Speaker Knockerz | Source: facebook.com/itsthespeakerknockerz twitter.com/mymixtapez
The talented Speaker Knockerz was 19 years old when he was found dead in his home; almost a decade after his passing, Twitter users pay tribute to his legacy and ponder what he could have been.
Derek McAllister, who went by the stage name, Speaker Knockerz, was still a teenager when he left a long-lasting influence on the music industry. A hip-hop artist, Speaker Knockerz was not signed to a big record label but became popular among underground rap fans.
Music ran out in his family, as his brother and father were artists. After his passing, his team continued releasing his music on Youtube, garnering millions of views.
Speaker Knockerz Was a Young Hip Hop Artist
Speaker Knockerz worked in the music industry as a producer and a rapper; he was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1994 but lived in South Carolina. By the time he was 13, he had a feature on Meek Mill's song "Dreamchasers." His music production had him rubbing his shoulder with other stars like Gucci Mane and 2 Chainz.
However, he shot to fame for his talent in front of the mic; his hit single "Lonely" documented his personal struggles, such as falling out with his mother, which led to her kicking him out of her home and him dropping out of school.
His success on YouTube stemmed From "Rico Story Trilogy"; his rapping style was described as "unique," and "Rico Story" was said to capture his impressive storytelling ability.
Speaker Knockerz Passed Away at the Age of 19
In 2014, the Richland County Coroner's office confirmed the up-and-coming rapper was found dead in his South Carolina home on a Thursday. Speaker Knockerz was found unresponsive in his garage on Two Notch Road in Columbia and declared dead.
While The Richland County Sheriff's Department was still investigating the case, no signs of foul play were discovered, and an autopsy found no sign of trauma. A Toxicology report revealed that he had overdosed on codeine syrup which led to him suffering a heart attack.
A woman on Facebook claimed to be his mother and said he was last seen in a black Camaro days before his death. She shared that it was unlike him to cut communication and not return home. She wrote:
"I pray that my son is ok."
The day before his death, he published a post on his Twitter page about his single, "Lonely." In 2021, XXL Magazine honored the day of Speaker Knockerz's passing by sharing a post about him; the tweet featured two pictures of the late rapper and wrote, "seven years ago, we lost Speaker Knockerz."
In 2014, he shared a flyer promoting his scheduled performance at Club Ambition; the live performance was meant to take place on March 8 and would have included his hit singles "Rico Story Trilogy" and "Lonely."
In 2021, My Mixtapez honored the anniversary of Speaker Knockerz's death as well; in the image of him that they shared, the rapper wore a white shirt and sunglasses, and they wrote:
"His sound has influenced many of the rappers in this generation. Rest in paradise."
Fans Remember Speaker Knockerz After His Death
Even after his passing, fans honored Speaker Knockerz's legacy annually, and Twitter users paid tribute to the rapper. Fans pondered what he could have been had he stayed alive, a user writing that they could not imagine Speaker Knockerz's potential.
His music was uploaded on Spotify and wracked in over 800 thousand monthly listeners. His "Popular releases" included "Married to the Money," "Married to the Money II," "Finesse Father," and "Rico Story Trilogy."
Although Speaker Knockerz passed away at a young age, before his musical career had a chance to take off, his fans continued to celebrate and enjoy the music he left behind. He had the opportunity to work with stars in the music scene like Gucci Mane and lived in the memory of social media users.
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