Tyler Laybolt, also known as Guck, in Phil Roy's studio.
Image Credit: Contributed by Phil Roy
November 24, 2016 - 6:30 PM
KAMLOOPS - After the death of a local rapper, a local producer is working on putting out his last album.
Tyler Laybolt, also known as Guck, died in early November after an overdose connected to fentanyl. At the time he was working on producing an album with Phil Roy, a local producer and studio owner also known as MC Philosophy. Roy now intends on finishing the album as a tribute to his friend and collaborator.
“I’m trying to make it very impactful, inspiring a sense of hope, closure for some and raise awareness that, you know, fentanyl is chalking this on the street,” he says.
Laybolt and Roy had finished six of seven tracks for his album before Laybolt passed. Roy is working with another local rapper and friend of Laybolt’s, Ben Stevenson aka Alphabetic to finish off the last track.
The album has the blessing of Laybolt’s family, Roy says, he plans to use proceeds from the album as part of a fundraiser for Laybolt’s son Jacob.
“I want to raise some money, $10,000 or more, to give the money to Tyler’s son and to the mother who had to bury her own child,” he says. “The mother and the grandmother of Tyler insisted we do an album.”
He admits it's a large amount, but Roy says friends and family are considering a fundraising effort as well.
The album should be released in January with at least one album release party. A second one is being considered by Roy and Stevenson for younger fans not able to go to a club.
He’s hoping the release and discussion around his friends death will help spur people to action on fentanyl as well.
“Sometimes people don’t want to get caught up because they’re afraid something bad will happen to them,” he says. “How many more deaths is going to take, how many more stories is going to take before we wake up?”
To contact a reporter for this story, email Brendan Kergin or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016