The Hip-Hop community continues to suffer losses in 2021. West Coast Rap veteran Gonzoe (aka Ronald Moore) has been shot and killed in Seattle, Washington in what appears to be a drive-by shooting. TMZ confirmed the death and reported that Gonzoe was 45 years old. The incident took place this week nearby an area Shell gas station. After the gun attack in a car, Gonzoe reportedly made it to the Shell, where he collapsed and was taken to a nearby hospital. The South Central Los Angeles, California native perished overnight. Gonzoe’s killer is reportedly still at large.

Gonzoe broke into the music scene during the mid-1990s as one-third of Kausion. The group, also comprised of Cel and Kaydo, was signed to Ice Cube’s Lench Mob Records imprint. A few years earlier, Gonzoe, a fellow Dorsey High School student, was recruited by Cel to join older schoolmates who had a Capitol Records production deal. The group was introduced to Cube at the University of Southern California campus during the filming of Higher Learning. After hearing a demo, Ice Cube took interest in an expanded Kausion. At Cube’s request, the group was later reduced to the three members heard on one particular song from the demo. He then signed the trio to his Lench Mob imprint, which included Da Lench Mob, Kam, and K-Dee.

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Cube executive produced South Central Los Skanless, released in ’95. Along with the label’s founder, Cypress Hill’s B-Real and K-Dee appeared. Amid legal issues, including Gonzoe’s incarceration, the trio parted ways during by 1997. In a recent interview, Gonzoe praised Cube’s mentorship. He revealed the group and Cube parted ways after Kausion wished to sign to Death Row Records. The Kausion group recently reunited for 2020’s “Los Angeles Legend.”

As a soloist, Gonzoe appeared on Kurupt’s solo debut Kuruption along with Yukmouth’s Godzilla LP. Yuk and Gonzoe would join Tech N9ne, Poppa L.Q., and others in super-group, Tha Regime. As a solo artist on Priority Records, Gonzoe was managed by Suge Knight’s wife, Sharitha Knight. He remained active in Rap, putting out songs like 2019’s Nirvana-rework “Smells Like Green Spirit” and 2017’s “Bang My Line,” which streamed into the six figures.

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Earlier this year Gonzoe, told DJ Vlad about Tupac personally inviting him to join Tha Outlawz. He and Pac made three recordings together following both rappers’ mid-’90s prison releases—including “Dump Or Die” and “This Life I Lead.” The songs were never released after Gonzoe left Priority for Mercury Records. According to Gonzoe, the Outlawz affiliation ended after he fought with founding group member Napoleon. That beef was later squashed. The eventual founder of Blocwize Ent donned an Outlawz tattoo.

Ambrosia For Heads extends condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Gonzoe.

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#BonusBeat: Kausion and Ice Cube’s “What You Wanna Do” music video: