Young Scooter
{{Short description|American rapper (1986–2025)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Young Scooter
| image = Young Scooter 2018 August.png
| caption = Young Scooter in 2018
| birth_name = {{nobr|Kenneth Edward Rashad Bailey}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1986|03|28}}
| birth_place = Walterboro, South Carolina, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|03|28|1986|03|28}}
| death_place = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Rapper|songwriter}}
| years_active = 2006–2025
| origin = Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
| genre = {{hlist
| trap
}}
| label = {{hlist
| Black Migo Gang
| 1017
}}
}}
Kenneth Edward Rashad Bailey (March 28, 1986 – March 28, 2025), better known by his stage name Young Scooter, was an American rapper.{{cite web|title=Young Scooter Jailed for Probation Violation|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/04/young-scooter-jailed-for-probation-violation|publisher=Complex|access-date=2013-04-12|first=David|last=Drake|date=April 12, 2013|archive-date=December 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214015725/http://www.complex.com/music/2013/04/young-scooter-jailed-for-probation-violation|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Young Scooter Clears Up Rumors Of Being Signed To Gucci Mane & Talks "Colombia Remix" (Video)|date=March 5, 2013|url=http://globalgrind.com/music/young-scooter-clears-rumors-being-signed-gucci-mane-talks-colombia-remix-video|publisher=Global Grind|access-date=2013-03-11}}{{cite web|title=Young Scooter's "Colombia" Is Apparently Blasphemous To REAL Colombian Drug Cartels|date=February 2013|url=http://gossiponthis.com/2013/02/01/young-scooter-colombia-blasphemous-real-colombian-drug-cartels/|publisher=Gossiponthis.com|access-date=2013-02-27|archive-date=August 29, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140829215637/http://gossiponthis.com/2013/02/01/young-scooter-colombia-blasphemous-real-colombian-drug-cartels/|url-status=live}} He was one of the first acts to sign with fellow Atlanta rapper Future's record label, Freebandz, in 2012. In 2013, he jointly signed with Waka Flocka Flame's Brick Squad Monopoly, an imprint of Gucci Mane's 1017 Records.{{cite web | url=https://allhiphop.com/features/young-scooter/ | title=Young Scooter Talks Fatherhood, Working with Future, Young Thug and Upcoming Album 'Streets Krazy' | date=August 29, 2023 | access-date=February 8, 2024 | archive-date=February 8, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208042310/https://allhiphop.com/features/young-scooter/ | url-status=live }}{{cite web|title=Who Is Young Scooter?|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/01/who-is-young-scooter|work=Complex Music|access-date=2013-02-27|first=David|last=Drake|date=January 25, 2013|archive-date=August 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814012655/http://www.complex.com/music/2013/01/who-is-young-scooter|url-status=live}}
He is known for his mixtape Street Lottery (2012) and its lead single, "Colombia".{{cite web|title=Young Scooter Street Lottery|url=http://www.datpiff.com/Young-Scooter-Street-Lottery-mixtape.436249.html|publisher=DatPiff|access-date=2013-02-27|archive-date=March 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330195643/http://www.datpiff.com/Young-Scooter-Street-Lottery-mixtape.436249.html|url-status=dead}} His guest appearance on Future and Juice Wrld's 2018 song "Jet Lag" marked his sole entry on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite web|title=SPIN's 40 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2013|url=https://www.spin.com/2013/12/best-rap-albums-2013/131122-young-scooter-street-lottery/|publisher=SPIN|access-date=December 27, 2013|archive-date=April 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405215132/https://www.spin.com/2013/12/best-rap-albums-2013/131122-young-scooter-street-lottery/|url-status=live}}
Early life and career
Kenneth Edward Rashad Bailey was born on March 28, 1986 in Walterboro, South Carolina.{{cite news |last1=DiRienzo |first1=Rob |title=Atlanta rapper dies after running from officers in SE Atlanta, police say |url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/39-year-old-dies-running-from-police-southeast-atlanta-police-say |access-date=1 April 2025 |work=FOX 5 Atlanta |date=28 March 2025}} When he was nine, his family moved Atlanta, Georgia, settling in Kirkwood (also known as "Lil Mexico"). Scooter was a childhood friend with fellow Atlanta rapper Future, and decided to pursue a career in music after being charged with drug trafficking in 2008.{{cite web |title=Young Scooter |url=http://www.yourbestfeature.com/artist/scooter/ |access-date=2013-02-27 |publisher=Yourbestfeature.com |archive-date=June 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627212322/http://www.yourbestfeature.com/artist/scooter/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last1=Garner |first1=Glenn |title=Atlanta Rapper Young Scooter Dies At 39 In Accident While Fleeing Police |url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/atlanta-rapper-young-scooter-dies-153912318.html |access-date=1 April 2025 |agency=Deadline |publisher=Yahoo News |date=29 March 2025}}
While his first mixtape Plug Talkin did not receive much attention, with his second release Finessin and Flexin{{'}} he made a name for himself, already collaborating with Future.
