By D.M. LIVINGSTON The Waterbury Times
September 3, 2025
Update April 14, 2026 9:20PM
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — The killing of Robert “Rob” Brown will be brought back into public focus next month as an episode titled “Unforgotten: Rob” is scheduled to air on May 7.
Brown, 40, was found shot to death inside his Lowell Drive apartment on December 3, according to the Charleston County Coroner’s Office. Authorities said responding officers discovered a shattered patio door before locating Brown on a couch. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
North Charleston Police say the case remains active, and investigators continue to ask the public for any information that could help identify those responsible.
The upcoming episode is expected to highlight both the investigation and Brown’s life. He is remembered by those close to him as a musician and father of two whose loss continues to be felt deeply.
For one of Brown’s closest friends, the case carries a more personal weight.
One of the last conversations they shared was not about tragedy, but about direction and purpose. Brown listened as his friend spoke about remaining in Connecticut and building The Waterbury Times, a local media platform focused on community storytelling and accountability.
In the time since, that conversation has taken on new meaning.
What began as a personal commitment has become a broader mission — to document stories, amplify voices, and ensure people like Brown are not forgotten.
His friend says he hopes Brown would be proud of the work being built in his name and in his memory.
Anyone with information related to the case is urged to contact North Charleston Police.
*Original Reporting*
Sept 3 2025
Waterbury-In December of 2008, I met a rapper named Rob Cobain—government name Robert Brown III—and my life changed. I was from up north; he had that southern charm and down-south vibe. From the moment we linked, it was like energy met purpose. We clicked immediately. His calm, creative spirit balanced my fire, and our shared love of real hip-hop built a bond that only grew deeper with time.
Together, we performed shows, made music, and started working on a collaborative project we called Asteroid M. It was more than an album—it was a blueprint for something special. But in 2009, life took a turn. I was incarcerated, and what we started had to be paused.
Over the next 10 years, Rob never stopped creating. He moved with purpose, performing and recording across Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, and more. While much of hip-hop veered toward guns, drugs, and street violence, Rob stayed true to something purer—something lighter. His energy was carefree, but his music was intentional. It was Hip-Hop in its essence: love, joy, pain, truth, and art.
That’s why his death still doesn’t feel real.
On December 3, 2024, Robert Brown III was murdered in North Charleston, SC. It was sudden. Senseless. He was just 40 years old. Months before, he had released what would become his final album, The Heartbreak Kid. The title now feels haunting. But at the time, it was meant to close a chapter—one last solo mission before we finally picked up where we left off.
We had been planning that for years. In fact, I was about to move on from The Waterbury Times to relocate to South Carolina and start creating full-time again. But something told me to stay in Waterbury just a little longer. That’s when Rob said words that still echo in my soul:
“Your city needs you.”
That’s why we still exist. That’s why The Waterbury Times remains. Because Rob saw something in me, something in my city, and he believed in both.
He wasn’t just a rapper. He was a light in this world. A creative force who made people laugh, think, and feel. He was my friend. And today, on his birthday, I remember him with gratitude, pain, and pride.
Rob, we were supposed to finish what we started. But I promise you this: I’m still going to finish it. I carry your words, your energy, and your legacy with me every single day. Through every article, every verse, every person I help uplift—your spirit lives on.
Happy Birthday, Rob Cobain. You are missed. You are loved. And you will never be forgotten.
Current Status
- No arrests or suspect(s) have been identified or publicly named.
- No motive has been disclosed by investigators.
- The investigation remains open, and the case is considered unsolved as of early 2025.
What You Can Do
If you have any information—no matter how small or seemingly unrelated—that could help investigators, you are encouraged to reach out:
- Phone: Call the North Charleston Police Tip Line at 843‑607‑2076.
- Email: ncpdcrimetip@northcharleston.org.
You can remain anonymous and detectives are flexible about meeting arrangements to ensure privacy if needed
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