Up-and-coming Chicago rapper, Johnny Boy Da Prince, was gunned down Wednesday (January 9) in what may have been a case of mistaken identity. He was just 23.
According to the Chicago Tribune, the rapper (real name: Johnny Taylor) was shot several times in the Garfield Park neighborhood and left for dead in an alley.
He was initially expected to recovery, his manager Dillard Florence told the paper. Doctors went in for surgery, but his injuries were too extensive to be fixed.
"Word is it was mistaken identity," Florence said. "He didn't deserve this to happen."
Johnny Boy was scheduled to meet with Atlantic Records for a potential record deal, and both Epic and Universal were reportedly interested.
Andrew Fechter, an assistant at Atlantic, said that Taylor's managers contacted him and piqued his interest, calling him a "prospect." Florence said the meeting was "a big deal, a life-changing situation," and while other labels were interested, he says Atlantic "was likely his best shot."
Johnny's murder is the latest in a string of murders in Chicago among youngsters. Recently, Chief Keef's stepbrother was shot and killed. He was just 19.
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