Rapper Dolla shot dead in Los Angeles

Protégé of hip-hop artist Akon, Dolla met his tragic end while he and another rapper, D.J. Shabbazz, were waiting in the valet parking area of an upscale mall, a popular shopping haunt for tourists.

Dolla had evidently just arrived in Los Angeles to start recording tracks for his debut album ‘Dollar And a Dream’ due out later this summer.

His publicist, Sue Vannasing, disclosed that Dolla was involved in an altercation before the shooting with an unidentified man and a woman on the flight from Atlanta to LA. However, it's unclear whether this is the reason behind the shooting.

The investigation
Details about the shooting are hazy. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) have not confirmed the identity of the victim who died at Cedars Sinai Medical Centre, but Dolla’s publicist confirmed the rapper was the victim.

The LAPD has not divulged a motive for the attack or identified any suspects. A woman and a man who allegedly drove from the mall to the Los Angeles International Airport in a rented silver Mercedes SUV, have been detained for questioning. The suspect was armed with a loaded 9 mm semiautomatic handgun.

"The suspect was detained without incident [and] discovered to be armed," said Los Angeles World Airport’s spokeswoman Nancy Castles.

Dolla’s early life and rise to fame
Dolla, whose real name was Roderick Burton II, was born in Chicago in Illinois in 1988. His family moved to Atlanta after Dolla's father committed suicide when he was five.

Dolla began composing rhymes in elementary school and decided to pursue a career in music. He had formed a group called "Da Razkals Cru" with his partners Scrappy and Sas when he was only 12-year-old.

At this age, the aspiring rapper captured the attention of multiplatinium R&B singer Akon while performing with friends at showcases around Atlanta.

Thereafter, Dolla signed a deal with Akon's record label Konvict Muzik in 2007 and released a number of singles like Feelin Myself and I’m Tore Up under the label, including his biggest hit 'I'm Fucked Up', last year.

He also worked on the soundtrack for the 2006 dance film "Step Up".

“He had a very promising career,” Vannasing said. “He was being hyped as the next Tupac [Shakur]. He chose music to get off the streets.”

“My music is universal,” Dolla said on his Web site. “I can do street music or pop music. But whatever I do, I attempt to make meaningful songs with substance.”