Young L, the man who was the architect of The Pack's signature sound, has reportedly died. Too Short shared the news on Instagram Thursday, and tributes from across the Bay Area and beyond have followed. No cause of death, date of death, or age has been revealed at this time.
Too Short posted an old photo of the producer alongside a heartfelt message. “Rest in peace Nephew,” he wrote, adding that Young L and The Pack influenced more artists than anyone could measure. “I never heard a Young L beat that didn’t SLAP,” he said. A second post followed with the caption “R.I.P. YOUNG L.”
Mistah F.A.B. also paid his respects, admitting he did not want to believe the news. He called Young L the “master mind” behind The Pack and recalled watching him sketch out Pink Dolphin ideas at his mother’s house in El Cerrito. He said he prayed it was a hoax and signed off with “Young L LIVE FOREVER BERKELEY GOAT.”
Andrew Barber of Fake Shore Drive described Young L as a “talented artist / producer. Meanwhile, DJ Ill Will offered a beautiful tribute over on Facebook.
Who Was Young L of The Pack?
Lloyd Omadhebo, known to fans as Young L, was the architect behind The Pack’s sound. His beats pulled Bay Area hyphy toward a more electronic palette, which helped the group stand apart from its regional peers.
The Pack came together in Berkeley in 2005. Young L and Stunnaman had been close since sixth grade, when skateboarding was their shared obsession. They later teamed up with Lil B and Lil Uno, and Young L’s home became the group’s makeshift studio.
“Vans” put them on the map in 2006. The song appeared on Wolfpack Muzik, Vol. 2 and caught the ear of Too Short, who happened to catch it on the radio. The Bay Area veteran moved quickly, bringing the group to Up All Nite through a deal with Jive Records.
Young L handled production on the follow-up, the Skateboards 2 Scrapers EP, released that December. It featured a remix of “Vans” with Mistah F.A.B. and Too Short, a fitting reflection of the mentors who backed the group early on.
His influence reached beyond the booth. Young L also co-founded Pink Dolphin, a streetwear label that became a staple of Bay Area style.
No official statement from his family has surfaced, and details remain limited. HotNewHipHop extends its condolences to Young L’s loved ones, friends, and collaborators.
