South Carolina rapper 18veno was shot dead last night, York County’s South Carolina coroner office confirmed to Pitchfork. He was pronounced dead at Piedmont Medical Center in Rock Hill. An investigation by the York County Sheriff’s Department is ongoing. 18veno was 19 years old.
A native of Paul Harts, 18veno, grew up in Winnsboro, South Carolina after living in Washington, DC for the first few years of his life. 18veno was inspired by the sounds of the southern trap. He cited rappers like Gucci Mane, Yo Gotti, and Jeezy as early influences. He started rapping in fourth grade and began publishing his work publicly a few years later.
Last year was a pivotal year in 18veno’s career. In 2020 he dropped the five-track R4z EP and his debut project Pablo, both of which were released by the South Carolina label BoyMeetSpace.
18veno often collaborated with South Carolina-based artists; Pablo features a contribution to “Cops & Robbers” by South Carolinian artist PG RA, and his frequent contributors jetsonmade and Neeko Baby are both from his home state. “I still don’t think we have the respect we need,” he said of South Carolina artists in an interview with Lyrical Lemonade last summer. “We are not yet what we should be. At this point, it’s up to us – it’s up to the artists SC has right now. I want to be one of those who help us on a global scale. “
