Young L Mourned By Too $hort As The Pack Loses Its Producer

Young L, the rapper and producer who helped shape The Pack’s sound, is being mourned by Too $hort, who announced his death in an Instagram tribute Thursday.

The Bay Area veteran remembered both his music and the group’s reach.

“R.I.P. Young Lloyd. I never heard a Young L beat that didn’t SLAP,” Too $hort wrote in his November 12 post. He also praised The Pack’s influence on other artists.

Too $hort did not disclose a cause of death or say when Young L died.

His message tagged Lil B and Lil Uno, connecting the tribute to the group he helped bring to a wider audience.

Young L was part of the Berkeley lineup alongside Lil B, Lil Uno and Stunnaman. The Pack’s 2006 breakout, “Vans,” brought their sneaker anthem beyond the Bay Area and helped establish the group nationally.

The loss comes weeks after Too $hort revisited how he signed The Pack.

He recalled tracking down the musicians after their friends tried to charge him for an introduction.

That account described a relationship that extended beyond the paperwork. Too $hort took the group on the road and credited them with introducing him to Myspace, while leaving their musical choices in their own hands.

The Pack signed to his Up All Nite imprint with distribution through Jive Records. Young L’s production was central to a group whose members would also build identities outside its original lineup.

By May 2010, “Vans” had sold more than 300,000 copies, according to AllHipHop’s reporting at the time.

That year, The Pack moved into a deal with SMC Recordings and prepared an album called Wolfpack Party.

Too $hort’s recent memories emphasized that the connection had survived those business changes.

He said he remained close with the group and still brought them onstage to perform their breakthrough song.

Too $hort followed his tribute with a second Instagram post captioned “R.I.P. YOUNG L.”