Cali Swag District member M-Bone died Sunday night, the victim of a drive-by shooting.
M-Bone, born Mante Talbert, was a member of the group who stole the spotlight — and taught the nation a new dance — with their 2010 single, Teach Me How to Dougie.
Cali Swag front man C-Smoove tweeted, "Ma life changed drastically in the blink of an eye. rip mbone," early Monday morning, making the death official for hip-hop fans before police were able to.
Later, the Inglewood Police Department confirmed to MTV News that the 22-year-old Bone died of two gunshot wounds to the head:
At about 10:30 p.m. PT Sunday night, police were called to the 400 block of North La Brea in Inglewood. When police arrived on the scene, they found Talbert seated in the driver's seat of a black unspecified vehicle with at least two gunshot wounds to the head. Paramedics then took him to a local hospital where Talbert eventually succumbed to his injuries.
Witness accounts confirm that the rapper was seated in his car when the gunmen pulled alongside him in a separate vehicle and let off at least two rounds. The suspects fled northbound on La Brea.
Signed to Capitol Records, Cali Swag District made their name with the platinum dance hit "Teach Me How to Dougie," an ode to the dance popularized by hip-hop legend Doug E. Fresh. The record's remix featured Jermaine Dupri, B.o.B, Bow Wow and Red Cafe, and their debut album, The Kickback, is slated for a 2011 release.
The group's publicist, Greg Miller, told the Los Angeles Times that the shooting appears to have been a random act of violence, and has asked that anyone with information about the crime contact the Los Angeles police. Big Wy, another group member, said that the Cali Swag District had no gang affiliations. Miller issued a statement on behalf of Talbert's family, praising him as an "inspiration to his family, friends and fans" and an artist whose talents will be missed.
Read more at the Los Angeles Times and MTV News.
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