Kenneth Edward Rashaad Bailey, known by his stage name Young Scooter, is an American rapper . Best known for his contributions to the trap music genre, he gained prominence in the early 2010s for his collaboration with major rap figures like Future, Gucci Mane, and Waka Flocka Flame.
Rapper Young Scooter sadly passed away on March 28th at the age of 39, which was also his birthday. The news has been confirmed by several sources, including the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office.
Scooter was born on March 28, 1986, in Walterboro, South Carolina, and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, at the age of nine. Growing up in the Kirkwood community, he was exposed to street life, which heavily influenced his music. After a drug trafficking charge in 2008, Scooter decided to pursue a music career, aligning himself with his childhood friend, rapper Future. He initially released the mixtape Plug Talkin, but it didn't gain much attention. His second project, Finessin and Flexin', helped him establish a name, particularly through collaborations with Future.
Young Scooter was a family man with four children from previous relationships. In February 2025, he celebrated his daughter's 10th birthday on Instagram, sharing moments with her and writing, "HAPPY BDAY BABY I LOVE U TOO THE MOON AND BACK." He also posted about his youngest son in September 2024, saying, "YOUR FIRST TRAINING SESSION AROUND CORNER GET READY SON." Scooter's older son also had a birthday in January 2025.
Young Scooter’s breakout moment came in 2012 with the release of his mixtape, Street Lottery. The tape was a commercial success, reaching over 100,000 downloads on DatPiff and earning positive reviews. The lead single, "Colombia," became a regional hit and caught the attention of major hip-hop publications. It was so popular that it was remixed by Rick Ross, Birdman, and Gucci Mane, and even covered by Lil Wayne on his Dedication 5 mixtape.
In 2013, Scooter signed with Waka Flocka Flame’s Brick Squad Monopoly, an imprint of Gucci Mane’s 1017 Records. He followed up with the release of From The Cell Block To Your Block, further solidifying his place in the rap game.
Young Scooter was known for his freestyle approach to rapping, much like his mentor, Gucci Mane. He called his style "count music," focusing on themes of money, street life, and the hustle. His music reflected his experiences and often featured hard-hitting beats with raw, unfiltered lyrics. Influenced by icons like Jay-Z, 50 Cent, and Diddy, Scooter's sound was rooted in the trap genre yet distinct in its gritty storytelling.
Throughout his career, Young Scooter consistently released mixtapes that were well-received in the Southern rap scene. Some of his notable projects include:
Rapper Young Scooter tragically passed away at 39 on March 28, the same day as his birthday. The Atlanta Police Department confirmed his death after a police chase. Officers responded to a dispute at a house on William Nye Drive, where shots were fired, and a woman was reportedly dragged inside. When the officers arrived, a man briefly opened the door but then shut it.
Two men fled the house, with one jumping over two fences. Police found him with a leg injury and took him to Grady Hospital, where he later died. The police confirmed the man was 39-year-old Young Scooter, and the injury occurred during the chase. The cause of his death has not been fully released, and further details are awaited.
Young Scooter’s son, Kenneth Bailey Jr., shared emotional posts on Instagram after his father’s death on March 28. He expressed his grief, saying he felt "broken into a million pieces" and called his dad a "good" person who didn’t deserve to die. He also criticized the Atlanta Police Department (APD), claiming they lied to him about his father's condition.