Mourning The Death of “Baby Shark” Rising Star Ralan Styles

Rapper Ralan Styles, known for his viral 2022 remix of “Baby Shark,” was tragically shot and killed in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday morning (Oct. 19). The 22-year-old artist, real name Michael Robinson, was reportedly attacked during an attempted robbery at a home in the Victorian Village neighborhood. Witnesses stated that the suspect tried to steal his neck chain before a struggle ensued, leading to Styles being shot multiple times.

Police arrived on the scene shortly before 5 a.m., where they found Styles bleeding from his injuries. Despite attempts to revive him with CPR, he was pronounced dead at 5:10 a.m. Witnesses provided a description of the shooter, leading to the arrest of 24-year-old Mahamood Hassan, who was found nearby and identified in a police lineup. Hassan, with a prior criminal record, has been charged with murder and is currently being held in the Franklin County Jail. He will appear in court on Monday (Oct 21) before a judge and is reportedly facing other pending charges.

Styles, originally from Tallahassee, Florida, gained widespread attention for his dark remix of the children’s hit “Baby Shark,” amassing millions of views on YouTube and TikTok. The success of the track earned him a record deal with Republic Records. He was also seen attending the BET Awards in June with YK Osiris and recently released the track Polyamorous featuring Justina Valentine.

In the wake of his death, Styles’ older brother, fellow rapper ‘Lil Goat,’ expressed his heartbreak on Instagram, posting memories of their journey from rapping in middle school to signing their first deal together. “My heart is f**king broken, I’ll never be the same,” he wrote. Styles’ friend, Jared Krumm, also shared his grief, recalling the vibrant energy Styles brought to every interaction.

“We went from rapping at the lunch table together in middle school to becoming superstars. We slept on the floor together, we ate together, we fought together, [and] signed our first deal together. I love you bro, and as long as I’m alive you’ll never die.”

Ralan Styles’ untimely death has left a deep void in the music community, especially among his close friends and family.

His label, Republic Records posted a tribute to him via their Instagram account on Sunday (Oct 20).