Cali Swag District speaks on the death of M-Bone

The local hip-hop world was rocked this week by the slaying of Montae "M-Bone" Talbert, 22, a member of the Cali Swag District, the group behind the national dance craze "the Dougie." 

Since his shooting Sunday night in the 400 block of North La Brea Boulevard in Inglewood, police have interviewed multiple witnesses in an attempt to piece together the details of the shooting. Thus far, no arrests have been made.

TMZ has reported that the shooting potentially stemmed from a conflict over a woman, but law-enforcement officials have yet to divulge a possible motive for the drive-by shooting. In a recent interview with the gossip site, the members of Cali Swag District stressed that it was not gang related.

"It had nothing to do with gang violence. It wasn't nothing like that. It was just a 'wrong place at the wrong time' situation. We just gotta stay strong for the homey," Corey "Smoove" Fowler said in a video posted on TMZ. "We don't know who's responsible for it or what the case may be. It's just bad, man. We're just gonna leave it up to the law right now because there's really nothing we can do."

Members of Cali Swag District, raised in Inglewood, spoke on the culture of violence within their hometown in a January interview with the Los Angeles Times.

"We were never in gangs, but you can't not know the gang members when you grow up in Inglewood. We grew up around them, and everyone starts young," said Chante "Yung" Clee. "You go to parties, people punch people, and then things get more serious. We ran with them sometimes, but we never joined. It never made sense. Slowly, but surely, people go to jail or get killed. It gets out of hand."

According to data collected by The Times’ interactive Homicide Report,  69 homicides have been reported within 2 miles of Sunday's shooting since January 2007.

"During the '90s, you could drive down the street and see people flying rags. You could tell a gang member from a random person," Yung said in January. "Now, you’ll see gang members in skinny jeans. You can get shot by a dude on a skateboard in Vans with skinny jeans and a string for a belt."

Though a full narrative has yet to emerge about Sunday night's events, Smoove told TMZ that they had just came home from tour the day beforehand. Prior to Talbert's fateful trip to the liquor store, they had been celebrating a friend's birthday.

"He went to the store to get something to drink, and randomly, somebody pulls up, don't say no words, don't shoot a lot of shots, just did what they had to do and got on. It had to be something, but we really can't tell exactly what it was," Smoove told TMZ.

RELATED:

M-Bone shooting motive unknown, police say

Cali Swag District rapper M-Bone killed in a drive-by

Everyone's doing the Dougie, but what's next for the Cali Swag District?

-- Jeff Weiss

Photo: A fan signs a bereavement card on May 17, 2011, outside the liquor store at the site where rapper M-Bone from the group Cali Swag District was recently killed. Credit: Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[REDD COOK]

I GIVE MY BLESSINGS TO M-BONES FAMILY. IM SORRY FOR WHAT HAPPENED AND I HOPE THEY CKATCKH THE SLEEZE WHO DID THIS. RE5T IN PEACKE M-BONE!!!!!!!!

[Dashana Marshell]

Rip M-Bone and may the Dougie be remembered for you..Much Love and I Love You and I hope we get justice for you.

[Shag]

Will it ever end. Our young people are wasting two lives when something like this happens: the victim, and the apprehended killer, when they find him.

[Michael Haase]

I grew up listening to hip hop, among other musical genres. When Cali Swag came on the scene and I heard "Dougie", I knew they had something that would blow up huge! Last year, I saw them perform in Anchorage, Alaska. I was the oldest one there, but that was OK. It was great to see the continued interest in hip hop. They have a great sound, and are amazing in a live performance. My thoughts now are with the family and friends of M-Bone, taken far too soon... San Quentin awaits the sick person or persons who did this!

[Asha White]

We going to miss you M-bone RIP

[norma]

that was the best dancer i seening.and i like to dougie is the coolest dance ever..

[tiyana]

man thts just messed up! well no more duggie iam a 13 year old girl and thts all i lisen to is rap and thts messed up who ever shot him is dum! and ily rip dugie!!!!!!!!!!

[Kendra Collins]

VERY SAD!!!

[capri jones]

rip m-bone

[D-Bone]

"Teach me how to Duck-ie" would have been a better single.

[donnie]

Why why is the person so jealous he had to kill m bone rip m bone i give prayer to m bons family

[Jay Ciara]

its sad to see a young person on his way from nothing to something and gets hurt. jealousy is the most ugliest thing somebody can have. if they cant have what you got then you cant have it all. and i give all my respect to the cali swag dis. grp you keep yah heads up and to his mother . its ok ...just know know his killer qone have really bad karma.

R.I.P M-Bone

[dashawnna]

I really hope who ever did this go to jail fo life.RIP M-BONE you will always be missed and in our hearts. Dougie to da floo.NEver goin to forget u csd all da way. ur family will always be prayed for.Always go dougie

[bigcheyenne]

RIP M-BONE....I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE MASS HOMICIDES AMONG OUR YOUNG BLACK BRO...IT'S JUST SENSELESS,DON'T WE AS A BLACK RACE OF PEOPLE HAVE THE WHOLE WORLD HATING ON US?WHY CAN'T WE COME TOGETHER AND LIVE AMONGEST EACH OTHER WITHOUT ALL THE MURDERING?IF ANY BLACK PEOPLE WATCH THE FIRST 48...THEN OPEN YOUR EYES AND C WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON.KEEP KILLING EACH OTHER AND THE WHITE MAN'S JOB WILL BE DONE.WE WILL BECOME EXTINCT..JUST AS THEY WANT.STOP THE VIOLENCE.....PLEAZE