PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Local rapper Phat Geez, who rose to prominence after his collaboration with Meek Mill in 2014, has become a victim of the gun violence he spoke out against in his music. Geez was shot and killed in North Philadelphia on Sunday night.
Police say they were called to the 1200 block of North Taney Street shortly after 10 p.m. for a report of a man with a gun. Officers found the rapper, with several gunshot wounds, lying in the street in front of his home. He was pronounced dead at a hospital about 20 minutes later.
Phat Geez was the professional name of 28-year-old Derrick Gant. He used his music to deliver a message of anti-violence in the city. He rose to prominence with his single "Life," featuring Meek Mill, in 2014.
Responding to Gant’s death, Mill posted to X, formerly known as Twitter: "Philly is a terrible place for black people to live … you see too much death."
The title of Gant's most recent release, "No Gunzone," is a reference to an Instagram account of the same name that tracks shootings in the city and calls for an end to the violence.
Police encourage anyone with information related to the case to call homicide detectives. As with all city homicides, a $20,000 reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Gant’s killer.
Hours before his death, Gant posted on X, thanking the people of Philadelphia for respecting Muslims during Ramadan and celebrating the success of “No Gunzone.”