Archive for the ‘R.I.P’ Category

Krackblog.com is sad to report that legendary MC , pioneer and Gangstarr founder Guru (Real name Keith Elam) has succumbed to cancer. For those who don’t know the backstory, Guru and former collaborator DJ Premier were a driving force in bridging the worlds of hip hop and jazz in the late 80’s and 90’s. They crafted 6 classic albums together and Guru treated listeners to 4 cutting edge Jazzmatazz albums. Guru has been sick for quite some time and has managed to keep his illness a secret from his family and fans.  There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Guru’s illness and his business relationship with his partner Solar. Solar has expressed sadness over Guru’s passing.

“The world has lost one of the best MCs and Hip-Hop icons of all-time — my loyal best friend, partner, and brother, Guru,” Solar said in a statement. “Guru has been battling cancer for well over a year and has lost his battle! This is a matter that Guru wanted private until he could beat it, but tragically, this did not happen. The cancer took him. Now the world has lost a great man and a true genius.”

Expecting the worst, Guru has left a letter for his fans with some harsh words for his former partner Dj Premier

I, Guru, am writing this letter to my fans, friends and loved ones around the world. I have had a long battle with cancer and have succumbed to the disease. I have suffered with this illness for over a year. I have exhausted all medical options.

I have a non-profit organization called Each One Counts dedicated to carrying on my charitable work on behalf of abused and disadvantaged children from around the world and also to educate and research a cure for this terrible disease that took my life. I write this with tears in my eyes, not of sorrow but of joy for what a wonderful life I have enjoyed and how many great people I have had the pleasure of meeting.

My loyal best friend, partner and brother, Solar, has been at my side through it all and has been made my health proxy by myself on all matters relating to myself. He has been with me by my side on my many hospital stays, operations, doctors visits and stayed with me at my home and cared for me when I could not care for myself. Solar and his family is my family and I love them dearly and I expect my family, friends, and fans to respect that, regardless to anybody’s feelings on the matter. It is my wish that counts. This being said I am survived by the love of my life, my sun KC, who I trust will be looked after by Solar and his family as their own. Any awards or tributes should be accepted, organized approved by Solar on behalf myself and my son until he is of age to except on his own.

I do not wish my ex-DJ to have anything to do with my name likeness, events tributes etc. connected in anyway to my situation including any use of my name or circumstance for any reason and I have instructed my lawyers to enforce this. I had nothing to do with him in life for over 7 years and want nothing to do with him in death. Solar has my life story and is well informed on my family situation, as well as the real reason for separating from my ex-DJ. As the sole founder of GangStarr, I am very proud of what GangStarr has meant to the music world and fans. I equally am proud of my Jazzmatazz series and as the father of Hip-Hop/Jazz. I am most proud of my leadership and pioneering efforts on Jazzmatazz 4 for reinvigorating the Hip-Hop/Jazz genre in a time when music quality has reached an all time low. Solar and I have toured in places that I have never been before with GangStarr or Jazzmatatazz and we gained a reputation for being the best on the planet at Hip-Hop/Jazz, as well as the biggest and most influential Hip-Hop/Jazz record with Jazzmatazz 4 of the decade to now. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time. And we as a team were not afraid to push the envelope. To me this is what true artists do! As men of honor we stood tall in the face of small mindedness, greed, and ignorance. As we fought for music and integrity at the cost of not earning millions and for this I will always be happy and proud, and would like to thank the million fans who have seen us perform over the years from all over the world. The work I have done with Solar represents a legacy far beyond its time and is my most creative and experimental to date. I hope that our music will receive the attention it deserves as it is some of the best work I have done and represents some of the best years of my life.

R.I.P Guru

 

Malcolm McLaren, the British former manager and the self-proclaimed mastermind behind iconic punk band the Sex Pistols, has died from cancer at a hospital in Switzerland, his girlfriend said. He was 64.

“He passed away at a hospital in Switzerland where he was being treated for cancer,” said Young Kim.

McLaren, the ex-partner of designer Vivienne Westwood, had been suffering from cancer for some time.

