Today in Hip-Hop: R.I.P. Q-Don (1978 – May 2, 2000)

On this day, May 2, in hip-hop history...

2000: Philadelphia rapper Raeneal Quann, better known to the music world as Q-Don, was shot and killed outside of a local Philly nightclub. He was 22 years old.

Q-Don was a part of the group NAAM Brigade and affiliated with other famous Philly acts like The Roots and Task Force. NAAM was known for bubbling singles like "Early in the Game" featuring Freeway and "All Night" featuring Ebony Black. Though members of the quartet of rappers grew up in one of Philadelphia's hardest neighborhoods, they were making respectable news in their region and had recently signed a record deal with Elektra Records at the time of Q-Don's death.

In the early morning hours of May 2, 2000, Q-Don was leaving The Evolution Nightclub when he became a bystander during an attempted robbery in the parking lot who got caught in the crosshairs. Q-Don was struck by a stray bullet. He soon died from a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Lawrence Smith, Adalberto Corredor, Marcus Scott and Jermaine Scott were all arrested for fleeing the scene of the crime and were charged with murder, robbery, conspiracy, possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment in connection with Q-Don’s death. The three had been investigated for a similar homicide outside that same club earlier that year. Smith, Corredor and Scott were all convicted of murdering Q-Don.

Q-Don's legacy lives on in his music, with NAAM Brigade dropping their debut album, Early in the Game, in 2002.

R.I.P. Q-Don.

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