Drakeo the Ruler dies after stabbing at LA music festival

(BBC)- US rapper Drakeo the Ruler has died after being stabbed at a music festival in Los Angeles.

The 28-year-old, whose real name was Darrell Caldwell, had been scheduled to perform at the Once Upon a Time in LA festival on Saturday night.

His publicist confirmed his death to several US media outlets on Sunday morning.

The artist was reportedly stabbed during an altercation backstage around the time he had been due to perform.

Los Angeles police are investigating but told reporters no arrests had been made as of Sunday morning.

Drakeo the Ruler had more than 1.5m monthly listeners on Spotify and collaborated with Canadian rapper Drake on the single Talk to Me.

Paramedics responded to a call about a stabbing at about 20:40 local time on Saturday (04:40 GMT on Sunday). Reports say the rapper was then taken to hospital but later died from his injuries.

The BBC has contacted his representatives for comment.

The festival’s promoter, Live Nation, confirmed that there was an “altercation in the roadway backstage” at the event, which was also scheduled to include performances from rappers 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg.

As news of Drakeo’s death spread, other performers shared tributes on social media.

“Always picked my spirit up with your energy. RIP Drakeo,” Drake wrote on his Instagram stories early on Sunday.

The rapper Saweetie tweeted: “Man Drakeo was always hella cool and respectful. Prayers up for his family. RIP The Ruler.”

Jim Jones urged his peers to stay safe. “They know who we are cause of our fame but we don’t know who they are because of our fame,” he wrote in an Instagram post.