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The 21st Annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards - Inside

Call him the king of snap.

Before the ATL spitter embarked on a solo career and made moves with G-Unit South, Carlos Walker, better known as Shawty Lo, was owning the radio with D4L. It’d be with the southern hip-hop group that he’d earn a No. 1 single on the Billboard charts in 2006 (“Laffy Taffy”) and revolutionize the snap music movement. You couldn’t go anywhere without hearing D4L in 2005 — but that was only the beginning.

Shortly after seeing success with D4L, Shawty Lo branched off on his own with his debut solo album. While Units in the City didn’t initially receive glowing reviews from the critics, there’s no denying his music was a staple in the southern community.

The album’s hit single “Dey Know” hit No. 3 on Billboard’s US Hot Rap Songs list, while the album itself hit No. 2 on Billboard’s US Top Albums chart. Shawty Lo merged snap and trap music in a way that stuck, and for that, the rap world will miss him terribly.

As friends and family continue to mourn his death, we’re looking back at the influence of Shawty Lo and D4L on the rap industry.

Rest in peace to a southern staple.


 

Soulja Boy – “Crank That (Soulja Boy)”

 

Lil Jon – “Snap Yo Fingers”

 

Yung Joc – “It’s Goin’ Down”

 

Dem Franchize Boyz – “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It”

 

Cherish – “Do It To It”

SOURCE: YouTube | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty

Dey Know: A Quick Look Back At Shawty Lo’s Influence  was originally published on theurbandaily.com