Defaced Mural Of Late Annapolis Rapper Repainted After Campaign Sign Vandalism

ANNAPOLIS, MD — An artist repainted a mural of a late Annapolis rapper this week after it was defaced by a stolen campaign sign.

The mural honors Edward Montre Seay, also known as Tre Da Kid. Seay was fatally shot in Annapolis in 2019.

Somebody stole a campaign sign for County Executive candidate Jessica Haire (R) last week and pasted it on the mural over Seay's eyes. Photos of the vandalism surfaced on Oct. 27. The sign left a black residue after it was removed.

Haire condemned the crime, said her campaign was not responsible and helped clean up the mess.

The original painter, Annapolis artist Jeff Huntington, got to work redesigning the mural this Wednesday. Huntington, also known as Jahru, invited Seay's family to help stencil roses around the rapper's face.

Huntington said these relatives of Seay lent a hand:

• Jarmaine Blake (Seay's sister)
• Lesley Sedgwick (Seay's sister)
• Quanika Hill (The mother of Seay's son)
• Trenton (Seay and Hill's son)

"They were receptive and agreed to be a part of this mural," Huntington wrote to Patch. "Earlier this year I repaired some other vandalism on the mural and I spoke with the family about doing a new version at some point whereby they can have an active part in it."

The mural previously showed Seay sporting a St. Louis Cardinals baseball hat in front of the Annapolis skyline. The updated version depicts Seay wearing a crown that spells out his stage name in front of a black background.

"I wasn't too surprised when I heard about the vandalism," Huntington said. "It happens sometimes when art is in the public realm. It's sad that it was a way to stoke political tension for someone."

Haire shared her disgust on Facebook.

"I want to make this very clear – I am sickened by this act of vandalism and have personally contacted the police and asked them to investigate it," Haire said. "Sadly, this was done by someone more interested in dividing people and communities than bringing them together. That is something I will never support and always fight against."

Haire went to the mural the next morning to clean up the damage alonside local artist Comacell Brown Jr., who goes by Cell Spitfire.

Huntington finished the updated mural on Thursday.

"This project is about bringing some positive action to a negative situation," Huntington said.

Seay's family invited the public to the mural for a dedication ceremony Friday at 5 p.m. The mural lies at Forest Drive and S. Cherry Grove Avenue. The group will meet at nearby American Legion Post #141, located at 1707 Forest Dr.

Seay won the Verizon #Freestyle50 rap contest in 2016. That victory earned Seay $10,000 and a contract with hip-hop label 300 Entertainment, CNN reported.

CNN journalist Amir Vera said Seay released his single from the contest, called "Run It," in 2017. That song has nearly 1.4 million streams on Spotify.

Seay was fatally shot while driving through Annapolis in June 2019, CNN said. He was 32.

Huntington painted the mural where Seay was killed on Forest Drive.