Late last month, West Philadelphia rapper YBC Dul was fatally shot in a drive-by. Now, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer, an arrest has been made. The outlet reports that 16-year-old Aiden Waters was taken into custody and hit with several charges. These include murder, arson, causing catastrophe, conspiracy, and gun crimes. Authorities say they found Waters’ getaway car the night YBC Dul was shot. It had been burned, but reportedly, detectives were still able to recover evidence inside.
Aside from fatally shooting YBC Dul, Waters is accused of shooting into a car full of teenagers last month, striking two and killing one. For this, he’s been charged with five counts of attempted murder. Police also believe he was responsible for another shooting that took place hours before YBC Dul was murdered. A 43-year-old man and a 14-year-old were shot in the abdomen and leg, respectively, and both survived.
Reportedly, Waters was arraigned this morning and is now being held without bail. Following YBC Dul’s tragic death, his father took to social media with a message about his passing. “Hey all of my son friends / family.. etc i am dul’s father,” he began. “I was handed over all my babyboys belongs this morning by his close friends & I wanted to clear up any confusion my son Abdul Vicks was murdered yesterday afternoon broad daylight while sitting in the back of his car alongside with his friend who was also shot in the hand my son was not on a bike when he was killed nothing of that such so that video going around is not him stop the false news.”
What do you think of authorities making an arrest following the murder of YBC Dul? What about the rapper’s alleged killer being accused of shooting various others? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
This all started over a rapper’s death. Ybc Dul aka Mr. Disrespectful was killed on August 26, and a YouTuber named Brandon Buckingham posted an interview with the rapper a day before. DJ Akademiks reacted to said interview, and did not like what he saw. He went on Twitch and accused Buckingham of exploiting Ybc Dul’s death for views. He dubbed Buckingham a “white boy voyeuristic” type, and went on to name other white YouTubers who actually “care about the culture.” Buckingham saw these comments, and proceeded to blow up on DJ Akademiks.
Brandon Buckingham posted a statement to his Twitter account. It’s not delicately worded. He proceeds to insult DJ Akademiks in the first sentence, calling him a “fat drunk p**sy.” He also defended his passion for hip hop as a culture. “Akademiks is really a fat drunk p**sy for running right to his little stream after Dul died to say I’m not for the culture,” Buckingham wrote. Buckingham them aimed criticisms back at Akademiks. “His woman beating bald head a*s sits on a computer all day and is afraid to go any hood anywhere.”
Brandon Buckingham then flipped DJ Akademiks’ point of reference. Instead of comparing himself to other white YouTubers, he compared himself favorably to Ak. With disrespect, of course. “Stay inside and keep talking sh*t from the comfort of your home,” Buckingham added. “We are both civilians and I have ten times the heart as your b*tch a*s.” The irony, of course, is that DJ Akademiks has been accused of the very same thing he accused Buckingham of. The internet personality has been criticized for using violence and the deaths of rappers to bolster his own fame.
In 2022, music video director Spike Tarantino called out DJ Akademiks for his coverage of Kay Flock’s murder. He claimed Ak did little to cover the rapper during his lifetime, but proceeded to act like he was an expect after Flock was killed. Akademiks has also been saddled with legal troubles in recent months. The DJ was sued for rape and defamation in April. Fauziya Abashe claims that was taken advantage of multiple times at Akademiks’ home. The internet personality denies the allegations.
West Philadelphia is home to several prominent figures in hip-hop but YBC Dul was among the most infamous to emerge from there. Born Abdul Vicks, his unapologetic approach to life and music garnered attention online and among law enforcement officials. Known for his brazen lyrics and audacious actions, including the infamous moment when he desecrated an opponent’s grave in a music video, YBC Dul’s life was tragically cut short on Friday, August 23rd after he was fatally shot in the Olney neighborhood, per ABC. His rise and fall offer a stark reflection of the violence that pervades the city’s streets. His brief but impactful career left a trail of controversy. And perhaps, it exposed the reality of the glorification of violence in music and the consequences that often follow.
A Life Of Infamy: The Rise Of YBC Dul
Abdul Vicks, better known as YBC Dul, emerged from the West Philly streets as a voice for the Young Bag Chasers (YBC), a rap collective who’ve been alleged to have deep ties to the city’s gang culture. From the outset, YBC Dul’s music mirrored the harsh realities of street life with his lyrics becoming confessions, taunts, and threats directed at rivals.
YBC Dul earned the nickname “Mr. Disrespectful” for this reason. In a genre where bravado is currency, Dul’s willingness to cross lines others wouldn’t dare made him infamous. One of the most notorious moments in his career was when he filmed himself digging up a rival’s grave. It was a move that rattled the internet. Many considered it an act of desecration that marked a declaration of war without a boundary in sight.
