DETROIT – The Motor City’s music scene is reeling after the sudden death of Nevafull TY, the charismatic MadeWest rapper whose gritty bars and larger-than-life energy made him a staple of Detroit’s underground hip-hop for over a decade.
Nevafull TY, born Tyrone “Ty” Evans, passed away late last week at age 35 after a brief battle with undisclosed health complications. His family confirmed the news Sunday morning, sending shockwaves through the city’s rap community.
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“Ty was more than a rapper—he was Detroit’s heartbeat,” said MadeWest label founder Marcus “M-West” Johnson. “His music told our stories: the hustle on the block, the laughs with the crew, the grind to make it out. He lived every lyric.”
Hailing from Detroit’s West Side, Nevafull TY broke out in 2015 with his debut mixtape Full Clip, featuring the street anthem “Motor City Made” that racked up millions of streams on SoundCloud. He became the face of MadeWest, a collective of local talents blending trap beats with raw, storytelling flows. Hits like “Ty’s World” and “Westside Warrior” turned him into a local icon, with fans packing venues from The Shelter to St. Andrew’s Hall.
Offstage, Ty was a mentor to young artists, hosting free cyphers at his West Warren studio and donating proceeds from shows to youth programs in his old neighborhood. “He’d pull up in his old Cutlass, blast new beats, and just let kids spit,” recalled rising rapper Lil’ West. “Ty believed in us before we believed in ourselves.”
Tributes poured in across social media from Detroit rap heavyweights like Big Sean (“Rest up, Ty—your spirit lives in every bar we spit”) and Tee Grizzley (“MadeWest forever. Ty showed us how to stay real”). Fans gathered Sunday evening outside his childhood home on Dexter Street, releasing black and gold balloons while blasting his tracks from car speakers.
A public memorial service is set for Saturday, December 6 at 2 p.m. at Fellowship Chapel on Grand River Avenue. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Nevafull TY Youth Music Fund, supporting hip-hop education in Detroit schools.
Funeral arrangements are private, but a citywide listening party for Ty’s unreleased album Last Full will happen Friday night at MadeWest Studios—open to all.
Detroit lost a giant, but Nevafull TY’s legacy echoes in every verse from the D.
Rest in power, Ty. The West Side won’t forget. 🎤🖤