Slain hip-hop artist had ‘bright future'

By Larry Hartstein and Marcus K. Garner

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

After doing jail time for assault, aspiring hip-hop artist Dezmond Wilson appeared to be turning his life around, his cousin Ryan Adams said Thursday.

Adams hired Wilson a year ago at Stack ‘Em Entertainment. He taught the 24-year-old how to create beats and promote other artists.

Wilson was gunned down inside the studio late Wednesday night.

"He was young, he had just done some prison time, and I hired him to keep him out of trouble, keep my eye on him," said Adams, who owns the southwest Atlanta studio. "And he was an artist. He had a bright future ahead of him."

Around 11:15 p.m., Wilson and his friend answered a knock on the door.

“When they answered the door, a person stepped from behind the individual knocking, pushed his way into the studio and started shooting,” Atlanta police Maj. Keith Meadows told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution early Thursday morning.

Wilson, the father of a 3-year-old boy, was shot multiple times and killed. His friend was hit in the leg and fled the studio, police said.

Adams said he believes the assailants knew Wilson and stole his wallet and bookbag. But Adams could not say if there was a motive beyond robbery.

"I don't know what type of problems he had, or who they were," Adams said. "It's got me very confused."

Meadows said police are not ruling out the possibility the shooting was drug-related.

The injured man was found in nearby East Point on Headland Drive and taken to Grady Memorial Hospital.

Homicide detectives questioned him, and the investigation continues.

Adams has owned the studio for about six years. He's worked with a slew of major artists, ranging from George Clinton to Lil Kim.

Adams spoke to Wilson about half an hour before the killing.

Wilson was writing a song. Adams had just returned from setting up a show in Columbus.

"I called him and told him I was back in town and that I was going to come to the studio and check on him," Adams recalled.

"He said, ‘No problem, don't rush. I'm good.'"

Wilson's father, Johnny Wilson, said his oldest son had a knack for editing beats and was excited about his music.

"He felt because he got in trouble before it was hard for him to find his way," Johnny Wilson said. "Until he found this. He put a lot of energy into it."

-- Staffer John Spink contributed to this report.

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