Chicago rapper Bloodhound Q50 killed in ambush

The fatal shooting of 22-year-old rapper Mikquale Cooper, known professionally as Bloodhound Q50, has highlighted the ongoing impact of gun violence within the Chicago drill music scene. On September 13, 2026, police reported that the rising artist was killed in an ambush in the Fuller Park neighborhood.

Cooper’s career had seen rapid growth over the preceding two years, garnering hundreds of millions of views on YouTube and helping bring a new generation of Chicago street rap to a national audience. At the time of the incident, authorities had not identified any suspects or established a motive.