Remembering Da Real Gee Money: The Baton Rouge Rapper Whose Life and Promising Career Ended Too Soon

#NOLAZINE - Baton Rouge has developed one of the most distinctive and influential rap scenes in the South. The city’s artists are known for transforming pain, poverty, loyalty, loss and street experiences into deeply personal music. One of the young voices who appeared destined to carry that tradition forward was Da Real Gee Money.

Born Garrett Burton, Gee Money was a rising Baton Rouge rapper and a prominent member of the Top Boy Gorilla collective, better known as TBG. With his commanding voice, sharp delivery and natural confidence, he was quickly becoming one of the most talked-about artists in Louisiana.

Tragically, Gee Money never received the opportunity to reach his full potential. He was shot and killed on September 10, 2017, at only 22 years old.

Years after his death, his music continues reaching listeners, while his name remains an important part of Baton Rouge hip-hop history.

A Young Voice From Baton Rouge

Garrett Burton was born on June 15, 1995, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Growing up in the city exposed him to the struggles and realities that would later become the foundation of his music.

Baton Rouge already had a strong rap history, led by artists including Boosie Badazz, Webbie, Kevin Gates, Young Bleed and C-Loc. However, a new generation was beginning to emerge with its own sound, stories and neighborhood affiliations.

Gee Money became one of the most promising voices from that generation.

He did not sound like an artist searching for an identity. His music carried the confidence of someone who believed he was ready for a larger audience. His delivery was direct, aggressive and conversational, making listeners feel as if he were speaking about situations happening directly around him.

Gee Money possessed the type of presence that immediately stood out on a song. Whether he was recording a solo track or appearing alongside other artists, his voice demanded attention.

Representing TBG

Gee Money became closely associated with TBG, or Top Boy Gorilla, a Baton Rouge rap collective that also included artists and personalities such as Fredo Bang, Blvd Quick, YMM Captain and others.

The collective represented more than music. TBG was built around friendship, neighborhood connections and shared experiences. Its artists created a sound that reflected the reality of their environment without attempting to make it more comfortable for outside audiences.

Gee Money emerged as one of TBG’s most recognizable voices. His confidence, charisma and lyrical ability made him a natural leader within the movement.

One of the group’s early records, “iPhone 6,” featured Gee Money alongside Fredo Bang, Blvd Mel and YMM Captain. The song helped build attention in Baton Rouge and demonstrated the chemistry between the young artists.

Gee Money and Fredo Bang shared a particularly close bond. Their friendship existed before either artist gained significant recognition, and they recorded music together while working to establish the TBG name.

The Song That Changed Everything

“Industry” became Gee Money’s most recognizable song and one of the records most closely associated with his legacy.

The track captured his raw delivery, street confidence and ability to address personal conflict directly through music. It quickly generated attention throughout Baton Rouge and later reached millions of listeners online.

“Industry” was controversial because of its confrontational lyrics and connection to tensions within the Baton Rouge rap scene. However, the song also demonstrated why so many people believed Gee Money was on the verge of breaking through.

He sounded fearless, focused and completely comfortable behind the microphone.

The record showed that he possessed the ability to create moments people would discuss far beyond the music itself. In the modern rap industry, where attention and personality can be nearly as important as technical ability, Gee Money appeared to have both.

Today, the official video for “Industry” has accumulated tens of millions of views on YouTube, introducing his music to an audience much larger than the one he had during his lifetime.

More Than Rap Beefs and Controversy

Unfortunately, many conversations about Gee Money focus almost entirely on rap feuds and the circumstances surrounding his death. While those events are part of his story, they should not become his entire identity.

Gee Money was also a son, father, friend and young artist attempting to build a future through music.

Songs such as “All I Know,” “Never Change Up,” “Take It There,” “Put That Pride to the Side,” “Jack Who” and “Gee Pac” demonstrated different sides of his artistry. His music dealt with loyalty, ambition, betrayal, survival and the emotional pressure of street life.

His G-Code projects helped establish the musical foundation he was building before his death. They showed an artist who was still developing but already possessed the voice and confidence needed to become a major figure in Louisiana rap.

At only 22, Gee Money had years to grow as a songwriter, performer and businessman. Listeners only witnessed the beginning of what his career could have become.

