A voice that once echoed loudly through the streets of the City of Brotherly Love was silenced this past Sunday. Qidere Johnson, known to many as LGP Qua, the self-proclaimed ‘Voice of the Youth’, who endeavored to walk the road less traveled by rapping about gun violence and promoting positivity, was shot and killed in Northeast Philadelphia.
This 30-year-old man, who bore the weight of his city’s troubles on his shoulders, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to Temple University Hospital, only to be declared dead less than half an hour later. And in the wake of his death, a city mourns, and a fellow Philadelphia rapper, Meek Mill, took to social media to express his grief and pay tribute.
Johnson’s rise to fame was not meteoric, but slow and steady, like the Mississippi carving its path. His initial claim to fame was a freestyle video posted in 2017, where he rapped about issues plaguing his city, including police brutality and teenage violence. With over a million views, Johnson was more than just a rapper – he was a mirror held up to Philadelphia, reflecting its struggles and triumphs.
What does this tragic loss mean for a city that has seen a decrease in homicides in recent years? With a 21.28% decrease compared to the same time last year, one wonders if Johnson’s message was beginning to hit home. Homicides may be on the decline, but the loss of one life, especially one so promising, is a blow to the entire community.
We know that no arrests have been made yet, and details about the suspect or the circumstances leading to the shooting remain shrouded in mystery. A reward of $20,000 awaits anyone who can shed light on Johnson’s murder and lead the police to an arrest and conviction.
As we mourn the passing of LGP Qua, the ‘Voice of the Youth’, let us not forget that each life lost to gun violence leaves a silence that echoes across our cities, our communities, and our hearts.
