BROOKLYN — Legendary hip-hop artist and entrepreneur Kenyatta Blake, famously known as Buckshot from the influential group Black Moon, was reportedly attacked in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood on October 31, leaving the music community shaken. The assault, which left him “beaten half to death,” has prompted an outpouring of concern from fans and industry colleagues.

Initial news of the incident surfaced through a now-deleted Facebook post by Sista Asia Wildenboar, who shared a photo of herself with Buckshot, asking for prayers after the attack. Soon after, social media users circulated video footage showing the aftermath, with Buckshot bloodied and lying on the ground. Though he was hospitalized, he has since been released and is reportedly recovering at home, confirmed by his Black Moon bandmate, DJ Evil Dee.

Buckshot rose to prominence in the early 1990s with the release of “Who Got da Props,” a hit single that set the tone for a gritty new wave of hip-hop known as “backpack rap.” Black Moon’s 1993 debut album Enta da Stage became a landmark record, paving the way for Buckshot and DJ Evil Dee to found Duck Down, an influential label and management company. The label played a central role in promoting other New York-based groups like Smif-N-Wessun and Heltah Skeltah, forming the Boot Camp Clik collective.

Buckshot’s influence extended beyond his own career, with Duck Down later signing major acts such as KRS-One and Talib Kweli. Through Duck Down, Buckshot solidified his status as a pioneering artist-entrepreneur in hip-hop, known for fostering talent and championing independent rap.

As police continue investigating the attack, fans and peers alike are sending their support to Buckshot, a celebrated figure in both hip-hop and Brooklyn’s cultural history.