Mary Alice Phillips, right, comforts her grandson Marcel Talbert, brother of Cali Swag District rapper Montae Ray Talbert, who performed as "M-Bone."

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

Weeping mourners at the funeral of Cali Swag District rapper M-Bone.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

Two friends who came for the funeral of Cali Swag District rapper M-Bone write in the visitors' book.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

A friend who came for the funeral of Cali Swag District rapper M-Bone writes in the visitors' book.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

People arrive for the funeral services at Faithful Central Bible Church for Cali Swag District rapper M-Bone, known for the song and accompanying dance "Teach Me How to Dougie.''

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

Sister Myeshia, left, brothers Marcel and Montreal Talbert and grandmother Mary Alice Phillips attend the funeral of Cali Swag District rapper M-Bone.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

Members of the Cali Swag District rap group attend the funeral of their colleague M-Bone.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

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M-Bone’s funeral

Posted By: Scott Harrison
Posted On: 9:51 p.m. | May 27, 2011

Family, friends and members of the Cali Swag District rap group attend the funeral of “M-Bone.” The Inglewood hip-hop artist “M-Bone,” whose real name was Montae Rae Talbert, 22, was shot twice in the head while he sat in front of a liquor store on North La Brea Avenue the night of May 15.

Funeral services were held at Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood. The Cali Swag District rapper was known for the song and accompanying dance “Teach Me How to Dougie.”

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29 Comments

May 28, 2011, 12:52 am

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RIP! You left us with a piece of history….way too young to die, especially lke that. Deepest sympathy to your family….

By: Nica
May 28, 2011, 6:10 am

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I didn't know much about M-Bone, but I heard and saw a lot of his "Teach Me How to Dougie." "Imitation is the best form of flattery." Seeing people trying to imitate the Dougie was hilarious, but I hope it made M-Bone happy. It's so sad to see someone so young killed like he was. Someone who is enjoying life and trying to make a difference in the world. I pray his buddies continue his legacy – and stay safe. Will pray for his family and friends.

By: adopted2x@yahoo.com
May 28, 2011, 8:19 am

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Teach me, how to .. Dougie…how to love.

Preach to me, there is so much love for you, Montae Rae.

May you rest forever in deep soulful peace.

I never met you, but I've lived in LA for decades.

Your story breaks my heart into a million pieces.

You were just a kid, w/all beautiful life in Cali, avocados, big cars, surf 'n' sand, baddest b&&&&&s in the bed, Roscoes Chick'n 'n' Waffles, the 405 freeway…Awaiting you.

Too soon. You missed the traffic jams & the human race will forever miss you.

Much love to your mother, friends, family and gazilliions of fans.

You are an absolute legend.

Pure love to you, baby boy.

Good night, sweet prince.

By: giogio
May 28, 2011, 9:54 am

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My heart goes out to all the family and friends. Unfortunately we are surrounded by cowards that make decisions that are so senseless . There is a consequence for every action. Resting at peace smiling down on you is what will feel as peaceful as knowing what comes around goes around . Hope they take calculated steps. They well have to face it one day . RIP M-Bone One Love

By: gr818
May 28, 2011, 10:02 am

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DEATH LEAVES A HEARTACHE NO ONE CAN HEAL. LOVE LEAVES MEMORIES NO ONE CAN STEAL…MY CONDOLENCES AND PRAYERS TO THE FAMILY.

By: irene cheely
May 28, 2011, 10:27 am

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DAMN IS SOME ONE GONNA SPEAK UP THIS WAS A YOUNG BRIGHT HUMAN LIFE HE WAS A CHILD 22YEARS OLD THE LOCATION IS A BUSY STREET GOTTA STOP DA FOOLISHNESS AND SPEAK OUT PLEASE SOMEBODY KNOW SUMTHIN GIVE THIS GUYS FAMILY SOME JUSTICE AND CLOSURE

By: BIZ
May 28, 2011, 10:31 am

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Such a loss and so young. When will it all end?

By: Recovered
May 28, 2011, 10:43 am

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god bless his family and my deepest condolence to that family and friends., rest in peace.

By: wzeneyda@yahoo.com
May 28, 2011, 2:12 pm

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Rest in peace, young man, rest in peace.

