Rapper Ksoo, whose legal name is Hakeem Robinson, has been convicted of first-degree murder in the 2020 killing of Jacksonville artist Lil’ Buck. The verdict, delivered earlier this week in a Florida courtroom, was first reported by Complex. He was tried alongside co-defendant Leroy "ATK Scotty" Whitaker, who was also found guilty of first-degree murder and burglary with assault or battery. Both men are now facing mandatory life sentences, with formal sentencing scheduled for September 8.
Prosecutors alleged that Robinson, Whitaker, and an accomplice, Dominique “Butta” Barner, tracked the victim to a shopping center in Arlington, where Ksoo allegedly carried out the shooting. The motive, they claimed, stemmed from a diss track targeting Ksoo’s half-brother. Barner, who cooperated with prosecutors, testified that he served as the getaway driver.
Following the verdict, State Attorney Melissa Nelson stated: “Five years ago, Hakeem Robinson and Leroy Whitaker stalked a man and gunned him down in broad daylight because of disputes and drill rap. Today, a jury held them accountable for their brazen crimes.”
Defense attorney Chris Carson told Action News that the charges carry a sentence of life in prison, as the case is not eligible for the death penalty.
The case attracted national attention when Ksoo’s father decided to testify against his son. In a social media post defending his decision, he wrote that he would have never left his own father in prison if he had the chance to free him, emphasizing that good fathers deserve support regardless of consequences.
The verdict marks a major development in a case that highlights ongoing violence tied to rap rivalries and Jacksonville’s drill music scene.
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