In the late 2010s, two new stars on the rise electrified the Dallas rap scene: Mo3, born Melvin Abdul Noble Jr., and Yella Beezy, born Markies Deandre Conway. These rappers, known for their dark lyrics and ties with Dallas neighborhoods, became caught up in a vicious feud that turned violent, leaving a trail of tragedy and turmoil. The feud, rooted in a dispute over who actually represented Oak Cliff, a culturally rich Dallas area, took lives and put the community into a state of turmoil.
We investigated how this feud led to the killing of comedian Roylee Pate, also known as Roy Lee, and ignited a string of violent attacks that have plagued the city ever since.
Roy Lee was a well-known Dallas comedian and friend of Mo3. He joined the beef back in 2017, openly questioning Yella Beezy’s claim on Oak Cliff, a place that holds local pride and attachment. His challenge was not a thoughtless statement but a bold action that placed him on Mo3’s team and escalated tensions between the two rappers’ camps. Roy Lee’s outspoken attitude and allegiance made him a target, setting the stage for what followed.
The rivalry reached a tragic point on September 25, 2018, when Roy Lee was shot at Preston Valley Shopping Center parking lot in North Dallas. Roy battled for a few weeks but died on October 13, 2018, as a result of complications, including a pulmonary blood clot. His death stunned the community as a whole and created a turning point, increasing tensions among Mo3 and Yella Beezy.
Just a day after, on October 14, 2018, Yella Beezy also had his brush with mortality. Yella Beezy was shot eight times during a drive-by shooting on Sam Rayburn Tollway but lived. It was generally viewed as a retaliatory attack for Roy Lee, a signal that the feud had reached a cycle of revenge.
Even after these violent incidents, the feud didn’t fade. Both artists kept it alive through diss tracks and social media taunts. In 2019, Mo3 released “2 Nineteen” on Roy Lee’s birthday, a song accusing Yella Beezy of involvement in his friend’s death and hinting at a bounty on Beezy’s head. These public jabs ensured the conflict remained raw and unresolved.
In January 2020, the beef spilled over into another physical fight. Mo3’s manager, Brandon Rainwater, claimed that Yella Beezy and his crew attacked him outside a Dallas club, leaving his hip dislocated. Rainwater sued for over $1 million, with surveillance footage supposedly recording the incident. The confrontation further widened the divide and added a legal element to the ongoing saga.
The beef reached its tragic culmination on November 11, 2020, when Mo3 was shot on Interstate 35 in Dallas. The shooting unfolded during the daytime: a gunman chased Mo3 on foot following a stop, murdering him and injuring a bystander. The audacity with which the murder occurred shook Dallas and led to the senseless loss of an emerging rap talent.
On March 20, 2025, a dramatic turn occurred when Yella Beezy was arrested and charged with capital murder for allegedly hiring a hitman to kill Mo3. The action reopened cries for justice and closure as society wrestles with the long shadow of violence from the feud.
The clash between Mo3 and Yella Beezy has left deep wounds in Dallas. The deaths of Roy Lee and Mo3, alongside the string of shootings and legal battles, have dimmed the city’s vibrant rap scene. Residents and fans mourn the losses, wrestling with the senseless cost of a rivalry that began over neighborhood pride.
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What started as a dispute over authenticity grew into a deadly feud that tore through lives and a community. From Roy Lee’s death to Mo3’s murder and Yella Beezy’s arrest, this chain of events reveals the high stakes of unresolved conflicts.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Feud begins over Oak Cliff authenticity. |
| September 25, 2018 | Roy Lee shot in North Dallas. |
| October 13, 2018 | Roy Lee dies from complications. |
| October 14, 2018 | Yella Beezy shot in drive-by, survives. |
| January 2020 | Assault on Mo3’s manager by Yella Beezy’s crew. |
| November 11, 2020 | Mo3 killed on I-35 in Dallas. |
| March 20, 2025 | Yella Beezy arrested for Mo3’s murder. |
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