By: marlena
May 28, 2011, 2:53 pm

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What happened to wearing black to a funeral? What happened to dressing respectfully for the dead? It looked more like a fashion show than a memorial for the deceased.

By: dougiefan@yahoo.com
May 28, 2011, 3:07 pm

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its so sad when a young artist is taken away just when there getting started

By: kevin
May 28, 2011, 3:08 pm

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This crime was a heinous senseless nightmare, and I'm sure I can say we all are just disgusted by the unneccessary violence thats thaking the lives of our young people. Especially positive young brothers such as Montae Talbert. His grandmother's eulogy was so beautiful, he would be proud. RIP in the bossom of the Lord Montae.

By: Currvalicious
May 28, 2011, 3:19 pm

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Another young Brotha dies needlessly on the streets of Los Angeles. Please, I beg you my young Brothas to stop the pointless killing of one another. You are the hope for our future. Please don't waste what God so generously gave you.

By: Sistagirl
May 28, 2011, 5:46 pm

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As for this rapper, the only thing that really matters is if he will be invited to the great feast which will be taken in the Kingdom of Heave. This young man had all parties that anyone would ever imagine. As far as his funeral goes, there was a lot of flesh hanging out of his fellow female mournors. Tatoos, which dictate their life style. Only, God knows who they are and who he was. His music is a tumb. Their is no God in his music nonsense.

By: Richardo
May 29, 2011, 1:07 am

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I AM SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT ANOTHER YOUNG BLACK MAN BEING KILLED FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN "LIFE STYLE" HOPEFULLY HIS MAY HAVE SOME MEANING AND THAT YOUNGER MEMBERS OF THE AFRO-AMERICAN WILL SHUN THE LIFE STYLE THAT MONTE TALBERT AKA M-BONE WAS FRONTING. HE WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM NOT THE SOLUTION. HIS LYRICS TO "TEACH ME HOW TO DOUGIE" ARE MYSOGYNISTIC AND HELP TO PERPETUATE VIOLENCE AND OPPRESSION OF WOMEN. LYRICS SUCH AS MY"BITCHES' KNOW ME ETC HELP TO TWIST THE MINDS OF YOUNG BLACK MEN AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CENTER OF THE FAMILY WHICH IS THE MOTHER. ALL GOOD THINGS COME FROM A STABLE FAMILY WITH ONE FATHER AND ONE MOTHER NUTURING THEIR CHILDREN!….. M-BONE NO GREAT LOSS, HE WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM

By: hennery.d
May 29, 2011, 1:21 am

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I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT MONTE TALBERT WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM. HIS LYRICS WERE MYSOGYNISTIC AND ATTACKED THE HEART OF THE FAMILY, WOMEN! HE HAD HOPES OF CASHING IN ON THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF THE AFRO-AMERICAN LIFE STYLE , HE WAS THERE TO EXPLOIT AND CASH IN AND GET "PAID" NOTHING MORE HIS DEATH HAD AS MUCH MEANING AS HIS LYRICS!….LIVE BY THE SWORD DIE BY THE SWORD!

By: CHICOBOY3@SBCGLO
May 29, 2011, 4:22 am

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@Richardo, you're a coward, take your hatred out of here.

By: DD12345@yahoo.com
May 29, 2011, 5:57 am

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Where's all of the political leaders that are supposedly REPRESENTING these communities ????

Yet they blame someone else …

By: Thug Life
May 29, 2011, 6:50 am

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How sad and pointless this is. When will we learn ? Live the life, suffer the consequences. Change is the only answer!