A Career Cut Short

During the early morning hours of September 10, 2017, Gee Money was shot outside a recording studio on Dallas Drive in Baton Rouge.

Police officers found him in a parking lot suffering from gunshot wounds. He died at the scene.

The news spread quickly throughout Baton Rouge. Friends, relatives, supporters and other artists expressed shock over the loss of a young man whose career appeared to be gaining momentum.

Local news station WAFB confirmed that Garrett Burton was 22 years old and described him as an up-and-coming Baton Rouge rapper. WAFB

His death became another painful example of young musical talent being lost to gun violence before receiving the opportunity to mature.

The tragedy also intensified public attention surrounding rivalries within the Baton Rouge rap community. However, speculation, social-media discussions and song lyrics should never replace confirmed evidence when discussing a real person’s death.

Gee Money’s family and children lost someone they loved, not simply a figure connected to an entertainment story.

The Investigation Into His Death

Nearly two years after the killing, authorities arrested Deandre Fields in connection with Gee Money’s death. Fields was initially charged with second-degree murder.

In 2023, Fields accepted a plea agreement that reduced the charge to accessory after the fact of murder. He received a five-year prison sentence while publicly maintaining that he was innocent of killing Gee Money.

The outcome left many questions surrounding the case and did not completely resolve the sense of loss experienced by Gee Money’s family and supporters.

Regardless of the legal developments, nothing could return a young father and artist to the people who cared about him.

Fredo Bang Continued Honoring His Friend

Following Gee Money’s death, Fredo Bang became one of the artists most committed to preserving his memory.

When Fredo was released from jail and began building his own national career, he frequently honored Gee Money through his music, interviews and album titles.

In 2020, Fredo released In the Name of Gee, a project dedicated to his late friend. The album reached No. 40 on the Billboard 200 and introduced Gee Money’s name to listeners who may not have known the history of TBG.

Fredo later released In the Name of Gee (Still Most Hated) and continued referring to Gee Money throughout his career.

These tributes ensured that Gee’s name remained connected to the success of the movement he helped establish. As Fredo reached larger audiences, he carried the memory of his friend with him.

That loyalty represents one of the strongest parts of TBG’s story.

His Influence on Baton Rouge’s New Generation

Gee Money’s influence extends beyond the number of songs he released. His confidence, delivery and fearlessness helped shape the style associated with a generation of Baton Rouge rappers.

The city’s modern sound often combines emotional pain with aggressive street music. Artists may speak about grief and vulnerability on one record before delivering something confrontational on the next.

Gee Money naturally represented that balance.

His music also demonstrated the power of the internet for regional artists. He did not need a traditional national radio campaign to build a lasting audience. Music videos, social media and word of mouth allowed his songs to travel far beyond Baton Rouge.

Years after his death, listeners continue discovering “Industry” and the rest of his catalog. Some are too young to remember when he was alive, yet they recognize his importance through the artists and music that followed him.

Remembering the Person Behind the Music

It is easy for the internet to reduce artists to views, rumors, affiliations and conflicts. Gee Money’s legacy deserves more care than that.

He was a young man attempting to turn his talent into an opportunity. He had children, family members and close friends who expected him to be part of their futures.

At 22, he was only beginning to understand how far music might take him.

His death should encourage deeper conversations about the cycle of violence surrounding young artists. Too often, talented rappers become more famous after their deaths than they were while alive. Their music receives new attention, but they are no longer present to benefit from it or care for their families.

Supporting artists while they are alive is one of the most meaningful ways a community can help prevent their stories from ending as remembrances.

The Lasting Legacy of Da Real Gee Money

Da Real Gee Money’s career was brief, but his impact on Baton Rouge rap remains undeniable.

He helped establish TBG as an important force within the city. He created a record in “Industry” that continues attracting millions of views, and his name remains alive through his family, friends, fans and the artists who honor him.

There is no way to know exactly how successful Gee Money would have become. However, his talent, confidence and growing momentum suggest that he had the potential to become one of Louisiana’s next nationally recognized rappers.

Instead, listeners are left with his existing catalog and memories of what might have been.

Gee Money was more than a viral song or a chapter in a rap rivalry. He was one of Baton Rouge’s most promising young voices—a father, friend and artist whose future was taken away far too soon.

His music still plays. His influence can still be heard. His name remains part of the city’s history.

Long live Da Real Gee Money.