The late rapper Notorious B.I.G.'s seemingly prophetic song, "You're Nobody Until Somebody Kills You," comes to mind as Atlanta's underground rap scene grieve over the death of rapper Slim Dunkin, 24.
Dunkin, real name Mario Hamilton, was virtually unknown to the rest of us outside of the underground scene, until he was killed.
Police say Hamilton was shot once in the chest -- reportedly over a piece of candy at a southeast recording studio on Dec. 16.
Hamilton, who was 6-8, towered over his shorter assailant who produced a gun and shot Hamilton. Friends loaded the mortally wounded rapper into a car and rushed him to Grady hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police say about 20-30 people were present inside the recording studio on Memorial Drive when the gun went off. But no witnesses came forward.
On Thursday, police identified Atlanta rapper Young Vito, 28, as the gunman. Police say Vito, real name Vinson Hardimon, is in danger, and he is being urged to turn himself in.
"We are urging Mr. Hardimon to turn himself in to authorities because we have reason to believe he may be in danger," read a police statement released to the AJC.com.
According to the AJC, "Slim Dunkin was a childhood friend of Waka Flocka Flame's and appeared on Gucci Mane and Waka's "Ferrari Boyz" album released over the summer."
His funeral is set for 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 23, at Berean Christian Church in Stone Mountain. Burial will follow at Hillandale Memorial Gardens in Lithonia.
Police are seeking the public’s help in finding Young Vito.They said calls can be made to Atlanta Crimestoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or contact the Atlanta Police Department's homicide unit at 404-546-4235.
