KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- KCTV5 learned Monday that a highway homicide was connected to the controversial world of California gangster rap.
KCTV5's Craig Andres reported live on "KCTV5 News at 6 p.m." that in the world of gangster rap and underground rap, there was often talk of violence, but it was make believe.
Monday night, a California rapper named Andre Hicks, who went by Mac Dre, was dead, as the violence turned real on a Kansas City highway.
Someone unloaded a gun into the van he was in early Monday morning on U.S. Highway 71. Those who performed with the rapper were shocked but said they'd heard rumors Mac's life could be in jeopardy.
"When you're in the underground circuit, like me such as myself, there's a lot of things that come with that. You know, you got the next man over here that's hungry. He's trying to get it. He might see you get it a little bit more than he's getting it, and a lot of hatred comes with that," said rapper Archbishop.
Archbishop said violence on records could become real when jealousy set in. He said when there was a problem between rappers, they called it a beef, and someone could die.
Ironically, a recent song from Mac Dre talked about rapper Fat Tone, who was murdered, also killed in Kansas City about a year ago.
"No. I hope that's not true. I hope it was just another rumor, but then after I started getting more and more calls, you know, reality set in," said Romeo Ryonell, a friend of the victim.
Others who went on-stage with Mac Dre said he was a good guy and didn't have any enemies at the time.
"You know, Dre was a good dude. He had an amazing following. You know, he was starting like a cult almost," Archbishop said.
Police wouldn't say whether bullets hitting the van killed the artist or if the wreck after the shooting killed him, but police were checking some specific leads to see who might have had a beef with the rapper.
One person in that van did make it out alive. He was talking to police.