Scooter's real breakthrough came in January 2013, when he released his mixtape Street Lottery. SPIN named it "Rap release of the week"{{cite web|title=Rap Release of the Week: Young Scooter's 'Street Lottery'|url=http://www.spin.com/blogs/rap-release-of-the-week-young-scooters-street-lottery|publisher=Spin|access-date=2013-02-27|first=Brandon|last=Soderberg|date=September 1, 2013|archive-date=March 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312025528/http://www.spin.com/blogs/rap-release-of-the-week-young-scooters-street-lottery/|url-status=live}} and XXL featured it on its "Best mixtapes of January" list.{{cite web|title=The 12 Best Mixtapes of January|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/2013/01/the-12-best-mixtapes-of-january/10/|publisher=XXL|access-date=2013-02-27|first=Eric|last=Diep|date=January 31, 2013|archive-date=December 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227133322/http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/2013/01/the-12-best-mixtapes-of-january/10/|url-status=live}} Eric Diep of XXL called Scooter "one of the hottest street rappers coming out of Atlanta" and wrote that tracks like the single "Colombia" and "Street Lottery" (featuring Bun B) are "proof of his undeniable talent". The tape was also a viral success gaining over 100,000 downloads on DatPiff.
The official video for "Colombia", directed by Decatur Dan, premiered on MTV on January 31. The song became a hit in the south, especially in Scooter's hometown Atlanta. Brandon Soderberg of SPIN classified it as a mix of Rick Ross' "Hustlin'" and Future's "Tony Montana". By the end of the month, an official remix with rappers Rick Ross, Birdman and Gucci Mane was released.{{cite web|title=Young Scooter Enlists an All-Star Cast for "Colombia (Remix)"|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/bangers/2013/02/young-scooter-enlists-an-all-star-cast-for-colombia-remix/|publisher=XXL|access-date=2013-02-27|first=Eric|last=Diep|date=February 20, 2013}} Lil Wayne also covered the song for his mixtape Dedication 5.{{cite web|title=Dedication 5|date=September 2013|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25275/title.lil-wayne-dedication-5-cover-art-tracklisting-download-mixtape-stream-|publisher=HipHopDX|access-date=2013-09-01|archive-date=September 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903071750/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.25275/title.lil-wayne-dedication-5-cover-art-tracklisting-download-mixtape-stream-|url-status=live}} The rapper's recent success prompted OnSmash to state "the buzz for Scooter is at an all-time high."{{cite web|title=Young Scooter – Pass Around (feat. Gucci Mane & Wale)|url=http://www.freeonsmash.com/news/2013/02/23/young-scooter-pass-around-feat-gucci-mane-wale/|publisher=OnSmash|access-date=2013-02-27|archive-date=February 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226123540/http://www.freeonsmash.com/news/2013/02/23/young-scooter-pass-around-feat-gucci-mane-wale/|url-status=dead}}
Musical style
Scooter was known for his freestyle type of rapping, without writing down his lyrics, similarly to Gucci Mane. He defined his style as "count music", and explained it in an interview with Complex: "I don't really care what I say on a beat as long as it's about some money. When you try to think hard and write it out, that's when it's gonna be fucked up."
Scooter's lyrical themes were largely about money and drugs. David Drake of Complex compared his "populist, kingpin rapping" to that of Young Jeezy, although he noted that Scooter doesn't have the "all-encompassing grandiosity" of his fellow Atlanta rapper.
Scooter listed his influences as Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Sean Combs.
