Drakeo the Ruler’s Estate Settles With Live Nation, Others Over Fatal Festival Stabbing

Live Nation and other companies have reached a legal settlement with the estate of Drakeo the Ruler over his fatal backstage stabbing at a Los Angeles hip-hop festival in 2021.

A Friday (Oct. 9) court filing reveals the estate administered by Drakeo’s mother, Darrylene Corniel, settled all of its remaining negligence claims against Live Nation and subsidiary C3 Presents, as well as various other concert promoters and security companies involved in the Once Upon a Time in LA festival where the rapper (Darrell Caldwell) was killed. A lawyer for Drakeo’s son, Caiden Caldwell, tells Billboard that they too have settled parallel claims over the incident.

Terms of the settlements have not been made public. A rep for Live Nation declined to comment on the resolutions, and Drakeo’s estate did not immediately return a request for comment on Wednesday (Oct. 14).

A third lawsuit over Drakeo’s death is still pending against Live Nation and set to go to trial on Nov. 30. This case is being leveled by Drakeo’s brother, Devante Caldwell, and members of his entourage who were present at Once Upon a Time in LA in December 2021.

Drakeo died of stab wounds after being attacked backstage at L.A.’s BMO Stadium, where the up-and-coming rapper was set to perform. To date, no one has been arrested or charged in the murder.

Various members of Drakeo’s family and inner circle later filed multiple civil lawsuits alleging Live Nation and various companies involved with the festival were negligent in providing sufficient security. The defendants all denied liability, with Live Nation arguing that the tragic 2021 killing was “unforeseeable.”

Drakeo’s family members also initially leveled claims against an LLC controlled by Snoop Dogg, claiming that the rap star helped organize and promote Once Upon a Time in LA. Snoop’s company responded that he was merely a performer at the festival, and those claims were later dropped entirely.