The Controversy Behind the Music: A Life Cut Short
The day before his death, YBC Dul appeared in a video that showcased his violent reputation. In it, he flaunted guns and spoke candidly about the ongoing gang war in West Philly. This video, uploaded to a popular YouTube channel, quickly reached over a million views in a matter of days. The timing of the video’s release and Dul’s subsequent murder led many to speculate whether his own actions had sealed his fate.
Vicks was shot multiple times while in the Olney neighborhood. He later succumbed to his injuries shortly after being rushed to Einstein Medical Center. The brutal nature of his death mirrored the violence he often rapped about. His murder is still under investigation, with police probing potential connections between the video and the fatal shooting.
In the aftermath of his death, Dul’s father shed light on the circumstances surrounding his son’s death. “I wanted to clear up any confusion my son Abdul Vicks was murdered yesterday afternoon broad daylight while sitting in the back of his car alongside with his friend who was also shot in the hand my son was not on a bike when he was killed nothing of that such so that video going around is not him stop the false news,” he wrote.
He added, “lk my son did not live a life of a saint but I was not born yesterday either my son was targeted in some set up plot that’s the only way they could get him from up close like that & I’m standing on that, for someone to be able to walk up so close to his car was the first red flag for sure & I promise we not gon stop till ya dudes are exposed I spoke to my son the night before this all went down & I just couldn’t understand why this talk outta all days felt different ‘pops it’s been weird cars passing by me for a week now idk I just feel weird whenever I’m in PhiIly’ … i swear whatever u was running from son they was watching u closely & imma expose it.”
If you talk about your own dead ancestors, you curse your own soul! Stop that speaking on the dead ….. I haven’t seen it work out yet!!!! It’s spiritual fasho!
Philadelphia native Meek Mill has been an outspoken advocate for uplifting the city, especially among young people from marginalized communities. He didn’t specifically mention Dul but his statement shortly after his passing has been perceived about him. His tweet suggested that the fatal broad day shooting should be a cautionary tale. “If you talk about your own dead ancestors, you curse your own soul! Stop that speaking on the dead ….. I haven’t seen it work out yet!!!! It’s spiritual fasho,” he said.
The Infamy Of Young Bag Chasers
The Young Bag Chasers, the crew YBC Dul was deeply involved with, have long been on the radar of Philadelphia authorities. The group’s notoriety stems not only from their music but also from their alleged involvement in a string of violent incidents across the city. Members of YBC, including Dul, have been linked to numerous shootings and arrests.
YBC’s violent reputation was underscored earlier in 2023 when Arshad Curry, another YBC-affiliated rapper, was convicted of a triple homicide. Curry’s conviction, along with the arrest of another YBC member, Quamere Hall (known as Mere Pablo), for a separate murder, highlighted the crew’s deep entanglement in the city’s ongoing gang violence. The Philadelphia District Attorney’s office even went so far as to rebrand YBC as “You Been Charged” and later “You Been Convicted,” reflecting the legal reckoning that was beginning to catch up with the group.
Abdul Vicks, who performed under the name YBC Dul, was shot and killed in West Philadelphia on Friday afternoon at the age of 25. He was hit multiple times in the chest and right hand before being transported to a nearby hospital. There, he was pronounced dead. Police have yet to make any arrests in the case.
Vicks’ father mourned his son in a post on social media after news of the shooting broke. “Hey all of my son friends / family.. etc i am dul’s father,” he began, as caught by No Jumper. “I was handed over all my babyboys belongs this morning by his close friends & I wanted to clear up any confusion my son Abdul Vicks was murdered yesterday afternoon broad daylight while sitting in the back of his car alongside with his friend who was also shot in the hand my son was not on a bike when he was killed nothing of that such so that video going around is not him stop the false news,” he said. Further in his post, his father admitted that his son wasn’t always a “saint.” Prosecutors had previously accused Vicks of being the ringleader of a violent gang, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
He continued: “lk my son did not live a life of a saint but I was not born yesterday either my son was targeted in some set up plot that’s the only way they could get him from up close like that & I’m standing on that, for someone to be able to walk up so close to his car was the first red flag for sure & I promise we not gon stop till ya dudes are exposed I spoke to my son the night before this all went down & I just couldn’t understand why this talk outta all days felt different “pops it’s been weird cars passing by me for a week now idk I just feel weird whenever I’m in PhiIly” … i swear whatever u was running from son they was watching u closely & imma expose it.”
He concluded: “My family & I would like to thank everyone for the love & kind messages sent out to my boy we lost a real one May Allah forgive him for all his sins & make his grave spacious and full of light Ameen insallahUMARPie rest easy my son Abdul Qadir Vicks my heart will forever have a black hole in it after this one.. parents save your kids from this life before it’s to late cause I can’t even explain this feeling rn.” Be on the lookout for further updates on YBC Dul on HotNewHipHop.
(@nojumper)