March 4th 2016, the rapper known as Mendez Owens aka No Plug had plans to do some work to promote his music along with his cousin who was also pursuing a career in the music industry. The schedule that night came about as his cousin had to perform at a show, so No Plug decided to tag along and they’d pass out CD’s together https://youtu.be/EyhONc0n-mM (4:32-4:52)
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As they met up at a specified location, the first building they went into at the time was the Street Execs Studio at 1740 Defoor Place in northwest Atlanta
which is a hub for many famous artists,
but most importantly, the home of Trentavious White aka Bankroll Fresh https://youtu.be/J03Hc-ES1GM (20:17-21:05)
That decision would lead to the altercation that would set the stage for the final moments of rapper Bankroll Fresh’s life. While at the studio, No Plug was nonchalant going about his business while facetiming one of his female companions https://youtu.be/EyhONc0n-mM (4:57-5:02) It’s no surprise that Bankroll Fresh, who was in the studio as well caught wind of No Plug’s appearance as one of his female associates informed him.
Upon being informed of No Plug’s presence at the studio, Bankroll Fresh made the second grave mistake after No Plug, and that was approaching with his temper already flaring within 5-10 minutes of No Plug’s arrival https://youtu.be/EyhONc0n-mM (5:26-5:35) Catching No Plug off guard, the first words from Bankroll Fresh’s mouth were “damn bro, why you let them put me out the nine?” https://youtu.be/EyhONc0n-mM (5:02-5:14) This is the point where it was realized that Bankroll Fresh was about to commit a series of bad mistakes due to his emotions not being under control as a result of what happened in the past.
His question to No Plug stemmed from one of the incidents that pushed them to become rivals. The sad thing about what was about to occur, was that they were childhood friends. Both met around the age of 10 and built a bond like brothers that seemed impossible to break https://youtu.be/EyhONc0n-mM (0:52-1:06)
But, like so many that was introduced to fame and fortune in the industry, their friendship hit rocky waters when Bankroll Fresh began growing in his career as a rapper – according to No Plug https://youtu.be/EyhONc0n-mM (1:03-1:12) They drifted further apart until the altercation at the nine, aka Ninth Ward in Atlanta happened. It was late 2015, and a turkey drive was in effect for the community. No plug’s little cousin was giving back to the community in the ninth ward in the form of toys for the kids along with necessities like food. At the same time, Bankroll Fresh was doing the same but in a different location which was Allen Temple in Atlanta. Bankroll would finish giving back to that area and would call No Plug’s cousin to come to the Ninth Ward to join the give away there next, but at this point, him and No Plug’s friendship, while still appreciated, was no longer on close terms, and when Bankroll Fresh arrived at the Ninth Ward, No Plug and his affiliates denied him entry and escorted him out of their community https://youtu.be/EyhONc0n-mM (2:02-3:04)
That incident was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Bankroll Fresh. According to No Plug, that situation along with jealousy and women led the two former friends to become more and more like enemies https://youtu.be/EyhONc0n-mM (11:07-11:45) The problem was, this was no ordinary feud as both portray themselves as street affiliated with backgrounds infused with the vices and activities of that lifestyle. So when Bankroll Fresh approached No Plug on March 4th 2016 at Exec Studios with hostility still lingering about the incident at Ninth Ward the year prior, nothing good was about to come from that altercation. Still, according to No Plug, he was past their issues and instead wanted to leave it in the past and move on https://youtu.be/EyhONc0n-mM (5:07-5:25) Bankroll Fresh, however, continued to escalate the situation. That’s when No plug claims he turned to walk away and was sneak attacked, which led to a scuffle as they rolled down the steps until their childhood mutual friend broke them apart https://youtu.be/EyhONc0n-mM (5:46-6:12)
Surveillance footage inside the studio would show the altercation. No plug enters the studio at around 10:36pm March 4th 2016 https://youtu.be/KFQTmtomoUM (0:31-0:38)
Moments later, the two men are seen locked in a tussle before being separated https://youtu.be/KFQTmtomoUM (0:39-0:54)
Everything seemed to be over, both No Plug and Bankroll Fresh had their lives, but, that was soon about to change in just a few minutes.
