Queer Puerto Rican Latin Rapper Kevin Fret Shot and Killed

According to Rolling Stone, rapper Kevin Fret was shot and killed on January 10 in the Santurce neighborhood of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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.

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Soy compañero de muchos de los raperos que se viven la película del maleanteo. Muchos de ellos son gente buena que trabajan por su familia. La criminalidad que vive la isla No nace a raíz de canciones de “maleanteo” si no del poco esfuerzo que le mete el gobierno pa que tengamos una educación de calidad y accesible en el país. Es poco probable que un chamaquito bien educado con metas de trabajo termine en la calle. Lo que si les puedo asegurar es que el “endiosar” el maleanteo en sus canciones promueve el que los asesinatos en nuestras calles se conviertan en algo común y normal. Si van a contar historias de la calle no las cuenten como si fueran maleantes asesinos de la calle porque los maleantes asesinos de la calle no cobran regalías ni hacen giras de conciertos. Yo le propongo a los raperos del “maleanteo” hacer un tema juntos donde ridiculicemos el maleanteo y le exijamos a nuestro gobierno que le dedique toda la fuerza a la educación. Yo pongo el beat y la cerveza. 🍺 Puerto Rico no necesita paz, necesita educación 🇵🇷 [R]

A post shared by René Pérez Joglar (@residente) on Jan 10, 2019 at 2:59pm PST

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: