Shawty Lo

Carlos Rico Walker, known professionally as Shawty Lo, was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and rose to prominence in the Southern hip-hop scene as both a solo artist and a founding member of the group D4L. In his music, Shawty Lo spoke of his difficult early life growing up in the Bowen Homes Housing Projects in Atlanta. Coming up from few resources, he executive produced and funded D4L's debut album, "Down for Life" (2005). D4L achieved significant commercial success with their single "Laffy Taffy," which reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2006. Shawty Lo launched his solo career with the album "Units in the City" in 2008, which included hits like "Dey Know." In addition to his music career, Shawty Lo was recognized for his work in the community, particularly in his hometown of Bankhead, Atlanta. Shawty Lo passed away on September 21, 2016, in a car accident. His second solo album, "R.I.C.O." (2017) was released posthumously.