JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A day after the arrests of four people with gang ties in connection to the shooting death of 7-year-old Breon Allen, a local rapper is speaking out to save young people in Jacksonville.  

On Wednesday, Sheriff T.K. Waters identified the suspects as 18-year-old Keith Fields, 20-year-old Dannel Larkins, 21-year-old Keith Johnson and 24-year-old Zharod Sykes. They all are facing second-degree murder charges, conspiracy to commit murder and attempted first-degree murder charges in the Jan. 24 shooting that left Allen dead and 21-year-old Lafayette Mango injured.

Natalac has been rapping in Jacksonville for 30 years and says most young men fall into the trap of gang life because they don’t have consistent role models in their lives. Before those young men potentially end up in jail, Natalac is hosting an event on March 23 to fill that role model gap. He hopes music leads to change.

“Work it out, we got to make it out, get ourselves together, brother,” is one of the lines from the Natalac song Positive Vibes, which has another simple message that the Northside rapper hopes resonates with young people, “you’ve got one life to live.”

Jacksonville rapper Natalac said most Jacksonville gangs are small neighborhood groups and most of the gang members that he has come across grew up in homes without a strong father figure.

“They’re out there looking for leadership and they’re out there looking for the big homie down the street and whoever is around,” said Natalac, “it leaves you in the mercy of the streets and other people who have ulterior motives for putting you in this gang.”

Natalac did have a strong family system while growing up on the Northside of Jacksonville. He comes from a military family and joined the Marines during Desert Storm. He hopes to be a role model for young men heading down the wrong path.

“It’s a lack of leadership, hopefully I can try to change some of that and bring an awakening of the direction we need to go in,” said Natalac.

Years ago Natalac tried to mentor an aspiring Jacksonville rapper who eventually went by the name Foolio. Foolio fell into the gang life and was murdered in June of 2024. Currently, five people are charged in connection to Foolio’s murder. 

Natalac said he hopes his mentorship guides not only rappers, but also diverts would-be gang members away from crime.

“They’re half my age,” Natalac said of young rappers he speaks with, “I got to teach them about not crashing out. I’m a father, I have children that’s the same age as kids going in the ground and getting prison sentences.”

“Simply walking up the wrong street, your mama might get a wreath,” is another lyric from Positive Vibes.

“Until we change the narrative of how people move and think we’re going to continue to have young brothers like young Foolio go in the ground,” Natalac said.

“We got to make it out, get ourselves together people,” continues a refrain from Positive Vibes.

On March 23, Natalac and Minister Mikhail Muhammad will host an event called Unity is the Key: State of Emergency Saving Black Youth at Island Tropics at 2527 N. Main Street in Jacksonville. The event is from 2-5 p.m. and is free to the public with free food. The goal is to turn young people away from a path towards crime and gangs. No weapons are allowed at the event and there will be security on hand.

For more information on Unity is the Key, send an email to mikhailhuhammad44@gmail.com