Drakeo the Ruler was fatally stabbed backstage at the Once Upon a Time in L.A. music festival on Saturday night.
Less than 48 hours after his murder, his mother is speaking out. In an interview with Rolling Stone at her L.A. home, an emotional Darrylene Corniel reflected on her son’s final moments and vowed to get justice.
“I need this to be out there. I need people to know. And I do want justice for my son. And I do believe that justice will be served,” she said. “I will not rest until justice is served.”
According to Corniel, Drakeo was backstage with a small group of people, including his younger brother Devonte Caldwell aka Ralfy the Plug, when they were “swamped” by a large crowd arriving at the same time as YG.
“They said there were like 40 to 60 people,” she said. “Everything just happened so quickly. They started trying to jump them.”
While she has yet to speak with investigators, she has her own theory about the killer’s motivation. “It is such a shame how much jealousy and envy can make people stoop to such low tactics to try to destroy another individual because of fame and progress,” she said. “When you start getting up there, people start getting intimidated. So, I believe once his platform started going higher, people started getting upset.”
Corniel also faults the venue security for not doing its job. “They let all these people in, and you’re not supposed to have all these people backstage. And your security is supposed to be in place,” she said. “You had more people come in than you were supposed to. And you allowed them to jump my son. You didn’t protect my son.”
Concert promoter Live Nation said that the incident happened “in a roadway backstage” at the Banc of California Stadium in L.A.’s Exposition Park. As a result, the festival ended early before headliners Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent took the stage.
“We plan to sue,” Corniel said. “This happened backstage at an event. Someone has to be held accountable.”
Corniel saw her eldest son for the last time through a hospital window. “I wasn’t able to hug him or kiss him or anything like that. I had to look at him through a window,” she said.
In the wake of Drakeo’s death, his friends in the industry have shared tributes including Drake and Saweetie. Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa also called for peace in hip-hop amid the tragedy.