Tributes have been paid to an extremely talented rapper and dad who was shot dead by a block of flats in Kensington.
Maximillian Kusi-Owusu, 29, was found suffering gunshot wounds by police arriving at Kensington High Street shortly after 2am on Sunday.
Max, also known as highly influential drill rapper M Lo, was a father to two “devastated” daughters, family friends said on Monday.
The rapper, in his 20s, was rushed to a central London hospital where he died shortly after 5.30am.
A family friend told The Standard: “Fame never changed Max. He’s a very straightforward, energetic and down-to-earth human being.
“He was extremely talented musically, I’m sure his music will live on for as long as we are here.
“He knows nothing else other than to look out for his friends and family and most importantly his daughter who he would do anything in this world for.
“Our group of close friends, his immediate family, his associates are all going to be in bits after having to take this loss.
He added: “[Fame] made him more exciting as an individual. He wanted to show the world his own spin on things. We all came from nothing building a brotherhood and making music together was the boy’s way out.
“It’s a shame it hasn’t ended the way we all planned.”
The rapper, who had hits such as 2016’s Designer and Pain attract over a million listens each on Spotify and YouTube, was part of the drill collective £R based in south Kilburn.
Just weeks ago he had released Keep It With Me with long-term collaborator C-Biz following on from his “high energy” LP Lo Jams in 2020.
His fans took to social media to announce their devastation at the loss to the music world.
One wrote: “What a joke though, he was gonna start releasing again this month RIP.”
A relative tweeted: “I’m lost for words, that’s one of my family members as well that I haven’t seen in years, heartbreaking RIP Max.”
Another fan feared reprisals for the death, adding: “Just read M Lo was killed last night. RIP. The streets love nobody, all these killings need to stop. When will the tit for tat end? Another young brother lost to the game.”
I don't know the full details, but we shouldn't be losing 3 artists within a week. Deepest condolences to their family & friends. RIP...
— DJSemtex (@DJSemtex) September 4, 2022
Pat Stay
M Lo
TKorStretch
🙏🏽
A post-mortem examination will be scheduled in due course.
A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder, Scotland Yard said in a statement. He was subsequently released under investigation while enquiries continue.
The victim’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
The death came after drill artist Takayo Nembhard, 21, was knifed under the Westway flyover close to Ladbroke Grove station at around 8pm during Notting Hill Carnival last Monday with hundreds of people nearby.
