Who was MO3 and when was he killed? Rapper's death reexamined after Yella Beezy's murder indictment
The 2020 murder of Texas rapper MO3, born Melvin Noble, is back in headlines after Dallas rapper Yella Beezy was formally indicted in connection with the killing. A Dallas County grand jury handed down the indictment on March 18, 2025, alleging Beezy played a role in orchestrating MO3's death by hiring another individual to carry out the hit.
MO3 was tragically killed on November 11, 2020, during a brazen midday shooting on Interstate 35 in Dallas. According to a statement by the Dallas Police Department at the time, an 'adult Black male' approached Melvin's vehicle while he was parked, prompting the rapper to flee on foot. The suspect gave chase, firing multiple rounds before fleeing the scene in a sedan. MO3 succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital.
Court documents now allege that Beezy offered 'a promise of payment or payment' to Kewon White for the killing. White is currently serving a nine-year federal sentence for firearm offenses linked to the shooting. Another man, Devin Maurice Brown, has also been charged in connection with the case. According to an arrest warrant, Brown was reportedly upset about a relationship between MO3 and a witness, and allegedly helped track MO3's location on the day of the murder.
MO3, born on May 31, 1992, in McKinney, Texas, rose to prominence in the Dallas rap scene with his emotional and gritty lyricism. He launched his rap career in 2014 with the release of Shottaz, followed by Shottaz Reloaded and 4 Indictments in 2016. His later projects included Gangsta Love, Shottaz 3.0, Osama, and Badazz Mo3 between 2017 and 2020.
In an interview, MO3 once said, "I'm trying to give a message. I ain't trying to rap to make it sound good, I want you to feel it. Of course, it has to sound good. That's the only way they're going to listen. If it sounds good and you're talking about something, you don't just get them to listen — you give them a follow."
He derived his stage name from combining family nicknames: 'Lil Mo' from his mother's side and 'Third' from his father's name, leading to 'Mo3.'
MO3 is survived by his parents, children—Malaysia, Malia, and Tre'Monye Noble—and a large extended family. His death left a deep void in the Dallas music scene, and the recent developments in Yella Beezy's case have reopened old wounds for fans still mourning his loss.
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