Yolanda Brown, also known as LaLa, was an American R&B singer who rose to fame in 2006 with her feature on Lyfe Jennings’ hit song “S.E.X.” She was on the verge of launching her solo career when she was brutally murdered in 2007, along with her record producer and boyfriend, JeTannue “Kool-Aid” Clayborn. Their bodies were found in a recording studio in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after being shot by an unknown assailant. More than a decade later, the case remains unsolved and shrouded in mystery. What happened to Yolanda Brown and Kool-Aid? Who killed them and why? Here are some of the facts and theories surrounding this tragic case.
Early Life and Career
Yolanda Rose Brown was born on May 20, 1986, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Maria and William Brown. She was the youngest of five children. Her mother was of Mexican descent and her father was African American. She showed a talent for entertainment from an early age, singing and dancing around the house. She started singing professionally at the age of 11, using the stage name “Pre-mere”. She often sang at weddings and later at various bars. She attended Frederick Douglass Elementary School, Jackie Robinson Middle School, and Milwaukee High School of the Arts. At the age of 16, in 2002, she gave birth to a daughter, Amirah Airreal Brown.
In 2005, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia, hoping to further her career in the music industry. She met R&B singer-songwriter Lyfe Jennings, who asked her to be on his new track “S.E.X.”, a cautionary tale warning adolescent girls about the pitfalls and dangers of unprotected sex. The song was a success, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 2006. She also appeared in the music video and toured with Jennings, but was released following a disagreement with him.
In June 2007, she returned to Milwaukee, still determined to become a solo artist. She began working on her debut album with JeTannue “Kool-Aid” Clayborn, a local record producer who owned Loud Enuff Productionz studio. She recorded three songs: “I’m Feeling It”, “Rescue Me”, and “Give Them What They Want”, the latter being a song that some believe is autobiographical. She also loved giving back to her community and performed at various events and fundraisers.
The Murder
On October 22, 2007, Brown and Clayborn were discovered dead in the Loud Enuff Productionz studio on 55th Street and Lisbon Avenue in Milwaukee. They had been shot multiple times by an unknown gunman. According to the police report, they had been dead for at least three days before they were found, meaning that they were killed on October 19, 2007. The studio was locked from the inside and there were no signs of forced entry or robbery. The murder weapon was never recovered.
The police interviewed several witnesses and suspects, but none of them provided any conclusive evidence or motive for the crime. Some of the theories that emerged were:
- A jealous lover or ex-partner of either Brown or Clayborn could have committed the murder out of rage or revenge.
- A rival or disgruntled musician or producer could have targeted them for their success or talent.
- A drug dealer or gang member could have been involved in a dispute or debt with them.
- A random act of violence or a robbery gone wrong could have resulted in their deaths.
However, none of these theories were ever proven or confirmed by the police. The case remains unsolved to this day.
The Aftermath
The murder of Yolanda Brown and Kool-Aid shocked and saddened their families, friends, fans, and the music community. They were both remembered as talented, kind-hearted, and generous people who had bright futures ahead of them. Their daughter Amirah was left orphaned at the age of five and was raised by her grandparents.
Brown’s mother Maria said that she still hopes for justice for her daughter and son-in-law. She said that she believes that someone knows something about their killer and urged them to come forward. She also said that she keeps her daughter’s memory alive by listening to her music and talking to her granddaughter about her.
Brown’s father William said that he misses his daughter every day and that he wishes he could have seen her achieve her dreams. He said that he hopes that one day he will find out who killed her and why.
Brown’s fans also expressed their grief and support for her family online. Many of them said that they still listen to her songs and that they wish she had more time to share her voice with the world. Some of them also said that they hope that her case will be solved and that her killer will be brought to justice.
Yolanda Brown’s cause of death was a tragic and senseless loss of a young and talented life. She was a rising star in the R&B scene who had a lot of potential and passion. She was also a loving mother, daughter, sister, and friend who touched many lives with her music and personality. Her murder remains a mystery that haunts her family and fans to this day. Whoever killed her and Kool-Aid took away not only their lives, but also their dreams.
