Atlanta’s hip-hop community is mourning after the tragic death of Kenneth Edward Bailey, known to the world as Young Scooter. The rapper passed away on his 39th birthday, March 28, 2025, following a fatal injury allegedly sustained while trying to flee from police officers in southeast Atlanta.
Authorities responded to a disturbance call in a residential area. Upon arrival, two men fled the scene. Young Scooter attempted to escape by jumping over two fences. During the attempt, he reportedly sustained a severe leg injury. Emergency services transported him to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Young Scooter was born on March 28, 1986, in Walterboro, South Carolina, and moved to Atlanta at age nine. Raised in the Kirkwood neighborhood, also known as “Lil Mexico,” he became deeply connected to the Atlanta rap scene. He built a close bond with Future, another Kirkwood native, and the two often collaborated throughout their careers.
Scooter rose to prominence in 2012 with his mixtape Street Lottery, which featured the fan-favorite track “Colombia.” The song’s street vibe and hook-heavy delivery became a standout, and gained him respect across the rap world. His catalog includes collaborations with major artists like Gucci Mane, Young Thug, and Lil Wayne.
Throughout his career, Young Scooter was affiliated with Future’s Freebandz and Waka Flocka’s 1017 Brick Squad, operating within Atlanta’s hardcore and trap-influenced sound. His music blended monophonic grit with rhythmic hooks and streetwise lyricism, often chronicling the realities of hustle culture.
His son, Kenneth Bailey Jr., expressed heartbreak across social media, calling his father his “best friend” and criticizing how the incident unfolded. The loss has hit Atlanta hard, with tributes pouring in from peers like Quavo and Playboi Carti.
Young Scooter’s voice helped shape a specific cadence of Atlanta trap: raw, melodic, and street-centered. He was known for turning real-life pressure into poetic, harmonized bars that resonated far beyond his neighborhood. His death leaves a void in the city’s cultural soundscape.
R.I.P.
