Martell DeRouen biography: 10 things about New Iberia, Louisiana native aka Kardone

Who was Kardone?

Martell Lord DeRouen was an American rapper who lived in different parts of the United States including Louisiana and Texas. As an artist, he was professionally known as Kardone.

After high school, Kardone enlisted in the U.S. Air Force (USAF). As a sergeant in Air Force Intelligence, he received numerous awards including the Air Force Achievement Medal, an Air Force Organizational Award, an Air Force Training Ribbon, an Air Force Longevity Service Award, an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, an Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one oak leaf cluster, a National Defense Service Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and a USAF non-commissioned officer (NCO) professional military education (PME) Graduate Ribbon.

From Louisiana, Kardone moved to San Antonio, Texas when he married Joia LéJuan Jenkins DeRouen, a native of San Antonio. After their separation, he lived with his new girlfriend Sasha Skare, who is also a San Antonio native and an artist, in The Towers Apartments in San Antonio. 

Kardone was a cousin of Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter through her maternal grandmother Agnéz Deréon, who was from New Iberia, Iberia Parish, Louisiana. Here are 10 more things about him:

1. He was born in New Iberia to Lenard Mikeal DeRouen and Melissa Ann Ford Davis.
2. He has two brothers namely Skylar DeRouen and former University of Massachusetts basketball star Curtis “Trey” Lee Davis III and one sister named Kami DeRouen.
3. In 2004, he graduated from New Iberia High School in New Iberia.
4. In 2006, he married Joia.
5. In 2016, Empire released his debut mixtape titled “Trunk Bang.”
6. In 2019, he was signed to The Orchard, a label owned by Sony Music. 
7. On June 18, 2020, he turned 34.
8. On January 3, 2021, he posted a photo of himself with seven friends on Instagram. Skare was tagged in the photo. It was his last post on the social media site.
9. On January 26, 2021, San Antonio Police Department officers conducted a welfare check at his apartment in The Towers Apartments and found him dead. He died of an apparent gunshot wound.
10. On February 5, 2021, a funeral service was held for him at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home in Lafayette, Louisiana. On February 6, 2021, Skare was arrested on suspicion of murder for his death.