For the artists we still play

In Loving Memory

TrapHard Swagg 2006–2026

TrapHard Swagg, born Adrian Hawkins, was a 20-year-old aspiring artist from Southeast DC and Walker Mill, Maryland, who found his voice in the DMV street rap scene. His music documented the realities of life in Southeast DC and Prince George's County with raw honesty and undeniable energy. With over 70 releases between 2023 and 2026, he was a prolific force in the underground — collaborating with Baby Ahk and TrappGleesh while building a catalog that spanned from "Sneaky Iverson" to his final track "LDI (Last Day In)." He was taken from us on Wednesday night, June 9, 2026, at the Banner Lane apartments in Northwest Washington, DC. His music lives on.

"One thing for sure I know, if I blow in this rap, I never leave… changing when I die, I'm going to be one of America's most wanted."

— TrapHard Swagg, "Tension" (2023)

In Loving Memory

Goonew Age 24

Goonew, born Markelle Antonio Morrow, came out of Prince George's County, Maryland with one of the most recognizable voices in the DMV rap underground. He did not need to shout to make a record feel urgent. His low-volume delivery, clipped pockets, and deadpan detail made his music feel like a private conversation that still carried block-level pressure.

By 2017, Goonew was releasing projects that built a cult audience across Maryland and DC. His chemistry with Lil Dude helped define a lane of DMV street rap that was icy, funny, and tense at the same time. "Homicide Boat," the Lil Dude record featuring Goonew and Lil Yachty, became one of the clearest entry points for listeners outside the region, while his solo catalog kept sharpening the whisper-flow style that writers and fans now connect directly to his name.

On March 18, 2022, Goonew was fatally shot in District Heights, Maryland, according to reports citing Prince George's County police. He was 24. The facts of his death are part of the record, but they are not the whole story. The larger story is how a Maryland artist turned restraint into presence: a quiet voice that cut through loud rooms, influenced a generation of DMV rappers, and still sends listeners back through the catalog.