Rapper Superstar Pride arrested and charged with first-degree murder

Rapper Cadarrius Pride, known by his stage name Superstar Pride, has been charged with first-degree murder for the fatal shooting of a man in Panola County, Mississippi.

According to TMZ, police were called to a home on Wednesday (July 19), where they discovered 40-year-old Marcus Wheatley dead from gunshot wounds. Following an investigation, they tabbed Superstar Pride as a suspect. The rapper reportedly turned himself in a few hours later and was charged.

As the case unfolds, Panola County authorities are determined to bring justice to Marcus Wheatley’s family and the community. Pride remains in custody without bond, awaiting further legal proceedings.

The 21-year-old rapper achieved meteoric success, but his newfound fame seems overshadowed by the dark cloud of these murder allegations.

Superstar Pride was on the heels of having his breakout moment in hip-hop earlier this year when his single “Painting Pictures,” which appeared on his October of22 EP, 5lbs of Pressure, went viral. 

The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in February. However, the controversy came when the song was pulled from streaming platforms due to apparent sample clearance issues. 

The track samples Faith Evans’ 1995 song “Soon as I Get Home.” After getting the issue squared away, the song returned to DSPs and peaked at No. 25 on the Hot 100 chart.