Mello Buckzz Video and Tragedy at the Mixtape Release

On what should have been the most triumphant night of her career, emerging Chicago drill rapper Mello Buckzz found herself at the center of unimaginable tragedy. While celebrating the release of her debut mixtape, “HollyHOOD,” a drive-by shooting outside the venue left four people dead and 14 others wounded. Among the deceased were the artist’s boyfriend and best friend a devastating loss that has left the rap community and her fans in mourning.

Content

A Celebration Turned Deadly and Video

The incident occurred late Wednesday night in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. Mello Buckzz, born Melanie Doyle, had just hosted a release party at Artis Restaurant on West Chicago Avenue. The event was meant to celebrate her first full-length project, an 8-track mixtape titled HollyHOOD. Just after 11 p.m., the joyous atmosphere turned to horror when a dark-colored car drove past the restaurant and someone inside opened fire on the crowd gathered outside.

The full video on Twitter of Mello Buckzz showing horrifying scenes

https://x.com/sendaronitv/status/1940742040356057337

Video of a person being arrested in connection with Mello Buckzz


According to police, multiple types of shell casings were recovered at the scene, but no arrests had been made at the time of reporting. Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and considering whether the shooting may have been retaliation for a separate recent incident. Among the victims were two women, aged 26 and 27, who were shot in the chest and later died at Northwestern Hospital. Two men, one shot in the head and another in the chest, succumbed to their injuries at Stroger Hospital. The Cook County Medical Examiner identified the men as Leon Andrew Henry, 25, and Devonte Terrell Williamson, 23.

Tragically, Mello Buckzz confirmed on Instagram that her boyfriend and best friend were among those killed. “My heart broke into so many pieces,” she wrote in a sorrowful post, followed by another that read, “My heart breaking into so many pieces rn ts unbelievable.”

The Rise of Mello Buckzz

Mello Buckzz’s journey into the rap world began just a few years ago. The 24-year-old artist hails from the East Side of Chicago, a neighborhood with deep roots in the drill rap scene. She’s associated with the “No Limit” movement a group of rappers and affiliates connected to the NLMB gang faction, also home to Chicago rap icon G Herbo.

Her first release, “Damn Buckzz,” dropped in 2021 and quickly garnered attention for its raw energy and street credibility. Since then, her fan base has grown exponentially. She now boasts nearly 400,000 followers on Instagram and over 200,000 fans on TikTok, where she’s racked up about 4 million likes. Her collaborations have included high-profile names like Latto, Murda B, and G Herbo. One of her most notable moments came when she performed “Boom Pt. 2” alongside Latto at Coachella in 2023.

“Mello Buckzz is someone who could take the mantle of Chicago drill rap from a female perspective,” said Jabari M. Evans, a media scholar and assistant professor of race and media at the University of South Carolina. Also known as rapper Naledge, Evans described her as having undeniable presence and “star quality.”

“HollyHOOD”: A Milestone Mixtape

Just days before the shooting, Mello Buckzz had taken to social media to share her excitement about HollyHOOD, her first-ever mixtape. “I’m super excited. I’m dropping my first ever body of work. My first ever EP. My first ever mixtape,” she said in a TikTok video. “People been asking for this s since 2023.”

Released on the No More Heroes label, HollyHOOD features eight tracks and a cover photo of Mello standing in front of JoJi Gyros on 79th Street, stylized as “HOLLYHOOD.” It was meant to represent a personal and artistic statement about her roots, her struggles, and her ambition. The mixtape was expected to launch her to the next level of mainstream recognition a breakout moment she had been steadily building toward since her 2021 debut.

A Career Marred by Controversy

Despite her rising stardom, Mello Buckzz has not been without controversy. In October 2023, she was arrested for allegedly assaulting fellow rapper Amari Blaze (Bri’onne Dade), with whom she had previously collaborated on “Boom (Mouskatool).” The altercation brought attention to her ongoing beefs with other artists, many of which played out publicly across social media.

“She has been mixed up in some of the same things that you see happen with drill rappers, which is beef,” said Evans. “She’s had very public altercations that have been publicly talked about. But I don’t know if this incident in particular is related to her music or something else.”

These controversies underscore a recurring theme in the drill scene one in which artistry, authenticity, and real-life conflicts are often intertwined in dangerous ways.

The Nature and Impact of Drill Rap

Drill rap, as a genre, has its roots in Chicago’s South Side. It exploded onto the scene in the early 2010s with pioneers like Chief Keef, Lil Durk, and G Herbo. Known for its dark, aggressive beats and unflinching lyrical content, drill is a musical expression of life in some of America’s most marginalized communities.

Jabari M. Evans explains that drill rap is the first genre to be “very much specific to Chicago’s gang culture.” It emerged in parallel with the rise of smartphones and social media, making it a highly visible and viral form of art. “I like to tell folks that we get the iPhone around 2008 and we get drill around 2010,” said Evans. “When technology trickles down from the haves to the have-nots, we see innovations that were maybe unexpected by those who designed those technologies.”

This integration of music, social media, and real-life conflict has made drill both a powerful cultural force and a source of concern. The genre is often criticized for glamorizing violence, while others argue it simply reflects the harsh realities of life in underserved urban communities.

Evans added, “Drill rap exposed, in many ways, parts of the city that hadn’t been talked about before. It humanized what was going on in the news.” Yet, he also acknowledged the genre’s connection to “this performance of toughness and violence,” which can blur the lines between art and real-world consequences.

A City Mourns, A Scene Reflects

The tragedy at Mello Buckzz’s release party has reignited debate about safety in the drill scene and the risks that young artists, especially those from Chicago, face as they rise to fame. What should have been a moment of triumph became one of heartbreak and public reflection.

Fans, fellow artists, and activists alike have expressed their condolences and called for peace. The investigation continues, but for now, there are far more questions than answers. Was the shooting targeted? Was it connected to her past controversies, or was it part of a broader cycle of retaliatory violence?

What is certain is that Mello Buckzz, a young woman with star potential and a powerful voice, is grieving an unimaginable loss. Her fans wait to see how she will recover personally and professionally from such a deeply scarring event.

The tragic events at Mello Buckzz’s mixtape release offer a sobering reminder of the complex intersection between music, fame, violence, and community trauma. As her career continues, the world will watch not only how she processes this tragedy but also how the drill scene responds and evolves. For now, Mello Buckzz is not just a rising star she is a survivor, mourning in public, and carrying the weight of loss amid a promising, turbulent journey.

Daily Hot News -