Hyphy legend Keak Da Sneak was hospitalized in critical condition after being shot several times in Richmond early Monday morning, according to Richmond Police.
The 39-year-old rapper, whose real name is Charles Kente Williams, was discovered in front of a shuttered gas station by officers responding to reports of shooting in the area around 5:30am, according to Lt. Felix Tan, public information officer for the Richmond Police.
“This appears to be a targeted incident,” Tan later told Bay City News. Tan could not provide more details.
Williams had performed in Oakland at The Complex the night before.
Tan reported that Williams was in stable condition by late Monday afternoon. An Instagram post from fellow rapper Mistah FAB stated that Williams survived surgery, but the post has since been taken down.
Social media lit up with condolences and prayers for the Oakland-born rapper following the news of his shooting.
The incident Monday morning is the second time this year that Williams was reported to have been shot. In January, All Bay Music Magazine posted on Instagram that Williams was shot but did not provide any details from police. The following day, Williams appeared to have confirmed the incident on his Instagram account, saying “You’ll never understand how valuable life is until it flash before ya eyes,” according to XXL magazine.
In May, Williams was arrested for a parole violation in Hercules.
Williams is considered the godfather of hyphy, a fast-paced subgenre of hip-hop born in the Bay Area known for inspiring a frenetic style of dancing. Williams coined the phrase “hyphy” back in 1994, and artists such as Mac Dre and E-40 helped Williams perfect the sound in the 2000s. Known for his gruff voice and bass-heavy beats, Williams had hits in the mid ’00s with tracks like “White T-shirt, Blue Jeans, and Nikes” and “Super Hyphy.”
In June, Keak Da Sneak released the single “Thunderdome,” which teased an upcoming album.
