A founding member of the popular Atlanta group D4L,which featured fellow Atlanta-based rappers Fabo, Mook-B and Stoney, the Atlanta native also founded D4L Records in 2003. With D4L, Shawty Lo enjoyed massive success with their debut album, Down for Life. Executive produced by Shawty Lo himself, the album eventually went gold. The album had spawned the hit singles”Betcha Can’t Do It Like Me” and The infectious “Laffy Taffy” which helped to popularize snap music, reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 2006.
Produced by Born Immaculate, Broderick Thompson Smith and “K-Rab”, the massive club anthem which also became a staple at countless college parties, skyrocketed to success with its heavy radio airplay in addition to enormous online sales. In 2007, the Guinness Book of the World Records
reported the hit as the most downloaded song in the history of music. A multi-platinum ring tone and ASCAP award winner, “Laffy Taffy” also samples and interpolates elements of the hit “Candy Girl” by the iconic group New Edition.
In addition to his hits with D4L, Shawty Lo also became known for his single “Dey Know“, which was included on his solo debut album Units in the City. The single charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Released in February 2008, the album later spawned the singles was “Dunn Dunn” and “Foolish. With production from Balis Beats, Born Immaculate, DJ Montay and DJ Pooh, Units in the City featured guest appearances and Gucci Mane among others. Units In the City peaked at #14 on the Billboard 200 and at #2 on the Top Rap Albums chart, selling over 160,000 copies to date.
The songs “Dey Know” and “Foolish”, were both officially remixed, featuring new verses from several high-profile artists. These include Ludacris, Young Jeezy, Plies, Lil’ Wayne, DJ Khaled, Birdman, Rick Ross, and Jim Jones. The “Foolish” music video also included cameo appearances from Pitbull, Jadakiss and Ace Hood. Shawty Lo’s last projects included 2014’s King of Bankhead and Still Got Units which had yet to be released
Sadly, Carlos “Shawty Lo” Walker departed this life on Wednesday, September 21, 2016, after he was killed in a car accident in Fulton County, Georgia. According to numerous reports, he was killed about 2:30 a.m. on the I-285 southbound ramp to Cascade Road after losing control of his vehicle. His vehicle left the roadway, then striking a tree, before overturning and catching fire. Walker was ejected from his vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. He was 40 years old. There were two women also in the vehicle with him who were taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Shawty Lo’s passing was initially reported by radio personality Headkrack and later confirmed by his manager Johnny Cabbell. Lo’s brother used his official Twitter account to tweet, “My brother has passed he is no longer here but his spirit, his kind heart, and his music will live on Long live Shawty Lo King of Bankhead”.
Rest Peacefully Shawty Lo. You will be missed.
