- Yella Beezy (Markies Conway) indicted for hiring triggerman in 2020 murder
- Victim Mo3 (Melvin Noble) shot 11 times on Dallas interstate
- 3 suspects total, with Kewon White serving federal firearm sentence
- Case highlights rising hip-hop violence in Southern states
The hip-hop community faces renewed scrutiny as Dallas County prosecutors charge rapper Yella Beezy with capital murder for the November 2020 killing of rising star Mo3. Court documents allege Beezy, legally named Markies Conway, orchestrated the brazen highway assassination by paying associate Kewon White $15,000 to eliminate Noble. The shooting occurred during afternoon rush hour on I-35, with bystanders capturing cellphone footage of White chasing Noble across four lanes before firing 11 shots.
Texas penal code §19.03 defines capital murder during remuneration as a death-penalty-eligible offense, though Dallas County hasn’t sought execution since 2019. Legal analysts speculate prosecutors will push for life without parole given White’s plea deal in a separate federal firearm case. Noble’s mother Nichole Williams Noble told reporters, “This indictment proves what we knew – my son’s talent threatened people who chose bullets over beats.”
Industry data reveals troubling patterns behind the tragedy. A 2023 Music Analytics Group study shows Southern rap accounts for 68% of all genre-related violent crimes since 2015, with Texas incidents rising 22% year-over-year. Dallas PD’s Gang Unit notes that 90% of local hip-hop violence stems from social media disputes over lyrics or perceived disrespect. Mo3’s 2019 Boosie Badazz collaboration “Errybody (Remix)” amassed 41 million YouTube views, inadvertently escalating regional tensions.
The prosecution’s case hinges on digital evidence. Forensic accountants traced $14,850 in cryptocurrency from Conway’s wallet to White’s account 72 hours pre-shooting. Cell tower records place both men near White’s DeSoto, TX residence during the alleged payment. Meanwhile, co-defendant Devin Brown claims via jailhouse letters that Conway sought retaliation for Mo3’s unreleased diss track referencing Beezy’s 2018 Lewisville shooting.
Texas’ judicial approach to rap crimes continues evolving. Harris County’s 2022 Hip-Hop Violence Task Force reduced music-related homicides 18% through lyric mediation programs – a model Dallas courts now consider. As Yella Beezy’s trial proceeds, industry reformers advocate for mandatory conflict resolution clauses in recording contracts to prevent future tragedies.
