The 24-year-old Fret, credited with being the first openly gay trap artist, was riding a motorcycle early Thursday morning when gunshots to the head and hip sent him to the hospital. He was later pronounced dead, according to local newspaper El Vocero.
Though police have not ruled out the possibility of a hate crime, authorities suspect foul play and possible extortion.
“Kevin was an artistic soul, a big-hearted dreamer. His passion was music, and [he] still had a lot to do," Fret’s manager, Eduardo Rodriguez, said in a press statement. "This violence must stop. There are no words that describe the feeling we have and the pain that causes us to know that a person with so many dreams has to go. We must all unite in these difficult times, and ask for much peace for our beloved Puerto Rico.”
Rapper Residente addressed the crime on his Instagram.
“The crime that lives on our island is not due to songs about crime,” said Residente, who further explained that lacking of funds for education is the real issue.
Securing a huge following for his hit “Soy Así” (“I’m Like This”) and on Mike Duran’s song “Diferente” (“Different”), Fret’s unabashed queerness was a confrontational stance against machismo constructs in both the Latin music and hip-hop communities. His contributions to pushing towards a more inclusive community in the genres will not be forgotten.
Watch the video for "Soy Así” below:
