Fredo Santana (Derrick Coleman)

Musical style and recordings

Santana's music combined elements of drill—the hard-edged, percussion-driven style that emerged in Chicago—with trap production and traditional gangsta-rap themes. His debut studio album, Trappin Ain't Dead, was released on October 31, 2013 through the Savage Squad imprint; the record and a number of mixtapes and guest appearances established him as a persistent voice in the underground scene. On July 9, 2014, he publicly revealed the track list for a follow-up project titled Walking Legend.

Career and collaborations

Throughout his career Santana worked with local and national artists, appearing on tracks that emphasized loyalty, survival and the realities of life in Chicago neighborhoods. While he did not achieve the same mainstream chart success as some peers, he maintained a loyal fan base and helped popularize the harder-edged sounds coming from his city during that period.

Health, death and circumstances

Santana struggled with health problems in his later years. On January 19, 2018, he died in Los Angeles at the age of 27. Reports and medical statements indicated the cause of death was kidney failure complicated by a seizure. His passing prompted renewed discussion about substance use, chronic illness and access to care among artists in similar scenes.

Legacy and reception

Fredo Santana is remembered for his uncompromising lyrical tone and for contributing to the national visibility of Chicago's drill and trap-influenced rap. Critics and listeners note that his work captured a specific street-level perspective that influenced peers and younger artists in the region. Posthumously, his recordings continue to be cited when tracing the development of Chicago's rap landscape in the 2010s.

Quick facts

• Born: July 4, 1990 — Derrick Coleman
• Stage name: Fredo Santana
• Notable release: Trappin Ain't Dead (Oct 31, 2013)
• Announced project track list: Walking Legend (track list revealed July 9, 2014)
• Relation: cousin of Chief Keef
• Died: January 19, 2018 in Los Angeles; cause reported as kidney failure complicated by a seizure