Half-A-Mil

Half-A-Mill was a Brooklyn-based rapper who was shot dead in his home in the Albany Projects in Brooklyn, New York October 24, 2003. He was an underground rapper in the middle 1990s and nearly broke into the mainstream in the late 90s. His initial breakthrough came in 1997 with an appearance on the only album by The Firm, a highly touted supergroup featuring Nas, AZ, Nature, and Foxy Brown alongside producers Dr. Dre and the Trackmasters. He was also on the God's Son album. Following this appearance, Half-A-Mill then contributed "Some Niggaz" to the Def Jam-released Belly soundtrack in 1998, followed by his single "Thug Ones." The track, which featured Capone-N-Noreaga, Kool G Rap, and Musaliny, was a hit in the New York hardcore rap scene in 1999 and became the leadoff single for Half-A-Mill's debut album, Milion. The album, released in 2000, didn't do as well as many had expected, selling only about 40,000 units and the Brooklyn rapper lost much of his momentum. He returned two years later in 2002 with his second effort, Da Hustle Don't Stop, which Warlock Records had preceded with the release of "Still." This single, which received some radio airplay, targeted those who claimed Half-A-Mill had lost some talent: "Still gangsta/still ghetto/still street."

Half-A-Mill was found shot to death in his apartment October 24, 2003 in Brooklyn, New York City. Full details surrounding the shooting have yet to be released. Kyle Christmas, a representative at Half-A-Mill's label Warlock Records, says, "We are sad over here at Warlock. He will definitely be missed. He was one of those outstanding, but underrated artists. He was a good dude." He was working on his third album at the time of his death.