Chicago rapper Fredo Santana has died at the age of 27. Fredo, real name Derrick Coleman, reportedly suffered a seizure and was found dead on the floor of his L.A. home by his girlfriend Friday night, according to TMZ.
Fredo first broke through in 2012 alongside Chicago peers Chief Keef, Lil Reese, and Lil Durk, the first wave of rappers to define Drill, a confrontational and highly influential form of street rap. He released a number of projects including It's A Scary Site, Fredo Kruger, Trappin' Ain't Dead and Walking Legend. Last year, he released Fredo Kruger 2, and was in the process of recording a new tape Walking Legend 2 and a joint tape with his cousin Chief Keef called Turbo Bandana. He was famously referenced in Keef's hit "I Don't Like" by Lil Reese: "Fredo in the cut, that's a scary sight."
Last October, Fredo revealed that he had been hospitalized. "Been in here since Friday doctor say a n***a had kidney failure an liver failure," he wrote. "I'm getting back to normal sorry to all my fans turbo bandana will not be dropping tomorrow due to my health issues thanks for everyone who prayed for a n***a I wouldn't wish this on my worse enemy."
Later that week, he shared details of the seizure he suffered prior to his hospitalization and considered going to rehab for his drug use. "Hopefully I can be the face to sho n***as to slow down an we got our whole life ahead of us fuck being rock stars gettin high I got ptsd," he said. "I was running from my old life tryna get high didn't want to face them demons...I'm getting help I might just go to rehab."
Earlier in the year, Fredo had spoken about his personal battle with drugs after rapper Russ denounced the use of lean and Xanax. "Until I can stop thinking about my dead homies and the trauma that I been thru in my life that's when I'll stop," he said.
Fredo is survived by his son, Legend, born in 2017.
Many collaborators of Fredo have shared their condolences on social media. View posts from Lil Durk, Maxo Kream, Lil B, Joey Badass, and more, below.
HNHH sends its condolences to Fredo's friends and family.