The musician, 30, was with his girlfriend when a gunman reportedly demanded jewellery before opening fire inside a waffle house in the south of the city.
Police found PnB with multiple gunshot wounds and he was pronounced dead in hospital 45 minutes later.
No arrests have yet been made over Monday’s shooting.
Los Angeles Police Department Capt Kelly Muniz said a suspect approached a couple inside Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles and demanded they hand over personal items.
She told reporters at the scene this led to “some sort of verbal exchange” before the victim was shot several times and fell to the floor.
The suspect then “removed items from the victim”, she said, before running to a waiting getaway car and fleeing the scene.
US media has said law enforcement sources confirmed the rapper was the target of the attack.
Tributes have since flooded in for PnB Rock – real name Rakim Hasheem Allen – who rose to fame with the release of his 2016 hit Selfish and had collaborated with artists including Ed Sheeran.
Superstar Drake posted a photo of the pair together on his Instagram story, and rapper Offset posted a Twitter tribute urging followers to pray for PnB’s two children.
Rapper PnB Rock, best known for his 2016 hit song “Selfish,” died Monday after being shot during a robbery at a Los Angeles restaurant. He was 30.
The rapper’s music label Atlantic Records confirmed his death in a statement on Instagram.
“PnB Rock was more than an artist. To many, Rakim Allen was a great friend. He was also a wonderful father to two beautiful little girls,” the label wrote Tuesday. “This news is heavy on our hearts and we are all hurting over this senseless loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”
Los Angeles police Capt. Kelly Muniz tells USA TODAY that officers responded to a robbery Monday afternoon at Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles in South Los Angeles. The suspect approached the rapper while he was seated at the table and demanded items from him before shooting him “multiple times” and fleeing. The victim was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead just before 2 p.m. local time.
The Philadelphia rapper, born Rakim Hasheem Allen – also known as Grundle as well as PnB Rock – released his first mixtape in 2014.
A year later, he dropped his debut single, “Fleek,” followed by “Selfish,” which reached No. 16 on the Billboard rap chart and sold more than 3 million copies.
Throughout his career, Rock collaborated with an assortment of marquee rappers, including 2 Chainz, Russ, Wiz Khalifa, Nicki Minaj and, most recently, Swae Lee of Rae Sremmurd on 2021’s “Forever Never.”
Rock’s burgeoning career was celebrated in 2017 when he was tapped as part of XXL magazine’s popular Freshman Class issue.
His potential was realized on his two studio albums, his 2017 “Catch These Vibes,” and 2019’s “TrapStar Turnt PopStar,” which hit No. 1 on the Billboard rap chart and, signifying breakthrough mainstream success, No. 4 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The release featured guest appearance from Migos’ Quavo, Diplo and Tory Lanez, while a subsequent deluxe version offered features from Lil Wayne and Roddy Ricch.
Rock and partner Stephanie Sibounheuang spent their Sunday attending a wedding together, according to posts on their Instagram stories. He is survived by their 2-year-old daughter, Zuri, as well as daughter Milan from a previous relationship.
