What was meant to be a celebration turned into a nightmare. Rising Chicago rapper Mello Buckzz, 24, was caught in a deadly drive-by shooting during her album release party on Wednesday night—an attack that left her boyfriend and three close friends dead.
The shooting happened just after 11 p.m. outside Artis Lounge, a nightclub on the 300 block of West Chicago Avenue in the city’s River North neighborhood.
In total, 14 people were shot, and three women in their 20s remain in critical condition, according to police. Investigators say the shooter has not yet been identified, and the motive is still unknown.
Buckzz, whose tracks have pulled in millions of streams online, was reportedly unharmed but left shattered by the loss of her partner and friends.
Here’s what we know about the rapper and the tragic incident.
Who Is Rapper Mello Buckzz?
Mello Buckzz, born Melanie Doyle on April 9, 2001, in Chicago, Illinois, grew up on the city’s East Side. The area—known for its deep ties to drill music and artists like G Herbo—shaped her early sound and laid the foundation for her raw, street-driven style.
She started rapping in 2020 after spending time in studios with her brothers and friends, and began releasing music the following year.
One of her earliest appearances came in November 2021 on the series From The Block, where her “Essex Block” freestyle began gaining traction online. A year later, in July, the budding rapper dropped a remix of Lil Durk’s “Computer Murders.”
Her breakthrough came in 2023 with the release of “Boom (Mouskatool)”, a fiery track featuring Amari Blaze, Kashh Mir, and Moni Da G.
The same year, Mello followed it up with “Boom Pt. 2”, which brought her national buzz thanks to a guest verse from Latto, a Grammy-nominated rapper from Georgia. The collaboration helped connect her to Atlanta’s rising scene.
She has since dropped a string of singles, including “High and Dirty” with Murda B and “F*** My Opps” with fellow musical artist No Limit Faro, further cementing her place as a sharp, versatile voice in Midwest hip-hop. Tracks like “Grave Diggers” with Dee Money added to her growing catalog of raw.
In terms of streaming numbers, Buckzz has drawn millions of plays across platforms. She has 145,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, while her self-titled YouTube channel—now approaching 100,000 subscribers—features “Boom Pt. 2” and “Boom,” which have earned over 9.4 million and 5.3 million views, respectively.
In March 2025, Buckzz also recorded a live session of “Hula Hoop” with BlockworkTV while in Atlanta.
Who Was Her Boyfriend?
Since the tragedy, Buckzz has been sharing a series of emotional posts on Instagram, mourning the loss of her boyfriend, who was among those killed.
In one story, the Chicago rapper revealed that the two had been living together, keeping their relationship private until now. The photos Buckzz shared show them laughing, dancing, and enjoying everyday moments.
For now, his identity remains private.
Her Net Worth
As of 2025, Buckzz has an estimated net worth of $1 million. The bulk of her income comes from music streams and collaborations, while her YouTube channel and Instagram presence also contribute significantly to her earnings.
