In Memoriam: JayAre (Cali Swag District)
The BET Awards honors the life of the West Coast rapper.
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Cahron "JayAre" Childs - JayAre, one-fourth of the famed group Cali Swag District, died on June 6, 2014, from complications due to sickle cell anemia. The 25-year-old rapper was just six days shy of his 26th birthday. The BET Awards remembers his impact on music and influence on one of the biggest dance crazes of 2010. —George Chapman (Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
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California Love - Discovered by former Death Row Records artists Big Wy and Dairold Potts, Cali Swag District was born in Inglewood, Calif., the hometown of all four members: DJ C-Smoove, Yung, M-Bone, and JayAre –– aka "Smoove da General," "Mr. Swagg,'" "Boogie Man" and "Third Verse," respectively. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
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From Inglewood to the White House - The West Coast foursome swept the airwaves with their contagious hit "Teach Me How to Dougie," which birthed one of the biggest dance crazes of this generation. Michelle Obama, Jimmy Kimmel and Beyoncé all took a stab at the dance, named after hip hop beat-boxing pioneer Doug E. Fresh. (Photo: 319 Music Group)
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Nothing Was the Same - The Dallas-originated dance-turned-go-to-two step that accompanied the infectious song helped it peak at No. 28 on the US Hot 100 and No. 6 on Billboard's Hot Rap Songs charts. (Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Ball Up)
Photo By Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Ball Up
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Growing Pains - Unfortunately, shortly after the release of their debut album, The Kickback, Cali Swag District faced another tragedy with the death of Montae "M-Bone" Talbert, who was murdered in a drive-by shooting in May of 2011. Three days after his death, they released the single "How to Do That" in his honor and included the track on their mixtape, Deeper Than the Dougie. (Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Chrysler)
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