PnB Rock

Biography

Rakim Hasheem Allen (December 9, 1991 – September 12, 2022), known professionally as PnB Rock, was an American singer, rapper, and songwriter. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Allen signed with Atlantic Records in 2015. His 2016 single, "Selfish", became his first Billboard Hot 100 entry; it received triple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and served as lead single for his commercial mixtape GTTM: Goin Thru the Motions×GTTM: Goin Thru the Motions13 January 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Attention3:552There She Go3:463Playa No More3:124Selfish4:055Plans3:106Range Rover2:597Notice Me3:298Hanging Up My Jersey3:309Smile4:2610Misunderstood4:0811Heart Racin'4:3612Questions3:2513New Day3:0914Stand Back3:27 (2017), which entered the Billboard 200. His debut studio album, Catch These Vibes×Catch These Vibes17 November 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Friends3:472London3:243Face3:204Scrub3:325Lovin’3:306Issues3:527Lowkey3:208iRun4:069TTM3:3210WTS3:16113X3:2712VOICEMEMOWAV.42:2913Pressure3:4014Coupe2:1615Confide2:42161Day3:0817Feelins3:4118Rewind4:01 (2017), peaked at number 10 on the chart, while his second album, TrapStar Turnt PopStar×TrapStar Turnt PopStar2 May 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 23 tracks · 3 discsDisc 11Dreamin’2:382I Need More2:593Deez Streetz2:384Go to Mars2:325Penny Proud2:396MIDDLE CHILD2:327F**k Up the City3:368Nowadays3:059Now or Never 2.03:35Disc 21Swervin’3:062I Like Girls2:313All These Bandz3:044Put You On2:595Stage Fright3:306Choosin3:157My Ex2:488ABCD (Friend Zone)2:459How It Feels3:15Disc 31T‐Shirt3:152Me & U2:553Evolved3:044Take My Soul2:425HMP3:04 (2019), peaked at number one.
Allen also guest performed on the Billboard Hot 100-top 40 singles "Cross Me" by Ed Sheeran, "Changes" by XXXTentacion, "Dangerous" by Meek Mill, and "Everyday We Lit×Everyday We Lit16 December 2016 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Everyday We Lit3:17" by YFN Lucci during his lifetime. He was chosen as part of the 2017 XXL Freshman Class.
PnB Rock was shot and killed during a robbery at Roscoe's House of Chicken 'N Waffles in South Los Angeles on September 12, 2022, at the age of 30. Three suspects were arrested in connection to the killing, including Freddie Lee Trone and his 17-year-old son. In August 2024, Freddie Trone was found guilty on all counts of first-degree murder, robbery, and conspiracy.

Early life

Rakim Hasheem Allen was born on December 9, 1991, in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to a Muslim family. Allen's father was murdered when he was three years old. He was primarily raised by his single mother. In his teen years, he lived in Northeast Philadelphia. He grew up listening to artists such as rapper 2Pac and R&B group Jodeci.
At age 13, Allen was sent to a youth detention program for committing robberies and fighting in school. When he turned 19, he was sentenced to 33 months in prison for drug possession and other crimes. Allen was homeless for a short period after being released from prison. He never finished high school. Allen later adopted the stage name PnB Rock, which paid homage to Pastorius and Baynton, a street corner near where he grew up in Germantown.

