The man killed in the shooting at Irving Plaza last night (May 25) was Troy Ave’s BSB affiliate Banga, HipHopDX has learned.
The New York Police Department reported that a 33-year-old man was shot at the New York venue where Atlanta rapper T.I. was headlining a show. He was brought to Beth Israel Hospital on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, where he was later pronounced dead. Another man and a woman were also shot in the incident and hospitalized. Troy Ave’s leg was reportedly grazed by a bullet, sending him to hospital.
Shortly after, tributes started pouring into Banga’s most recent Instagram post.
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Banga was the CEO and head trainer at Big Bizz Fitness in Brooklyn, and a long-time supporter and friend of Troy Ave’s, even linking to Ave’s projects in his Twitter and Instagram bios.
HipHopDX spoke with Chino “Norbes” Velez (from New York’s SMACK/URL rap battle league), who went to the same high school as Banga and Ave.
“He was always a positive brother,” Velez said. “We reconnected a couple years ago and he was showing love and proud of what I was doing with Smack. Me, him and Troy all went to the same high school. He was always a fun guy to be around, always joking and shit.”
Here are some of the tributes that people have posted on Instagram.
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HipHopDX sends its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and wishes quick recovery to those injured.