Legal issues
On April 8, 2013, Bailey was arrested for probation violation during a traffic stop in DeKalb County, Georgia.{{cite web |last=Paine |first=Jake |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23561/title.young-scooter-arrested-for-parole-violation- |title=Young Scooter Arrested For Parole Violation |publisher=HipHop DX |date=April 12, 2013 |access-date=2013-05-14 |archive-date=April 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130417175017/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23561/title.young-scooter-arrested-for-parole-violation- |url-status=live }} According to HipHopDX, Bailey shared a jail cell with frequent collaborator Gucci Mane, who was arrested for probation violation on April 12, 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23662/title.gucci-mane-young-scooter-reportedly-sharing-cell-at-dekalb-county-jail/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130424014807/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23662/title.gucci-mane-young-scooter-reportedly-sharing-cell-at-dekalb-county-jail/|archive-date = April 24, 2013|title = Gucci Mane & Young Scooter Reportedly Sharing Cell at DeKalb County Jail|date = April 22, 2013}} Bailey spent six months in custody before being released in mid-October 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.complexmag.ca/music/2013/10/young-scooter-released-from-jail |title=Complex CA | Latest News in Canadian Pop Culture |website=Complexmag.ca |access-date=2020-04-08}} On March 2, 2015, he was released off probation.{{cite tweet|user=youngscooter|author=Black Migo Scooter|number=572421287374688256|date=March 2, 2015|title=Finally Off Probation}}
Death
Bailey died on March 28, 2025, his 39th birthday, in Atlanta, Georgia, while attempting to flee from the Atlanta Police Department. Authorities responded to a 911 call reporting a dispute involving gunfire and a woman whom Bailey had forcibly brought back into a house. Once officers arrived, Bailey and another man fled. While trying to escape, Bailey accidentally penetrated his thigh and severed his femoral artery after jumping over two fences. He was later taken to hospital, where the cause of death was exsanguination as a result of the injury.{{Cite news |last=Stevens |first=Alexis |title=Rapper Young Scooter dies from injuries after fleeing Atlanta officers, authorities say |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/man-39-dies-after-injuries-sustained-fleeing-atlanta-police/23E5SFM45JG2JCZY5YH3JPWO24/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |language=English |issn=1539-7459}}{{cite magazine |last1=Atkinson |first1=Katie |title=Rapper Young Scooter Dies on 39th Birthday in Atlanta: Report |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/young-scooter-dead-atlanta-police-birthday-1235934551/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=29 March 2025}}
Discography
=Mixtapes=
=Singles=
==As lead artist==
==As featured artist==
=Other charted songs=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ ! rowspan="2" |Title ! rowspan="2" |Year ! colspan="2" |Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" |Certifications ! rowspan="2" |Album |
| scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"| US Bub. {{Cite magazine|title=Young Scooter Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/young-scooter/chart-history/hbu/|access-date=April 18, 2021|magazine=Billboard}} ! scope="col" style="width:3.5em;font-size:90%;"| US |
|---|
| scope="row"| "Guwop" {{Small|(Young Thug featuring Quavo, Offset and Young Scooter)}} |2016 |10 |45 | |
| scope="row"| "Doh Doh" {{Small|(Future featuring Young Scooter)}} |2018 |12 |— | |
=Guest appearances=
=Music videos=
==As lead artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of music videos, with directors, showing year released ! scope="col" style="width:16em;" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Director(s) |
| scope="row"|"77 Birds" (featuring Gucci Mane) | rowspan="6"|2012 |
|---|
| scope="row"|"Cash Money"
| rowspan="2"|Cricket{{cite web|url=http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhW3BD180vs6Nt4p46 |title=Video: Young Scooter (Future's Artist) – Cash Money |publisher=Worldstarhiphop.com |date=September 18, 2012 |access-date=2013-03-01}}{{cite web|url=http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshho3z60Cm0M8v1dmoq |title=Video: Young Scooter – The Corner |publisher=Worldstarhiphop.com |date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=2013-03-01}} |
| scope="row"|"The Corner" |
| scope="row"|"Down Bad" |
| scope="row"|"Hardest Thing In Life" |
| scope="row"|"Flying Packs" (featuring Cartel MGM) |
| scope="row"|"Colombia"
| rowspan="4"|2013 |
| scope="row"|"Street Lights" (featuring Gucci Mane and OJ da Juiceman) |
| scope="row"|"Streets Talking" (featuring Shyst Red) |
| scope="row"|"Colombia" (Remix) (featuring Rick Ross, Birdman and Gucci Mane) |
==As featured artist==
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of music videos, with directors, showing year released ! scope="col" style="width:16em;" | Title ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Director(s) |
| scope="row"|"Anything You Want" (Dose featuring Future and Young Scooter) | rowspan="4"|2012 |
|---|
| scope="row"|"All We Do" (Yung Ralph featuring Young Scooter) | rowspan="2"|Cricket{{cite web|url=http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhX45olgVg93dCWnyE |title=Video: Gucci Mane ft. Young Scooter – Money Habits |publisher=Worldstarhiphop.com |date=October 8, 2012 |access-date=2013-03-01}} |
| scope="row"|"Money Habits" (Gucci Mane featuring Young Scooter) |
| scope="row"|"Dead Man" (Gucci Mane featuring Young Scooter and Trae tha Truth) |
| scope="row"|"New Money" (Shawty Lo featuring Cash Out and Young Scooter) | rowspan="3"|2013 |
| scope="row"|"Shooter" (Gucci Mane featuring Young Scooter and Yung Fresh) |
| scope="row"|"Holmes" (Migos featuring Young Scooter and Gucci Mane) |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Sister project auto}}
- {{IMDb name}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Music|United States}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Scooter, Young}}
Category:21st-century African-American musicians
Category:21st-century American male musicians
Category:21st-century American male rappers
Category:Accidental deaths in Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:African-American male rappers
Category:People from DeKalb County, Georgia
Category:People from Walterboro, South Carolina