In the chaotic and often brutal world of the Jacksonville drill scene, where a rapper’s credibility is measured by the authenticity of their life, Hakeem Robinson, better known as Ku, was a rising star. He was a member of the ATK crew, a group locked in a bitter and deadly feud with the rival KTA gang. Ku was known for living the life he rapped about, a reality that earned him fame, respect, and, ultimately, a sentence that will likely keep him behind bars for the rest of his life. His is a tragic and haunting story, one that is not just about a street feud but about the breaking of every code of loyalty, culminating in the ultimate betrayal: a father who testified against his own son.

The story begins in 2019, when Ku became a suspect in the murder of 16-year-old Adrien “Bibby” Gainor Jr., an affiliate of the KTA gang. While not immediately charged, Ku’s music and social media posts became a chilling form of evidence against him. His rap lyrics, which often mocked the death of his rivals, and his brazen social media posts, were a public record of his involvement in a world of violence and retribution. This was a man who was not only a rapper but an active participant in the very life he was documenting, a fact that made him both respected by his peers and a primary target for law enforcement.

The case that would ultimately lead to his downfall came in 2020 with the murder of Charles “Lil Buck” McCormick, a KTA rapper who had publicly slandered Ku’s brother, Boss Goon. The murder was witnessed by an off-duty police officer, a key detail that would later prove to be devastating for Ku’s defense. The video details how a series of betrayals, each more shocking than the last, would lead to his conviction. The first came from a co-defendant, Dominic Barner, who told a confidential informant that Ku was the shooter and that his own father, Abdul Robinson Sr., was the getaway driver. This was the first domino to fall, the initial crack in a foundation built on an unwritten code of silence.

But the most significant and gut-wrenching betrayal came from the person he should have been able to trust the most: his father. In a stunning and devastating turn of events, Abdul Robinson Sr. agreed to testify against his own son in exchange for a lighter sentence. The video details the chilling moments of his testimony, where he not only identified Ku as the shooter in the Lil Buck murder but also implicated him in the earlier murder of Bibby. This was more than just a legal formality; it was a profound and public act of betrayal that sent shockwaves through the community. A father had chosen to save himself at the expense of his own child, a move that went against every moral and ethical code, both on the street and in the family.

In stark contrast to these acts of betrayal, the video highlights the unwavering loyalty of Ku’s co-defendant, Leroy “ATK Scotty” Whitaker. In a powerful and poignant display of adherence to the street code, Scotty refused to testify, choosing to stay “solid” despite the immense legal pressure. His choice served as a stark contrast to the betrayal of Ku’s father, a powerful reminder that some people still hold to the unwritten rules of the game, even if it comes at a personal cost. Scotty’s loyalty, however, was not enough to save his friend.

During the trial, Ku’s defense lawyer made a final, desperate argument, claiming that his client’s physical appearance did not match the shooter in the video footage. But the prosecution had a devastating rebuttal. They presented 3D models and evidence of Ku wearing a similar hoodie to the shooter, a detail that left little room for doubt. The evidence, combined with the testimony of his own father, was overwhelming. The jury deliberated for a mere three hours before returning a guilty verdict of first-degree murder in the Lil Buck case.

Following the verdict, Ku was sent to jail without bond, his life and career effectively over. In a final, desperate act of defiance, he claimed that his trial was unfair, citing the fact that the jury was made up entirely of white jurors. His claim, while raising an uncomfortable question about the racial dynamics of the justice system, did little to change his fate. The State Attorney’s office, in a public statement, declared that Ku and ATK Scotty were held accountable for their “brazen crimes,” a final stamp of authority on a case that had captivated the nation. The story of Hakeem Robinson, the rapper who lived the life he rapped about, is a tragic and powerful reminder that in the world of the streets, and in the courtroom, every action has a consequence, and sometimes, the most devastating betrayal comes from the most unexpected place.