Last night, the Ottawa hip-hop community took a loss with the senseless murder of Jahiant Jahh, one third of the group HalfSizeGiants. The group had reunited in January after a 15-year hiatus, and their album, Life Moves Fast, was released last week Friday, May 31.
The HalfSizeGiants have released a statement about the tragic loss with more details about what transpired:
Markland Campbell aka Jahiant was taken suddenly Friday night June 8th. He was rushing to defend his 18-year-old daughter’s dignity after she called to say she was being assaulted by a couple of men.
Markland was unarmed and subsequently shot in the chest. He passed away in surgery.
Jahiant’s legacy is immortalized in the song “Girl You Know” with HSG (HalfSizeGiants) featuring platinum selling artist Danny Fernandes.
His lifelong brethren Memo and Ironic vow to ensure Jahiant will be remembered for how he lived and not how he died.
At the age of 16, Markland along with HSG led an anti-violence concert to protest the senseless death of Nicholas Batters, Ottawa’s first drive by shooting victim in March 1994. Now 25 years later and less than a mile away from 1994’s tragedy, Markland was maliciously gunned down defending the principle of righteousness he lived by.
You can hear his passion for life and his message of peace and joy in the single “Girl You Know.”
Although he won’t be here in body to experience his much deserved success after a lifetime of sacrifice and struggle to reach this pinnacle, Jahiant will be smiling down on is us all every time the single is heard.
Jahiant Jahh (Photo: Instagram)
You can follow @HalfSizeGiants on Instagram.
