Rakim Hasheem Allen, more widely known by his stage name, PnB Rock, passed away Sept. 12 after his girlfriend posted a location-tagged photo of the pair. They were dining at Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles, located in South Los Angeles, when a gunman entered the restaurant. He demanded the couple hand over their jewelry and other valuables. According to Police Capt. Kelly Muniz at the LAPD, the exchange was short and the victim was shot within minutes. Rock was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. He leaves behind his two daughters, ages eight and two years old.

Rock was born on Dec. 9, 1991, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the age of three, his father was murdered during a gang feud. Since then, adolescent Rock found himself at the hands of trouble. At the young age of thirteen, Rock was sent to a youth detention program for committing robberies and getting into fights at school. By nineteen, he was sentenced to thirty-three months in prison for numerous crimes, the most prominent being the possession of drugs.

Rock revealed he was first inspired to make music at the age of nineteen after listening to Drake’s album Take Care. He wrote his debut mixtape while he was incarcerated. After he was released from prison, his career started to take off. Rock’s biggest hit “Selfish” was released in June 2016.

In October of the same year, Rock was included in Rolling Stone’s list of “10 rappers you need to know.” A year after his hit song was released, Rock was named one out of ten members of XXL’s “Freshman Class.” He was chosen alongside A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Playboi Carti, MadeinTYO, XXXTentacion, and others.

By 2018, Rock had made a name for himself in the industry. He provided uncredited vocals on XXXTentacion’s single “Changes” which hit 20 on US Billboard 100. This was not the only music of Rock’s that peaked on the charts. Rock’s second album “Trapstar Turnt Pop Star” peaked within the top five on the US Billboard 200.

It is safe to say Rock’s legacy will not be forgotten. The impact he has left on the music industry is significant. As a former incarcerated high school dropout, he made his way to the top and defied all odds. He will remain a beacon of inspiration for generations to come.