Messy Mya was a popular rapper, comedian, and internet personality from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was known for his hilarious videos, catchy phrases, and colorful hair. He had a loyal fan base and a promising career ahead of him. But his life was cut short on November 14, 2010, when he was shot and killed at the age of 22. What happened to Messy Mya? Who killed him? And how did his voice end up in Beyoncé’s “Formation”? Here is the tragic story of Messy Mya’s cause of death.
The Rise of Messy Mya
Messy Mya, whose real name was Anthony Barre, was born on December 15, 1987, in New Orleans. He grew up in a troubled family, as his mother was shot and killed by her abusive boyfriend when he was 12, and his grandfather, a businessman, was later imprisoned for a kickback scheme involving City Hall according to Wikipedia.
Despite these hardships, Messy Mya found his passion in music and comedy. He started making videos on YouTube in 2008, where he adopted the persona of a diss artist and street comic who would interact with people in public places such as the Lakeside Shopping Center according to i-d.vice.com. He also became a bounce music rapper, a genre of hip hop that originated in New Orleans and is characterized by fast-paced beats and call-and-response chants.
Messy Mya’s videos were hilarious, provocative, and sometimes controversial. He would mock celebrities, politicians, and random strangers with his witty remarks and insults. He also had a catchphrase: “Now who gonna pop me?” according to The Times-Picayune. His videos received tens of thousands of views and he gained a loyal fan base who loved his humor and charisma.
The Death of Messy Mya
On November 14, 2010, Messy Mya was attending his girlfriend’s baby shower in New Orleans’ 7th ward. He was expecting a son with his girlfriend DeJaun “Minicat” Kendrick according to latestinbollywood.com. He posted a video on YouTube that day, where he announced that he was going to be a father and that he was happy.
However, his happiness was short-lived. As he was leaving the baby shower, he was ambushed by a group of young men who shot him several times. He died on the spot, face-down on the ground [according to NPR]. His body was found by police and paramedics. He was only 22 years old.
The motive for the murder remains unclear. Some speculated that it was related to his diss videos or his involvement in the bounce music scene. Others suggested that it was a random act of violence or a case of mistaken identity according to XXL.
A week after Messy Mya’s death, Jason Hamilton was arrested for the murder and confessed. He spent three years in prison before being released when evidence surfaced proving he was not at the scene of the crime according to i-d.vice.com. The real killer has never been found.
Messy Mya left behind a son named Juelz Omarian Anthony Barre, who was born a month after his death on December 13, 2010 according to Wikipedia. He also had two sisters named Angel and Shante according to latestinbollywood.com. His grandfather Stan “Pampy” Barre passed away at the age of 75 from pancreatic cancer on July 1, 2020 according to Wikipedia.
The Legacy of Messy Mya
Messy Mya’s death shocked and saddened his fans and fellow artists. Many paid tribute to him on social media and in their songs. His videos remained popular online and his voice became immortalized in Beyoncé’s “Formation” [according to CNN].
In 2016, Beyoncé released her hit song “Formation”, which featured samples of Messy Mya’s voice from his YouTube videos “A 27-Piece Huh?” and “Booking The Hoes From New Wildin”. In the song, he says “Bitch, I’m back by popular demand” and “What happened at the New Orleans” according to Wikipedia.
The song sparked controversy, as Messy Mya’s estate sued Beyoncé for $20 million in royalties and to credit Messy Mya for the use of his voice [according to XXL]. The lawsuit claimed that Beyoncé had used Messy Mya’s voice without permission or compensation. The lawsuit was later dismissed by a judge who ruled that Beyoncé had used the samples in a fair and transformative way [according to Billboard].
Beyoncé’s use of Messy Mya’s voice also brought attention to his life and work, as many people wondered who he was and what he did. His videos gained more views and his fans celebrated his legacy. His voice also became a symbol of New Orleans culture and resilience, as Beyoncé’s song was a tribute to the city and its people [according to CNN].
Messy Mya was a talented and funny rapper, comedian, and internet personality who made people laugh and entertained them with his videos. He was also a father, a son, a brother, and a friend who loved his family and his city. He was taken away too soon, but his voice lives on in his son, his fans, and his music. Messy Mya cause of death was a tragedy, but his life was a legacy.