The London-born impresario and promoter assembled the Sex Pistols and managed them in the mid-1970s, a period that produced the groundbreaking singles “Anarchy in the U.K.” and “God Save the Queen.”

Kim told Reuters McLaren had traveled to New York in February for the launch of an art book before returning to Switzerland to be treated at a clinic. He died of a rare form of cancer called mesothelioma.

I’m not gonna sit here and front like I knew all of this cats music. I did a lot of research today and found out that Malcolm was behind I alot of records and samples I grew up on a youth. For example

Who knew! The song that he will possibly most be remembered for is Buffao Gals

Rest in peace to a PIONEER a VISIONARY, and a silent ARCHITECT of the sonic culture of HIP-HOP!

Lamont Coleman was born May 30, 1974 in New York City, and grew up in uptown Harlem which he references regularly in his lyrics (139th Street & Lennox Avenue).^[2] Big L began rhyming in 1990 and his first professional appearance came on the B-side of “Party Over Here” by Lord Finesse in 1992, the song was the remix to “Yes, You May”. Around this time, L founded the Harlem-based rap group Children of the Corn with fellow aspiring MC’s Killa Cam, Murda Mase and Killa Cam’s cousin Bloodshed while Darrell “Digga” Branch provided production. Unfortunately the group folded in 1996 when Bloodshed died in a car accident.^[3] In 1993 L was signed to Columbia Records and released his first single “Devil’s Son”. Big L’s debut solo album, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous, was released in March 1995. The album featured guest appearances from a number of artists, notably Kid Capri, Lord Finesse, and then-unknown Cam’ron and Jay-Z. Two singles, “M.V.P” and “Put It On”, were released from the album, both of which reached the top twenty-five of Billboard’s Hot Rap Tracks. The album itself also reached the Billboard200, but due to its poor commercial status Big L was dropped from Columbia Records.

From 1997 to ‘99, Big L worked on his second album The Big Picture through his own Flamboyant Entertainment label. He released the acclaimed single “Ebonics” in 1998; that same year, he joined Bronx-based hip hop collective Diggin’ in the Crates Crew and appeared on their first single “Dignified Soldiers”. The Big Picturewas released posthumously in August 2000 and featured guest appearances by Fat Joe, Guru of Gang Starr, Kool G Rap, and Big Daddy Kane among others. Jay-Z has said that Big L was set to sign with hisRoc-A-Fella label, but was murdered the week before.^[4] The Big Picture was Big L’s last recorded album. It was put together by his manager and partner in Flamboyant Entertainment, Rich King. It contains songs that L had recorded and a cappella recordings that were never used, completed by producers and guest MC’s that Big L respected or had worked with previously. The album was certified gold a month later.

Coleman was killed in the neighborhood of Harlem on February 15, 1999 after being shot over 9 times in the face and chest.^[3] Virgilio Perez, one of Big L’s childhood friends, was arrested in May 1999 for the crime. At the time of his death, Coleman had two brothers in prison. “It’s a good possibility it was retaliation for something [Big L's] brother did, or [Perez] believed he had done,” said a spokesperson for the NYPD.^[5] Perez was later released and the murder case remains unsolved.^[6]

Big L’s half-brother Leroy Phinazee aka “Big Lee” was murdered in the same neighborhood in 2002; in the time leading up to his death, Phinazee had apparently been in search of information regarding Big L’s murder.^[3]

Gang Starr released the song “Full Clip” as a tribute to Big L on their 1999 compilation album Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr, and more recently on a SiriusXM satellite radio show.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Flavor Unit emcee Apache, born Anthony Teaks, passed away today (January 22) after a protracted illness. As an original member of Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit, Apache first appeared on 45 King Presents The Flavor Unit and his best known single “Gangsta B**ch” peaked at #11 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Singles chart. Shakim Compere, CEO and Co-Founder of Flavor Unit Records, remembered Apache. “Without Apache there would have been no Queen Latifah, no Naughty By Nature, no Chill Rob G., no anything” Compere told AllHipHop.com. “Apache was the string that tied all of Flavor Unit together. Without Apache none of this would be.” Apache was one of the three original rappers in Flavor Unit, which also counted Queen Latifah and Latee as early group members. The rap crew expanded and consisted of groups or rappers like Lakim Shabazz, Lord Alibaski, Chill Rob G., Naughty By Nature, Freddie Foxxx, Nikki D and Queen Latifah. Apache’s appearances included collaborations with Naughty by Nature, Fat Joe, Tupac, and A Tribe Called Quest.

