Remembering Doe B: The Alabama Rapper Whose Promising Career Was Cut Short

#NOLAZINE - Before Alabama became widely recognized as a state producing major hip-hop talent, Doe B was one of the artists helping put Montgomery on the national rap radar.

Born Glenn Thomas, Doe B developed a reputation for his unmistakable voice, street-centered storytelling and signature eye patch. By the early 2010s, his buzz had grown far beyond Alabama, and it appeared he was on the verge of becoming one of the South's next breakout stars.

Unfortunately, his life and promising career were cut tragically short.

Putting Montgomery on the Map

Doe B came from Montgomery, Alabama, and built his following through mixtapes and records that reflected the environment around him.

One of his biggest early records was “Let Me Find Out,” which became a regional favorite and helped introduce him to listeners outside Alabama. The song's success eventually led to a remix featuring T.I. and Juicy J.

Doe B's momentum caught the attention of T.I., who signed him to his Grand Hustle Records imprint.

Joining Grand Hustle was a major opportunity. T.I. was already one of the South's most successful rappers, and Doe B was entering a situation that could potentially take his career to another level.

His appearance on Grand Hustle's 2013 compilation G.D.O.D.: Get Dough or Die further introduced him to a national audience.

Why Did Doe B Wear an Eye Patch?

The eye patch became part of Doe B's recognizable image, but there was a serious story behind it.

Before becoming nationally known, Doe B survived being shot in the face in a previous incident. The shooting damaged his eye, leading him to regularly wear the patch.

Instead of allowing the experience to stop him, Doe B continued pursuing music. The eye patch ultimately became part of the image fans immediately associated with him.

Sadly, surviving that shooting would not be the last time gun violence entered his life.

The Night Alabama Lost a Rising Star

On December 28, 2013, Doe B was performing at the Centennial Hill Bar & Grill in Montgomery when gunfire erupted inside the venue.

Doe B was fatally wounded. He was only 22 years old.

Another young woman, Kimberle Johnson, was also killed, while several other people were injured.

The tragedy sent shockwaves through Montgomery and the Southern hip-hop community. T.I. publicly mourned Doe B, and artists and fans across the country paid tribute to a rapper many believed was only beginning to show what he could accomplish.

The venue was later ordered closed by Montgomery officials following the deadly shooting.

A Career That Was Just Getting Started

What makes Doe B's story especially heartbreaking is how much momentum he had when he died.

He had already survived the streets, developed a recognizable style, created a regional hit and earned the support of one of Atlanta's biggest rap stars. At only 22, there was still plenty of time for Doe B to grow musically and potentially become one of Alabama's biggest artists.

Following his death, his music continued reaching listeners. The posthumous project D.O.A.T. 3 (Definition of a Trapper) arrived in 2014, giving fans another opportunity to hear the talent that had created so much excitement around his name.

Doe B's Legacy Lives On

More than a decade after his death, Doe B remains remembered by fans of Southern street music and especially by those who witnessed his rise throughout Alabama.

Today, Alabama has produced nationally recognized rap stars and has become an important part of Southern hip-hop. Doe B was part of an earlier generation demonstrating that artists from cities such as Montgomery could build movements capable of reaching beyond the state.

His story will always leave hip-hop wondering what could have happened had he been given more time.

Doe B was only 22 years old when his life ended, but during his short career, he made enough noise to ensure that his name wouldn't simply disappear.

Here at Nolazine, we remember Doe B—not just for the tragedy that ended his life, but for the music, determination and potential that made so many people believe Alabama had another star on the way.

Rest in peace, Doe B.