Speaker Knockerz

Born Derek McAllister Jr. on 6 November 1994 in Columbia, South Carolina, the US rapper and producer known as Speaker Knockerz was a pioneering force in the 2010s hip-hop scene, known for his innovative approach to music production and songwriting. Helped by his musician father Derek McAllister Sr. he assembled his first mixtape Flight Delayed in 2011, which put him on the map as both a rapper and producer. However, it was the breakout success of the Rico Story trilogy that truly lit up his name. This narrative-driven track series, detailing the life and struggles of a fictional character named Rico, blazed a trail for modern rap's more melodic side to flourish. Tracks like 2013's "Lonely" and "Dap You Up" became anthems, generating mainstream attention. He released two more albums in 2013, Married to the Money and Finesse Father, before his untimely death from a heart attack at the age of 19 on 4 March 2014. In September 2014, the mixtape Married to the Money II was posthumously released.