3 Michigan Rappers Go Missing After Canceled Detroit Show

Three Michigan rap artists who were scheduled to perform at a Detroit club Jan. 21 have been missing since the show was canceled that day.

Armani Kelly, 28, Dante Wicker, 31, and Montoya Givens, 31, who are all associates, were supposed to perform at the venue, according to Michael McGinnis, commander of major crimes.

“The fact that the three of them are missing together is very concerning and very alarming for us.”

Authorities say Kelly of Oscoda, whose stage name is Marley Whoop, was first reported missing to Oscoda police on Jan. 22 after his mother hadn’t heard from him. She traced her car, which Kelly was using, with OnStar. The vehicle was found in Warren, McGinnis said.

Once news spread that Kelly was missing, the families of the Givens and Wicker realized they, too, hadn’t heard from them and filed missing person reports, McGinnis said.

Detroit Police Chief James White said investigators believe Kelly, Givens, and Wicker were together at Lounge 31 on Detroit’s east side.  What’s unclear, he said, is what happened to them after they left.

The three men’s cellphone activity had stopped by the early hours of Jan. 22, including any activity on their social media accounts, according to White.

“We just have a whole lot of unanswered questions,” and some family members are beginning to lose hope, said McGinnis.

McGinnis urged the community to come forward with any information regarding the whereabouts of the missing rappers.

Following an early release from prison for armed robbery, Kelly was turning his life around. According to his fiancéeTaylor Perrin, the 27-year old Oscoda resident was turning his life around. He was working, taking college classes, laboriously pursuing rap music, and planning a wedding.

The night of the event, Kelly told Perrin the gig was canceled over an equipment issue so he planned to link up with others and possibly find open mic events. But texts, calls, and Facebook messages went unanswered sometime after 7:30 p.m., she said.

“I just don’t understand how this happened and how there’s three grown men missing and nobody seems to know anything,” Perrin tells Detroit News.

Kelly’s mother, Lorrie Kemp, is losing hope and believes her son is no longer living but she still wants answers.

“Somebody knows somebody who knows something,” she said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detroit police at (313) 596-5600, Melvindale police at (313) 429-1070 or Warren police at (586) 574-4700.

White said “the case is wide open and extremely active” but also rests on tips.

“We need the public’s help on this case,” he said.