Berkeley Producer Young L Dies at Age Unknown
Hip-hop artists including Too Short publicly mourn the producer behind The Pack's breakout hit "Vans."
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Hip-Hop and Rap
Too Short and other artists have posted tributes on Instagram to Young L, a Berkeley producer for The Pack, who reportedly died. The posts did not give a cause of death, a date of death or Young L's age.
Why it matters
Young L produced The Pack's breakout single, a track that shaped the group's early reputation in the Bay Area rap scene. His death marks the loss of a figure tied to both the music and the streetwear culture that grew around the group.
Young L produced The Pack's 2006 breakout single "Vans" and the Skateboards 2 Scrapers EP, both released during the group's first year of widespread attention. The source does not report the cause of death, the date of death or his age.
The players
Too Short
Too Short is a Bay Area rapper and founder of the Up All Nite imprint, which signed The Pack through Jive after the label heard "Vans" on the radio.
The Pack
The Pack is a hip-hop group formed in Berkeley in 2005 whose founding members included Lil B, Lil Uno, Stunnaman and Young L.
Mistah F.A.B.
Mistah F.A.B. is a Bay Area rapper who posted a tribute to Young L on Instagram.
The details
Too Short revealed the death through posts on Instagram, and Mistah F.A.B. also shared a tribute. Andrew Barber of Fake Shore Drive described Young L as a talented artist and producer. Young L was born Lloyd Omadhebo and co-founded the streetwear brand Pink Dolphin.
Timeline
2005: The Pack forms in Berkeley.
2006: "Vans" becomes the group's breakout single.
Thursday: Too Short posts the tribute on Instagram.
Legal Context
The loss of Young L comes as the Bay Area hyphy era of the mid-2000s, which produced The Pack, continues to draw attention from artists who first made their names during that period. His death reflects how many producers from that scene remain central to its legacy.
Fans who want to hear Young L's work can find "Vans" and the Skateboards 2 Scrapers EP through the catalog of The Pack. The source does not indicate any upcoming tribute events, memorial releases or streaming changes.
The takeaway
Young L's production helped define a Berkeley sound that reached national audiences, and tributes from peers suggest his influence extends beyond his own catalog. Listeners can revisit early Pack releases to hear the work that first brought the group attention.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in Hip-Hop and Rap for Bay Area artists and producers.