No Plug and his affiliates gets into their Dodge Charger and leaves, but minutes later at around 10:55pm, they return, but this time, surveillance video from outside the studio, shows them being met with Bankroll Fresh and a brandished SKS rifle https://youtu.be/KFQTmtomoUM (0:57-1:07)
4 minutes away from dissaster. Bankroll Fresh points the rifle, next, a group of his affiliates exit the studio, all armed https://youtu.be/KFQTmtomoUM (1:08-1:11)
10:59 pm. With No Plug and his affiliates in the vehicle, what appears to be a back and forth between both begins. According to No Plug, they returned to the studio in the vehicle because they realized his phone was dropped in the fight ealier and was asking for it back, but Bankroll Fresh’s pistol was also dropped in the fight and No Plug’s crew took it up, so No Plug was proposing a trade, but Bankroll wanted the pistol back first https://youtu.be/EyhONc0n-mM (9:01-9:38) When No Plug refused to do that, emotions got too high
and Bankroll fires off a shot at the vehicle https://youtu.be/KFQTmtomoUM (1:12-1:22) https://youtu.be/EyhONc0n-mM (8:17-8:30) Seconds later, the moment where Bankroll suffered a critical injury. No Plug’s vehicle pulls off, Bankroll Fresh walks back inside, but within that fraction of a second, a shot fires back from No Plug’s vehicle, shattering the glass
and penitrating Bankroll Fresh in his hip https://youtu.be/KFQTmtomoUM (1:22-1:33)
The rush was now on to save Bankroll Fresh’s life. 11:01pm Bankroll is hoisted by two of his affiliates, carrying him into a vehicle where they took him to Hughes Spalding Hospital,
all while shots are still being fired in the direction of the studio https://youtu.be/KFQTmtomoUM (1:35-1:50)
Authorities would respond to the Street Execs Studio a little after 11 p.m. that night after reports of a shooting. They would find a large crowd running away from the location, but Bankroll Fresh was already taken to the hospital. Sadly 28-year-old Trentavious White aka Bankroll Fresh succumbed to his injuries shortly before midnight
At the scene of the crime, it was reported that at least 50 shell casings were found on the ground outside the studio
Neighbors and business owners woke up to find bullet holes in their homes, vehicles, and storefronts. It was like a battle had occurred, and quite frankly, it did
As the surrounding community was trying to deal with the turmoil happening right in their vicinity, it turns out the studio has been labeled as the place for gun violence and crimes in the past. In November of 2015, neighbors in the Underwood Hills Neighborhood Association have blamed the studio for recent shootings, assaults, car break-ins and other repeated crime in the area.
The owner, Charley Jabaley responded to those complaints and said that he met with city leaders about safety and his future there. He also stated he’s worked to bring in new security and a new studio manager in an effort to keep noise and other problems down, but, with Bankroll’s passing, it seemed the issues were unresolved
Investigators was hot on the case, and the surveillance footage would be key to figuring out if No Plug, who at the time was the main suspect, would face murder charges. With the footage showing what looks like Bankroll firing the first shot, and eyewitnesses like Bankroll’s manager confirming Bankroll escalated the situation, No Plug gave his testimony and was off the hook https://youtu.be/EyhONc0n-mM (14:36-15:07)
The case remained open, until 2 years later on July 2nd 2018 when an official report was made that the case was closed.
The person identified as the shooter wasn’t No Plug, but one of his affiliates in the vehicle, but due to footage showing Bankroll Fresh as the aggressor in the altercation, it was ruled as self-defense https://youtu.be/iDsZLZoO2N4 (0:43-1:17)
Call it coincidence, or a continuation of the feud still stemming from time’s past, but on the day the case was closed, Trentavious White aka Bankroll Fresh’s family’s house was targeted and fired upon while his mother can cousin were present.
His cousin was grazed by bullets on her thigh and shoulder https://youtu.be/MWre_UBejDk (0:00-0:39)
To this day, conflicting reports have been circulating involving the night that Bankroll Fresh lost his life. Some report that No Plug wasn’t at the studio for music purposes as he stated, but was invited to the studio by a mutual friend to resolve issues between him and Bankroll Fresh but things took a turn for the worse https://youtu.be/iDsZLZoO2N4 (0:18-0:43)
Others, like Bankroll Fresh’s cousin Street Money Boochie who was present the night of his death,
stated in an interview that No Plug was lying about how things went down. He stated Bankroll Fresh wanted to fight it out and settle any problems they had, but guns got into play because No Plug was the one clutching his weapon not wanting to fight it out with Bankroll Fresh without guns involved https://youtu.be/NEEbZnI5aCA (27:15-27:49) https://youtu.be/NEEbZnI5aCA (29:44-30:30)
Sadly, Bankroll Fresh isn’t here to tell his side. Life is fragile, but what’s even more fragile are friendships. No Plug and Bankroll Fresh came up with dreams of making it big together. That dream became a reality but sadly they became divided. What’s even more heartbreaking is that Bankroll Fresh was the one who influenced No Plug to start rapping https://youtu.be/EyhONc0n-mM (13:36-13:41) Now Bankroll Fresh is gone over something that could have been communicated and made peace with, and No Plug has to carry the burden of what happened to his childhood friend, bearing all the regrets how his life was lost
Rest in peace Bankroll Fresh https://youtu.be/EyhONc0n-mM (13:06-13:21) https://youtu.be/J03Hc-ES1GM (22:48-23:02) https://youtu.be/bPJyQXDgdFQ (1:20-1:43)
Chad is a professional journalist specializing in Hip-Hop culture and writing music reviews.