Career

In June 2014, PnB Rock released his debut mixtape, Real N*gga Bangaz. He wrote the mixtape while he was incarcerated. In 2015, PnB Rock signed a record deal with Atlantic Records, and his first project under the label was the release of his third mixtape RnB3. In June 2016, he released the single "Selfish", which peaked at number 51 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In October 2016, Rolling Stone included him in their list of "10 New Artists You Need to Know".
In January 2017, he released his second retail mixtape album, GTTM: Goin Thru the Motions×GTTM: Goin Thru the Motions13 January 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Attention3:552There She Go3:463Playa No More3:124Selfish4:055Plans3:106Range Rover2:597Notice Me3:298Hanging Up My Jersey3:309Smile4:2610Misunderstood4:0811Heart Racin'4:3612Questions3:2513New Day3:0914Stand Back3:27, through Atlantic Records and Empire Distribution. The album debuted at number 28 on the US Billboard 200 chart. In April 2017, he contributed to the soundtrack of The Fate of the Furious with two singles: "Gang Up" with Young Thug, 2 Chainz, and Wiz Khalifa and "Horses" with Kodak Black and A Boogie wit da Hoodie. In June 2017, PnB Rock was named as one of the ten members of XXL's "2017 Freshman Class" along with A Boogie wit da Hoodie, Playboi Carti, Ugly God, Kyle, Aminé, MadeinTYO, Kamaiyah, Kap G, and XXXTentacion.
His debut album TrapStar Turnt PopStar×TrapStar Turnt PopStar2 May 2019 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 23 tracks · 3 discsDisc 11Dreamin’2:382I Need More2:593Deez Streetz2:384Go to Mars2:325Penny Proud2:396MIDDLE CHILD2:327F**k Up the City3:368Nowadays3:059Now or Never 2.03:35Disc 21Swervin’3:062I Like Girls2:313All These Bandz3:044Put You On2:595Stage Fright3:306Choosin3:157My Ex2:488ABCD (Friend Zone)2:459How It Feels3:15Disc 31T‐Shirt3:152Me & U2:553Evolved3:044Take My Soul2:425HMP3:04 was released in May 2019. PnB Rock and Chance the Rapper were featured on Ed Sheeran's song "Cross Me" from Sheeran's album No.6 Collaborations Project. In January 2020, PnB Rock released the track "Ordinary" featuring late rapper Pop Smoke. In January 2021, he featured for the late rapper King Von, on a song titled "Rose Gold×Rose Gold19 January 2021 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Rose Gold3:12". In February 2022, PnB Rock released the mixtape SoundCloud Daze×SoundCloud Daze28 January 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Lessons3:222I’m Chosen3:253Main Bitch2:014BALENCI2:555UP2:426Fury1:177No Skeemz2:428Told U I’d Be There2:319Lately1:4910In My Zone2:1811Rewind2:1012StiLL ARounD2:36 which featured various artists including Pasto Flocco, Iayze and Yung Fazo. He independently released "Luv Me Again×Luv Me Again2 September 2022 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Luv Me Again2:08" in September 2022, which was the last single he released during his lifetime.

Murder of PnB Rock

On September 12, 2022, Allen was robbed and fatally shot at Roscoe's House of Chicken 'N Waffles near Main Street and Manchester Avenue in South Los Angeles. Three suspects were arrested in connection to the killing: an unnamed 17-year-old juvenile and his father Freddie Trone, plus 32-year-old Shauntel Trone, who was arrested for accessory to murder. Both the juvenile and Freddie Trone were charged with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree robbery, and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.
In October 2023, new defendants Tremont Jones and Wynisha Evans appeared in court. Authorities believe the alleged killers were alerted to Allen's location by Jones, not an Instagram post by Allen's girlfriend, as originally suspected. Prosecutors allege Evans drove Trone from Los Angeles to Las Vegas after the murder. Jones and Evans both pled not guilty.
On August 7, 2024, Freddie Lee Trone was found guilty on all counts of first-degree murder, robbery, and conspiracy. Tremont Jones was also found guilty on all counts of robbery and conspiracy, and he was sentenced to serve 12 years in prison. In September 2024, Freddie Trone was sentenced to life imprisonment; he is required to serve at least 31 years of his sentence before he will be eligible for parole. At the time of Trone's sentencing, his juvenile son was still awaiting trial.
On May 29th, 2026, California Court of Appeal officially reviewed and upheld Freddie Lee Trone's murder charges. The judges added that: "The evidence shows Trone significantly increased the risks by arming his mentally unstable son"