-B and Stoney. Shawty Lo subsequently launched his indie record label D4L Records. Shawty Lo self-funded the group in its early days. He explained that the group's name stands for "Down for Life". The group signed to the indie label Dee Money Entertainment, which released the group's debut in conjunction with Asylum Records.
D4L's debut album, titled Down for Life, was executive produced by Shawty Lo and eventually certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album had spawned the hit singles "Betcha Can't Do It Like Me" and "Laffy Taffy". The latter of which attributed much to the group's success, as it broke records as the most downloaded song in the history of music according to the 2007 Guinness Book of the World Records. It was also a multi-platinum ring tone and scored a prestigious ASCAP award. Source.
The group debuted with "Betcha Can't Do It Like Me", which Billboard claimed to have popularized snap music. In January 2006, D4L's single "Laffy Taffy", reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. As was another Atlanta-based hip hop group Dem Franchize Boyz, D4L was part of the snap music trend in 2006, which continued when Mississippi-based rapper Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, came out with the number one hit single "Crank That (Soulja Boy)", in 2007.
On December 4, 2007, Shawty Lo released "Dey Know", his solo commercial debut single. The single charted in the Top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. On February 26, 2008, his solo debut studio album Units in the City, was released. The album features guest appearances from Shawty Lo's D4L cohorts, as well as Gucci Mane, among others. Units in the City peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard 200 chart and at number two on the Top Rap Albums chart, selling over 160,000 copies to date. The album spawned two other singles, "Dunn Dunn" and the remix to "Foolish". Shawty Lo also released a music video for the album cut, "Got Em 4 da LO". The songs "Dey Know" and "Foolish", were both officially remixed, featuring new verses from several high-profile artists. These include Ludacris, Young Jeezy, Plies, Lil' Wayne, DJ Khaled, Birdman, Rick Ross and Jim Jones. The "Foolish" music video also included cameo appearances from Pitbull, Jadakiss and Ace Hood.
His TV series, All My Babies' Mamas was set to air later in 2013 on the Oxygen channel. On January 15, 2013, Oxygen Media cancelled the show, stating in a press release that "as part of our development process, we have reviewed casting and decided not to move forward with the special." However, on February 26, 2013 Shawty Lo announced that there were other television networks that were interested in the reality show.
On September 21, 2016, Walker was killed in a single-car accident in Fulton County, Georgia. The crash happened around 2:20 a.m. when Walker's Audi A7 went over a guardrail, hit two trees, and caught on fire; he was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Two female passengers in the vehicle experienced non-life-threatening injuries.
Shawty Lo's funeral was held on October 1, 2016 at Jackson Memorial Baptist Church in Atlanta. Following the service, the funeral procession proceeded to The Blue Flame Lounge, one of the rapper's favorite strip clubs, where a large group of patrons and mourners honored his casket with a moment of silence "filled with just the glow of the candles, and the lights from the strip club". Shawty Lo was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in College Park, Georgia. Artists who paid tribute to Shawty Lo after his death include Gucci Mane, Beyoncé, Future, Lil' Kim, 50 Cent, T.I., Dej Loaf, Joe Budden, DJ Drama, DJ Khaled, Jon Connor, Young Thug, Mack Maine, Tony Yayo, Young Scooter, Rick Ross, Raekwon, Kid Ink, CeeLo Green,Pastor Troy, ILoveMakonnen, Mistah F.A.B., Lil Durk, Jermaine Dupri and Girl Talk. Source.