Hip-hop Mourns the Loss of Atlanta Rapper Shawty Lo

The hip-hop community is mourning the loss of Atlanta rapper Carlos “Shawty Lo” Walker, who died Wednesday morning following a single car crash just outside of Atlanta.

Walker, 40, was best known for his 2008 hit “Dey Know,” and for being a member of the hip-hop group D4L, who released the chart-topping song “Laffy Taffy” in 2005.

From coast-to-coast, rappers took to social media to send their condolences and share memories of Shawty Lo.

Atlanta rapper T.I., a one-time rival of Shawty Lo, remembered the artist in a heartfelt Instagram post. “RIP to a true Westside Atlanta Legend!!!!! You truly represented Bankhead to the fullest!!! My heart goes out to his family and his children as well,”  said T.I., 35,  who captioned a photo of the two.

T.I. continued “Even through our toughest times I must admit I was impressed, & kinda proud of how well you rep’d our hood, and how much you cared for it. It was a real relief to have someone else helping to lift Bankhead up & hold it there. Can’t say enough about how much you meant to the city.”

Fellow D4L member Fabo spoke Shawty Lo’s legacy in Atlanta and their close friendship. “I never expected anything like this to happen,” Fabo said in an interview. “I don’t have a big brother, my big brother, my hero. We lost a real soldier today.

Also taking to social media to pay tribute to Shawty Lo included Atlanta rappers Gucci Mane, Future, Lil Yachty, ILoveMakonnen and Ludacris.

In Atlanta, a vigil was held for Shawty Lo that was attended by artists, neighbors, childhood friends and family.

Philadelphia rapper Beanie Sigel will pay tribute to Shawty Lo in Baltimore on Thursday at a show that the late rapper was scheduled to perform at. At the show, to be held at Club Oxygen in Baltimore, Shawty Lo was planning to perform a song he wrote for his late father, who died Sept. 6 of a heart attack, Shawty Lo’s manager told TMZ.

Shawty Lo leaves behind 11 children, an extensive rap catalog and legions of fans around the world.

Watch the video for Shawty Lo’s 2008 hit “Dey Know”