PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Rapper and Philadelphia native Rakim Allen, better known by his stage name, PnB Rock, was shot and killed in Los Angeles on Monday. His loss is felt across the country, but nowhere more strongly than in Philadelphia by family, friends, fans and allies.
The Los Angeles Police Department told the Los Angeles Times that Rock, 30, was gunned down and robbed of his jewelry while he was having dinner with his girlfriend at the well-known Los Angeles restaurant chain Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. Officers responded to a call just after 4:20 p.m. Eastern Time.
The rapper’s girlfriend shared a photo of her food at the restaurant on social media. The social media post has since been taken down.
An Instagram story posted on TMZ shows someone in a security vest kneeling near a body lying down on the ground.
The rapper was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after.
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Rock grew up in Germantown. His stage name was partially derived from the corner of Pastorius and Boynton, close to his home, according to an 2016 interview with Fader.com. His hits include "Selfish", "Fleek" and "No Time."
City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson shared his condolences Monday on Twitter, calling PnB Rock's death a "sad loss for our city."
Johnson said Tuesday the tragedy is particularly ironic, because Rock spent so much time speaking out against gun violence.
“I met PnB Rock around 2017 at a stop the violence rally at Audenried High School. He was the guest entertainer for our young people,” Johnson said.
From that meeting, the councilmember said, they were able to establish an unlikely alliance.
“He had some ideas about bringing artists together here in the city of Philadelphia to focus on the issue of stopping the violence. ... Overall he was a great young man.”
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Johnson is hosting a Peace not Guns rally, aimed at curbing the violence, on Saturday, Sept. 17, at Wharton Square Park from noon to 6 p.m.
That anti-violence message was part of his music.
“He had a song called 'My City Needs Something,' which focused on the issue of his friends and family members dying of senseless gun violence here in the city of Philadelphia.”
Johnson says he plans on introducing a resolution in City Council on Thursday that will honor Rock’s life and legacy.