Man Who Killed J. Cole's Mentor Filthe Rich Convicted & Sentenced

BY Gabriel Bras Nevares
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Man Killed J Cole Mentor Filthe Rich Convicted Sentenced
Nov 10, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; American rapper J Cole sits court-side during the first half between the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Hornets at FTX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports via Imagn Images
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J. Cole has credited Fayetteville, North Carolina's rap duo Bomm Sheltuh, comprised of Filthe Rich and Nervous Reck, with opening his doors.

The death of Carlos Brown, better known as Filthe Rich in Fayetteville hip-hop, rocked the world of North Carolina artistry in May of 2023. Now, his loved ones found partial closure. According to The Fayetteville Observer, this month, a Cumberland County jury found Joshua Tashun Joyce guilty of murdering Brown. Joyce reportedly received a 20-to-25-year prison sentence.

42-year-old Joyce, an Army veteran, reportedly fought with Filthe Rich on social media. This led to a fatal shooting on a Lynn Avenue porch. Joyce shot at Brown, whom succumbed to his injuries in a hospital.

Per court testimony, in the days leading up to the murder, Joyce and Brown fought online via Instagram. The former commented "I’ll be up there in a few minutes" under the latter's video published a day before the shooting. Joyce reportedly left a laughing emoji under Brown's post detailing his problems, which led Brown to question their bond and accuse Joyce of betraying him. One of these examples is how Joyce allegedly refused to help Brown get his stuff back after a home burglary by someone Joyce knew.

How Did Bomm Sheltuh Help J. Cole?

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Jun 7, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Recording artist J. Cole walks off the court after game three of the 2023 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports via Imagn Images

Carlos Brown, better known as Filthe Rich, was one half of the Fayetteville rap duo Bomm Sheltuh alongside Brion Unger, better known as Nervous Reck. Unger testified as a witness for the prosecution in Joshua Joyce's trial. "Filthe was definitely not a violent person at all," he reportedly told The Fayetteville Observer. "Given the environment he grew up in, he probably had every reason to be that type of person. But he never was."

Brown was reportedly in financial disarray at the time of his death. He lived in his car after the aforementioned burglary left him homeless. Filthe Rich's Bomm Sheltuh partner said Brown was supposed to move into a Durham studio space and make new music together the week after he was killed.

J. Cole has credited Bomm Sheltuh in the past for opening doors for him as an MC and really kicking his career off. They invited him when he was 14 to perform at open mic sessions. Cole even made his debut on-wax appearance on their Fayettenam Bommuhs compilation.

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case. Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.

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