As Sunday’sBET Awards 2018were coming to a close, hostJamie Foxxtook a moment to speak about the controversial rapperXXXTentacion‘s recent murder.
“I think we are too used to young people being killed — it’s like we don’t even trip anymore,” he said, “I was actually in Las Vegas, Tupac was gone. I was in LA, Biggie was gone,” he continued, “I’m not saying it’s me, that we can stop everything, but we got to figure something out.”
Foxx then used the far-reaching topic as a segue intoSnoop Dogg‘s finale. “Our next performer, he went through a whole lot of grief, turned his life around,” he added, “Today he is celebrating 25 years of his debut album,Doggystyle.”
Leon Bennett/Getty Images; Larry Marano/REX/Shutterstock
Several other artists commented on the loss of the slain rapper on the red-carpet leading up to the event, many remembering his talent and success while lamenting the situation.
“[It’s] really unfortunate,” said actor Christian Keyes, whose son was a fan of his music. “Clearly, he had millions of fans who loved him. I don’t know all the facts surrounding, but I hate that it happened and I know he didn’t deserve it,” he told PEOPLE.
Gospel artist B. Slade also spoke to the rapper’s widespread influence. “I know at least five million kids got impacted in some type of positive way,” he said.
RELATED VIDEO: Rapper XXXTentacion Shot in Florida Outside Motorcycle Dealer: Report
Weighing in on XXXTentacion’s talent, Billboard Award-winning artist Desiigner told PEOPLE, “I never really got to meet him, but I was a fan. I did study his craft. I watched him on stage and he was dope.”
Matias J. Ocner/Miami Herald/TNS via Getty
Rising to fame at an early age, XXXTentacionwas shot and killedat just 20 years old in a suspected robbery on June 18. The Florida native was at the height of public recognition, both for his top-charting albums as well as theallegations of domestic abusefiled against him.
A few months earlier, the rapper’s court-ordered house arrest had been lifted as he awaited trial on multiple felony counts after being charged with beating hispregnant girlfriend.
The rapper also sparked controversy with his music, notably in his September 2017 music video for his hit song, “Look at Me,” which depicted him lynching a young white boy. He saw his greatest success in death, with his song “Sad!”jumping from No. 52 to No. 1on theBillboardchart.
XXXTentacion’sfuneral and fan memorialwill take place on Wednesday at the Florida Panthers Stadium in Sunrise, Florida.
source: people.com