By: nyjimmy
May 29, 2011, 7:34 am

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My Deepest Heartfelt Sympathies To You Mrs. Phillips , Your Family And Friends As Well … I'll Never Understand The Ugly And Evil Hearts Of People In This World To So Devalue The Life Of A Human Being , In This Case Your Beautiful Son , My Youngest Son Turns 22 Yrs . Old Today , My Prayers Are With You As You Bare The Loss Of Your Son Montae , As A Mother I Can Only Imagine Your Pain , I Know That God Is Still Good And Still On The Throne And Loves You And Will Hold You Up And Get You Through This Time , May God Bless And Keep You And Heal The Hearts Of And Your Family …. Enjoy Paradise Montae

By: White Orchid
May 29, 2011, 8:20 am

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It's SAD to see that another human being can be so Cold hearted tofeel they have the aothority and power to take another persons life like that, it is so wrong. This is proof time and time again that violent songs and lifestyle brings violence closer to home. How many classic, jazz, country, folk artist or even Rockstars have been killed in this manner? If you think BAD things, you LIVE bad things, well then the outcome is clear. I am very sad for the loss of what seemed to be a nice young man reaching for a Dream, I hope his life doesnt go un-noticed and without change. make his life, his work, his name mean something and work against the violence to make peace and change in his name. My condolences to Mom, Grandma, Family, Friends,Fans and the rest of GODS children hurting out there becouse of this sensless killing of a promising Young Man. God Bless you all and God empowers you to make a change in his name. Very Sad

By: Jerry R
May 29, 2011, 8:33 am

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I am so tired of senseless killings in the hip hop culture. I was just a kid back when rap was new, but there wasn't any killing going on in the heyday of Salt N' Pepa and Kid N' Play…they are still alive because they lived by a different code. Fast Forward a couple of decades and sadly, murdering in the music industry has become the norm. Another young life snatched by a nameless coward. I'm so tired of the "stop snitching" code that lets these killers continue to breathe. It's so sad that a person put their conscience away to kill like this. Sadly, murdering a rapper seems to be a free crime because the perp is seldom found and prosecuted. Another family mourns because of this disturbing trend. Karma and payback are on the way. It won't bring this young man back, but it will eventually catch up with the parties involved. Whomever you are, know that your days are also numbered. This family will never have closure because there is no such thing. Even if the criminals get caught, they are still haunted by the fact that their loved one was stolen. I pray that the family is able to go on and gains strength despite their loss and that no additional lives are lost behind this crime. Just from the pictures alone, I had to fight the tears. No matter who he was in the industry , he was still a son and a brother to his family that survives him.

By: 70'sbabl80'skid
May 29, 2011, 8:34 am

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Stay strong, Talbert Family.

By: 70'sbaby80'skid
May 29, 2011, 8:47 am

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She looks like the Queen of Zumunda from the movie Coming to America lol.

By: random@yahoo.com
May 29, 2011, 10:04 am

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You got it right. Praise God! I look at these people, their lifestyles, the condition of this wicked world and think to myself that the people truly need to be saved. nAs it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the coming of the Son of Man.

By: wilspro@hotmail.com
May 29, 2011, 1:16 pm

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My deepest sympathies to Talbert Family. He was a great talent and a good man who was taken too soon for no good reason. He wont be forgotten.

By: lady_effie@yahoo.com
May 29, 2011, 2:01 pm

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To the family of montae ray talbert;you have my heartfelt sympathy.the violence will stop when we get back to our first love whitch is JESUS CHRIST!live the life that he planned for us.pray and serve him.
parents we need to live a life in the presence of GOD.pray for our children.when you are not in the presence of GOD;you are out of your environment.

By: GRATEFUL1942
May 29, 2011, 4:48 pm

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Your Time in Life Was SO Brief!!?
We Miss You Already..
GOD Bless Your Soul.

By: NadiNetfx
May 29, 2011, 10:38 pm

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A lot of the post on here are missing the point. I agree with all of you that his death was senseless, but this pattern of death seem to be following our race too closely. I looked at several statistic, one being the US census. The current census states that we make up 12% of the population, in numbers that means 33 milions. The problem lies with the fact that we were 13% of the population 10 years ago, in numbers that was nearly 36 millions. We could say natural cause, but that would the naive on are part. We could say that we started practice safer say, but that too would be naive. No the problem lies in our not being able to adapt. We make up 40% of the homeless population,49% of the prison, and 45% of child welfare protection cases.. In number that means that we are in seriouls trouble. We're leaving ourselve open for, things that I dire not mention on this blog, but I fear that will happen in our near future, maybe in the next 20 years, If and only if we're given that much time. Too many of us are protecting our killers. Either we start coming together dealing with the problem that is on the horizon, are we perish, like the Dodo Bird.

By: Scared