Jesus Alexis Delgado Ortiz, known in the urban music scene as Diddy Glow, was 31 years old and had turned freestyle rap into the launching pad for an artistic career he hoped to expand into dembow, rap and trap.
His path began marked by shyness. In an interview with 829 Music Mundial, he said he first improvised rhymes at home before, about a year later, starting to take part in battles around his neighborhood.
Over time he adopted the nickname "La Bestia," an identity he carried into his freestyle battles that summed up the attitude he brought to every contest. His inspiration was Pablo Piddy, and he went on to face well known names in the scene, including Mozart La Para.
In 2018 he was named "Freestyler of the Year" at the Premios V&P awards, while continuing to build his artistic profile at home and abroad. His travels took him to cities in the United States including Miami and New York, as well as to Cuba, where he recorded the track "Diddy contra el mundo."
Shooting in Boca Chica
His story was cut short on the night he was struck by gunfire during a shooting in Boca Chica, a coastal town in the Dominican Republic known as a beach destination near the capital, Santo Domingo. Jonathan Villanueva, known as Cotuí, 26, also died in the attack. Five other people were wounded.
The Dominican National Police said in a preliminary statement that Diddy Glow was not the target of the attack. Police spokesperson Diego Pesqueira said the gunfire had been aimed at another person who was at the scene.
About ten people have been interviewed as part of the investigation, while investigators review footage from security cameras at businesses in the area and from the National Emergency and Security Response System, known as 911.
Authorities are working on the preliminary theory that the shooting stemmed from a longstanding dispute and say they are making progress in identifying possible suspects.
Tributes from fellow artists
At the funeral, fellow rapper Mozart La Para spoke about Diddy Glow's three year old son and said he would remain involved in the boy's life and that of his family.
Mozart La Para said that from now until the child turns 18, "that is my son," describing the commitment he had taken on for the boy following his father's death.
Dominican freestyle artist Exodo Lirical also reacted with deep sorrow to Diddy Glow's death, calling him one of the most important figures in Dominican street freestyle of the past decade.
Lirical said that with tears in his eyes he had to confirm the news that was affecting everyone, before highlighting Diddy Glow's career and his legacy within Dominican freestyle culture.
Lirical described Diddy Glow as the greatest national freestyler of their generation and called him a street legend, recalling the influence he had on fans who had followed him since childhood, through their teenage years and into adulthood.
Lirical said Diddy Glow was the best Dominican street improviser of the last decade, a colleague, friend and gentleman who always had his respect, who always wanted to represent them abroad and fulfil his dream of making people prouder of freestyle.
Unfinished projects
Diddy Glow still had projects he hoped to complete. Among them was his wish to record with Lapiz Conciente, an artist he admired, as he continued to build a career that had begun on the streets, in rhymes and improvised battles.
