L.A. Rapper MoneySign Suede Fatally Stabbed in Jail at Age 22
On Tuesday, April 25th, 2023, the Los Angeles Times reported that 22-year-old rapper MoneySign Suede, whose real name was Jaime Brugada Valdez, was found dead in jail. Suede had spent the last few years in and out of jail and began serving a 32-month sentence for two gun charges in December.
According to Suede’s attorney Nicholas Rosenberg, he received a call around midnight on Tuesday informing him that his client had been fatally stabbed in the neck in the shower at the Correctional Training Facility in California. Rosenberg stated that Suede had been attacked prior to his death and that an investigation was ongoing.
Suede’s family seemingly confirmed his death on the rapper’s Instagram Stories, thanking people for their condolences and warning against any potential scams. They also clarified that they had not set up a GoFundMe account.
Despite being incarcerated, Suede’s music career continued to gain traction, with his song “Back to the Bag” reaching over 7.1 million views on his YouTube page. The song had been released just two months before Suede started serving time in jail. He had also released two albums, Parkside Baby and Parkside Santa, last year, and was teasing the arrival of a new mixtape just the day before his death.
Suede had previously spoken about the challenges of finding hope and happiness while incarcerated. In a 2021 interview with The Passion of the Weiss, he said, “It’s hard to focus on that s*** and feel hopeful. You can’t really force yourself to be happy.” Despite the difficulties he faced, Suede was described by Rosenberg as a popular and mild-mannered person who was loved by many.
The news of Suede’s death has shocked many in the music industry and beyond, with fans and fellow artists mourning his passing on social media. The circumstances surrounding his death are still under investigation.
