It’s one of those stories that makes you just stare at your phone in disbelief. One minute, you’re watching a guy go viral for a track that everyone and their mother has heard, and the next, he’s gone. If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or YouTube over the last few years, you likely ran into the "Baby Shark" remix. It was dark, it was catchy, and it put Michael Robinson—better known as Ralan Styles—on the map. But then the news broke in late 2024, and everyone started asking the same thing: how did Ralan Styles die?
The reality is way more senseless than the internet rumors initially suggested. Honestly, it wasn't some complex industry beef or a long-standing rivalry. It was a chaotic, violent moment in Columbus, Ohio, that ended the life of a 22-year-old who was just starting to see his dreams turn into real checks.
The Night Everything Changed in Victorian Village
Ralan Styles wasn’t even from Ohio. He was a Tallahassee native, a Florida kid through and through, but he was in Columbus for a performance. On the morning of October 19, 2024, things took a turn for the worst.
Around 5:00 AM, police were called to the 300 block of West 3rd Avenue in the Victorian Village neighborhood. This isn't usually the kind of place where you expect a high-profile tragedy, but someone flagged down the cops, frantic. Inside a home there, they found Michael Robinson. He had been shot multiple times.
The scene was apparently pretty grim. Officers actually tried to perform CPR right then and there, trying to keep him breathing until the paramedics arrived. But by 5:10 AM, it was over. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Why was he targeted?
From what the investigators gathered and what witnesses told the Columbus Division of Police, this was a robbery gone wrong. Specifically, someone tried to snatch Ralan's chain. You see this happen way too often in the rap world—young artists wearing the literal fruits of their labor, only to have it become a target for someone desperate or jealous.
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There was a scuffle. Ralan didn't just hand it over. In that struggle, the suspect opened fire.
Who was Mahamood Hassan?
The guy police arrested for this is Mahamood Hassan, who was 24 at the time. What’s wild is how quickly the police moved. Witnesses gave a super detailed description of the shooter, and they found Hassan nearby just a short time later.
They didn't just grab him on a whim, though. They put him in a photo lineup, and multiple people picked him out as the person who pulled the trigger. He was charged with murder and held on a $2 million bond.
A history of trouble
Hassan wasn't exactly a stranger to the legal system. Court records in Franklin County showed he had a string of prior arrests dating back to 2018. We’re talking about things like:
- Theft
- Criminal trespassing
- Tampering with evidence
It’s the kind of rap sheet that makes you wonder how someone with that kind of history was out on the streets to begin with. By January 2025, things got even weirder. Hassan was actually out on house arrest at one point but decided to make a run for it. He fled to Kentucky, which obviously didn't work out well for him because he was captured just a few hours away from where Ralan actually grew up.
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More Than Just a Meme Rapper
It’s easy to dismiss someone as a "one-hit-wonder" because of a viral song like the "Baby Shark" remix. But for the people who knew Michael, he was much more than a 1.7 million view count on YouTube.
He was signed to Big Money Records, and his brother, who goes by the name Lil Goat, was his biggest supporter. They basically grew up together at the lunch table, rapping over plastic trays and dreaming about the stuff they were finally starting to achieve.
"I’m still waiting for you to call me and tell me this whole thing is a joke," Lil Goat wrote on Instagram after the news broke. "My heart is f**king broken."
Ralan's style was actually a mix of melodic trap and R&B. He had been putting in work since 2020, with tracks like "Dancing with the Devil" showing a lot more depth than a nursery rhyme remix. He grew up in the Bay Area for a while, too, influenced by jazz and funk, which gave his music a different texture than your average SoundCloud rapper.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Case
There was a lot of chatter online—as there always is—about whether the chain was "fake" or if the whole thing was set up. Some podcasts and YouTube channels claimed the motive was pure jealousy rather than just a simple robbery.
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While the legal charges focused on Aggravated Robbery and Murder, those close to the situation often pointed out that Ralan was a "selfless person" who didn't look for trouble. The tragedy wasn't just that he was killed; it was that he was killed over a piece of jewelry in a city he was only visiting to share his music.
Current Legal Status in 2026
As of now, the legal proceedings have been a long, drawn-out process. Between the flight from house arrest and the multiple charges—including reckless homicide and tampering with evidence—the justice system has been moving at its usual sluggish pace. The family has spent a lot of time keeping his name alive, making sure the focus stays on Michael the person, not just Ralan the headline.
How to Stay Safe and Support the Legacy
If there’s any takeaway from what happened to Ralan Styles, it’s a reminder of the dangerous intersection of fame and street violence. For fans and rising artists, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Awareness is everything: Whether you're a creator or just out in a new city, being aware of your surroundings in the early morning hours is vital.
- Support the Official Music: To help his family and estate, listen to his music on official platforms like Spotify or Apple Music rather than third-party rips. This ensures the royalties go where they belong.
- Follow Lil Goat for Updates: Michael's brother remains the most reliable source for news on the case and any posthumous releases.
The loss of Ralan Styles is a permanent reminder of how quickly things can be taken away. He wasn't just a "viral sensation"; he was a son, a brother, and a talent that was only just beginning to find its true voice.
To honor his memory, you can check out his full discography beyond the viral hits. Look for his older projects to see the versatility he was trying to bring to the Tallahassee scene. Keep an eye on the Franklin County court dockets if you want to follow the final sentencing phases for the 2026 trial updates.