JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — One of the cases at the center of a cyclone of murders between two gangs compromised of Jacksonville rappers will finally go to trial on August 19, 2024, more than four years after the crime.
Hakeem Robinson, known by his rap name 'Ksoo,' is accused in two murders: the 2020 killing of 23-year-old Charles McCormick, also known by his nickname 'Lil Buck,' and the 2019 death of Adrian Gainer, often referenced as 'Bibby,' who was 16 when he died.
Robinson has been in jail since September 2020. His trial date for McCormick's murder is set for August 19, 2024. He is accused of first-degree murder.
A trial date for the second murder has not yet been set.
Robinson is part of a group of rappers called ATK, helmed by Jacksonville phenom Yungeen Ace (real name Keyanta Bullard.) The group is interlocked in a web of so-called rap beef that is not only playing out in song lyrics, but in real life.
The group on the other side is known as KTA and is believed to be made up of associations of Charles Jones, whose rap name is Foolio.
There are hundreds of videos on YouTube describing what both acronyms mean with some slight variations. The one thing constant in both is the "K" stands for "kill."
For each death on one side of the board, another seems to follow.
In 2017, Foolio's cousin Zion Brown was killed.
Then came a 2018 ambush when Ace lost his brother and two friends in a shooting at Jacksonville's St. Johns Town Center. He was shot several times as well but survived.
The deaths of McCormick and Gainer, who had known relationships to Foolio, came afterward.
These are just some of a torrent of deaths born of this rivalry.
Few of the murders believed to be linked to these groups have been solved, and Robinson's case will provide insight into how these cases will be tried.
The murders are mentioned in songs of rappers associated with ATK more often than not, and they mention Robinson by name.
It also remains in question whether other rappers, such as Ace, will be called to testify at the trial. Evidence in the case includes a video of the two together.
Ksoo's brother, Abdul Robinson Jr., will be tried alongside him. He is also implicated in the murder.
Their father, Abdul Robinson, who is believed to have strong gang ties himself, is expected to testify at the trial. He told police in an interrogation video that he recognized McCormick's killer as his son.