(note: due to time constraints, I haven't been able to blog on some of the deaths that occurred earlier this year)
2021 is not even over, and it's been a cruel year for some of the old-school rappers who died in their 50's.
It's like a piece of my childhood and early adulthood is fading away with these deaths.
Back in April, two hardcore rappers who peaked in the early 2000's, DMX and Black Rob, died from illnesses. Both were in their early 50's.
DMX was known for his aggressive, threatening songs, but he also had some sensitive & spiritual tracks too! He was also known as one of the most captivating stage performers in hip-hop!
Black Rob, had a grimy image that contrasted with his fellow members of Bad Boy Records (ie Diddy, Ma$e, Lox) known for flashy outfits. He was mostly known for the track "Whoah", but my favorites were "Dame Espacio" (w/Lil Kim) and "Spanish Fly" (w/J. Lo)
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On the opposite spectrum of hip-hop, eccentric humorous rappers who peaked in the early 90s, Shock G (of Digital Underground) and Biz Markie both died at the age of 57.
Shock G was mostly known for his funny outfits he wore in the videos for the "Humpty Dance". The video for "The Same Song" introduced the world his back up dancer who later became the thug-life/black-power legend: Tupac Shakur!
Biz Markie was known for his various vocal talents, from beat-boxing, freestyling and singing! His most famous track was "Just A Friend", a son that can still get people singing along in unison 3 decades later!
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I'm sorry if my write-ups are very brief (my time is limited), but here's some interesting articles to increase your knowledge on these hip-hop legends
Scott Woods, “Hip-Hop Is Old but Your Favorite Rapper Is Too Young to Die: Reckoning with the Mortality of Music Gods,” Medium, May 6, 2021, https://level.medium.com/hip-hop-is-old-but-your-favorite-rapper-is-too-young-to-die-cc38fb2d3a90.
Lyndsey Parker, “Grammy-Nominated Rapper DMX Dead at Age 50,” Yahoo, April 9, 2021, https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/grammy-nominated-rapper-dmx-dead-at-age-50-161809834.html.
David Drake, “DMX, Rapper Who Blended Aggressive Menace With Emotional Sincerity, Dead at 50,” Rolling Stone, April 9, 2021, https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/dmx-rapper-dead-175779/.
Elise Brisco, “'He will rest in peace': Nas, Eve, Swizz Beatz, More Honor DMX at Emotional Memorial Service,” Yahoo, April 24, 2021, https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/family-fans-friends-gather-remember-233555471.html.
Rosemary Rossi, “Black Rob, Rapper Best Known for Hit Single ‘Whoa!,’ Dies at 51,” Yahoo, April 17, 2021, https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/black-rob-rapper-best-known-220039780.html.
Nexstar Media Wire, “Digital Underground Leader Shock G, of ‘humpty Dance’ Fame, Dead at 57,” KHON, April 23, 2021, https://www.khon2.com/news/national/digital-underground-leader-shock-g-of-humpty-dance-fame-dead-at-57/.
Rob Sheffield, “Farewell, Biz Markie: Remembering the Wild-Style Chaos and Diabolical Genius of Hip-Hop’s Old-School Joker King,” Rolling Stone, July 16, 2021, https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/biz-markie-hip-hop-pioneer-1192098/.
Matthew Ismael Ruiz, “Remembering Biz Markie, the Uninhibited Spirit of Hip-Hop’s Golden Age,” Pitchfork, July 16, 2021, https://pitchfork.com/features/afterword/biz-markie-obituary/
