Yung L.A. gave fans quite a scare when he passed out mid-performance during a recent show, but thankfully it appears to be just a case of drinking a little too much.
The Atlanta rapper is back on the performance circuit as his 2008 hit “Ain’t I” is blowing up again thanks to TikTok. But while he was performing at a club in South Carolina over the weekend, video shows him trying to pass his mic off to a woman on stage…then falling to the ground on his face.
Two of the men he was with then tried to pick him up, only for him to fall out of their hands and back down to the floor. However, both guys were laughing – giving credence to the idea it was just liquor and not a health issue.
You can view the clip below.
Back in 2016, social media ran wild with a rumor that Yung L.A. had been killed in a dispute at a studio in Atlanta.
He quickly refuted that report with an Instagram post.
“I’m back in effect. Damn what the blogs talkin’ ‘bout. I’m alive and full ‘a flavor,” he said.
Rapper and collaborator Ricco Barrino also confirmed the report as false.
HipHopDX looked into the details of the story at the time, which first appeared on the aptly titled “POS” website. Many of the details are sketchy.
POS claimed to have a quote from “homicide detective Todd Scott,” who spoke to “News.”
DX reached out to the Atlanta police, who responded with an email that read: “We have not responded to any homicides over night or during the day today.” Police rep Kim Jones also added that there is no Todd Scott who works for the APD.
The site also claimed that the rapper had been pronounced dead at Grady Hospital. HipHopDX reached out to the hospital, who said they didn’t have anyone named Leland Austin (Yung L.A.’s government name) in their system.
The Atlanta rapper was previously on T.I.’s Grand Hustle label, and his “Ain’t I” single peaked at #47 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in March 2009. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in April 2009, and got a nomination at the BET Awards for Best Collaboration, alongside Young Dro and T.I.
NEWS
Lola Young has joined forces with Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) to release a new T shirt for the charity’s Lifelines collection.
The shirt supports CALM’s suicide prevention work, with proceeds helping to fund vital resources such as its helpline and CALMzone mental health app.
CALM introduced the Lifelines range last year, with Fontaines D.C., Blossoms and Inhaler also contributing their own designs to the collection.
Young’s design includes the words, “There’s a flicker of light. There’s always morning after the night”, taken from her track ‘Flicker Of Light’.
“I wrote this song about realising there is hope. I have often felt like there isn’t, but there is always a reason to keep going,” Young said. “That’s even when you don’t want to get out of bed, you do, and that is amazing, and you’re still here, and you’re still alive, and if anything, that’s something to be proud of.”
CALM CEO Simon Gunning also shared his appreciation for the collaboration, saying: “We couldn’t be more grateful to Lola for supporting ‘Lifelines’ and showing just how powerful music can be as a force for good.”
Priced at £30, the T shirts come in both standard and boxy fits and are available to purchase here.
Young has regularly spoken about her experiences with mental health. She returned to performing earlier this year after calling off her 2025 tour because of exhaustion. The decision followed her collapse during a performance in New York City. During her time away, she later discussed receiving support for addiction and attending AA meetings as part of her recovery.
In an interview with NME in May, Young explained that she believes “all healing journeys are never ending”, although she is now “definitely in a much better place”. She also said she feels “excited and ready to perform and to release music”.
Reflecting on the encouragement she received after publicly discussing those challenges, Young said: “My fans inspire me in the same way I hope to inspire them. I feel like I’ve never tried to be especially honest… it just comes very naturally to me.”
“I don’t really have any other choice but to be honest, so if people connect to that, and that’s amazing.”
Several musicians have also applauded the ‘Messy’ singer for honestly addressing the pressure placed on touring performers. Lily Allen said she was “in awe” of the BRIT and Grammy winner, while Victoria Canal credited Young with bringing greater attention to the damaging impact demanding tour schedules can have on artists’ mental wellbeing.
When NME asked whether musicians were beginning to establish firmer boundaries around their health, Young replied: “I never intended it to start a movement, but I hope that it does in some way.”
