The music world is mourning the untimely death of Money Sign Suede, a burgeoning Mexican-American rap artist whose compelling music had garnered tens of millions of streams. Just 22 years old, Jaime Brugada Valdez, known professionally as Money Sign Suede, tragically died following an attack at a California prison.
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials confirmed the rapper’s death on Tuesday evening, citing “injuries consistent with a homicide.” Valdez had been incarcerated at a prison in Soledad since January, serving a 32-month sentence for gun charges.
Nicholas Rosenberg, Valdez’s lawyer, informed the LA Times that officials reported Valdez had been stabbed and that an investigation is currently underway. Rosenberg expressed the shock felt by those who knew him, stating, “People are very shocked. He was a very popular guy, very mild-mannered. People loved him.”
Born to Mexican immigrant parents and raised in Huntington Park, Los Angeles, Money Sign Suede began his musical journey at the age of 16, uploading rap tracks online. His talent quickly gained recognition, leading to a signing with Atlantic Records while still a teenager. His breakthrough moment arrived with the release of “Back to the Bag” in 2020, which became a significant hit within the rap scene. 2022 was a prolific year for the artist, marked by the release of a self-titled EP in March, followed by his debut album, “Parkside Baby,” in September.
Valdez’s prison sentence for two counts of firearm possession in Riverside County, California, was compounded by a parole violation from a previous conviction, which had resulted in a 10-month sentence between 2020 and 2021. At the time of his death, Money Sign Suede was also facing another gun charge conviction from Los Angeles County, for which he was expected to serve a concurrent sentence.
Jeff Weiss, a respected rap journalist, joined the chorus of tributes for Valdez, describing him as “a young regional hero embodying the hopes & aspirations of the unsung and overlooked.” The tragic passing of Money Sign Suede cuts short a promising career and leaves a void in the hip-hop community.
