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Rashede D. Clement, Jr. also known as Lil Shede and Shede 1200, is a Philadelphia native, born to the proud parents, Rashede Clement, Sr., and Tyria Myers-Clement.  It saddens me to report that last month Rashede Jr. lost his life to gun violence on the streets of Philadelphia at the young age of fifteen.  In the past two years, gun violence has steadily increased with unfortunately no real strategic efforts on behalf of the Mayor, Governor, Office of Violence Prevention, or Philly Police Department to combat it, in spite of the City of Philadelphia receiving around $150 million dollars to reduce gun violence in Philly (with 402 homicides and counting, this year).

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Rashede Jr. was full of life, he enjoyed spending time with his parents, cousins, uncle, Rashad, brother, Rasheem and sister, Ijanae.  He also enjoyed playing sports, writing, and performing hip-hop music.  Rashede Jr. was an aspiring hip-hop artist with so much talent and potential.  At the age of thirteen, he had already written and recorded over 100 songs and was asked to collaborate with several music artists on their mixtape projects.  My personal favorite song that Rashede wrote and performed is, Take It Easy;  its rhythmic style and melodic beat will keep you dancing.  I invited him to be a guest on the Real Recognize Real Talk Radio Show to perform, but unfortunately he didn’t make it onto the show.  His lyrical ability was well beyond his years.  He was definitely a talent the world needed to see and hear. 

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Rashede Jr. was a loving, humorous, intelligently creative young man, who excelled in music, football and track.  While in high school, he also worked at a local restaurant in Philly and devoted himself to his music.  It is unfortunate that he will not have the chance to reach his career aspirations. However, his living will not be in vain.  The love and remembrance for Rashede Jr. was displayed at his vigil where a large number of family members gathered with the neighborhood community of North Philadelphia, where he grew up.  Unfortunately, the shooter has not been identified and no arrest was made in the case.  The family is asking, if anyone knows anything about this case, that they place a call to the Philadelphia Police Department, if you do not want to be identified, you can call anonymously.  The violence must stop now and we have to get these shooters off of the street for the safety of ourselves as well as our children.  We have to put down the guns and stop the senseless violence.

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Rashede Jr., will forever live in our hearts, and as his dad states, “He is now Immortal.”  We are saddened but blessed to honor, Rashede D. Clement Jr., in the October 2021 issue of the Love Exquisite Magazine and prayers of comfort are with his parents, siblings, and entire family.  Rashede Jr. is gone way too soon, but he will never be forgotten.  Rest in paradise young king.  Rest in power, Cousin.  May your memory and music live on forever.   I LOVE YOU!

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By Lynnette Clement