For the full story or to comment log on: http://www.allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2010/01/22/22104395.aspx

R&B legend TEDDY PENDERGRASS died yesterday at a hospital in suburban Philadelphia. He was 59.

–There’s no word on the exact cause of death, but Teddy’s son said Teddy had undergone colon cancer surgery eight months ago, and had, quote, “a difficult recovery.”

–Pendergrass started out as a member of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, which scored a hit with “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”.

–As a solo artist in the ’70s and ’80s, he recorded such classics as “Love T.K.O.”, “Close the Door”, “I Don’t Love You Anymore” and “Turn Off the Lights”.

–Pendergrass was paralyzed from the waist down in a 1982 car accident. He remained in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Another sad death in Hollywood. EUR has reported that actress/singer Alaina Reed Hall-Amini has died. She was 63.

At press time, details of her death are still unknown, but sources state the cause of death is believed to be related to breast cancer. Reports are surfacing that Alaina died on December 17,2009. In 1976, she won the role of Olivia on the children’s series Sesame Street. In 1985, Hall co-starred on the sitcom 227. Born in Springfield, Ohio, Hall-Amini began her career in Broadway and off-Broadway productions. She was among the original cast members in the 1974 off-Broadway production of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Hall also appeared in productions of “Hair,” “Chicago” and “Eubie!”In addition to stage and television work, according to Wikipedia, Hall-Amini also appeared in several films, including 1992’s “Death Becomes Her” opposite Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep, “Cruel Intentions” (1999), and the 2007 independent feature “I’m Through with White Girls (The Inevitable Undoing of Jay Brooks).”1988, she married actor Kevin Peter Hall after meeting him when he guest-starred on “227.” She was widowed in 1991 after her husband died of pneumonia-related complications after contracting AIDS. At the time of her death, Hall was married to Tamim Amini.

Condolences/cards should be sent to her husband at 10044 Woodley Ave., North Hills, CA, 91343.

Brittany Murphy died early this morning after she went into full cardiac arrest and could not be revived, multiple sources tell TMZ.

She was 32.

A 911 call was made at 8:00 AM from a home in Los Angeles that is listed as belonging to her husband, Simon Monjack, the Los Angeles City Fire Department tells TMZ.

We’re told Murphy was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Murphy starred in such films as “Clueless,” “8 Mile,” and “Don’t Say a Word.”

Story developing …

Earlier in her career, Murphy was accused of having an eating disorder which some believed was tied to a cocaine habit. In 2005 she denied the allegations, saying:

“Wow. No, just for the record I have never tried it in my entire life, I’ve never even seen it, and I don’t leave the house too much, except to go to work,” she said. “My worst vice is caffeine. [The rumor is] really pretty darn far-fetched — it couldn’t be further from the truth. I have known people over the course of my life that have bad problems with drugs, and it’s something really serious.”

A couple of weeks ago SNL mocked Brittany in a Weekend Update sketch. Pretty crazy timing.

HERE ARE SOME CLIPS OF BRITTANY IN 8 MILE

Bengals’ Henry, 26, dies from injuries

By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry has died from injuries suffered in an accident on Wednesday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg (N.C.) Police announced Thursday morning.

Henry suffered severe head injuries after falling out of the rear end of a truck Wednesday afternoon, and remained on life support before finally succumbing to his injuries at 6:36 a.m.

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Henry leaves behind his fiancée, Loleini Tonga, and three children: 3-year old Seini, 2-year old Chris Jr. and 10-month old DeMarcus.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police detectives have been investigating Wednesday’s events, which were described as a “domestic situation” involving Henry and Tonga. According to police, a dispute at a Charlotte-area home led to Tonga leaving the residence in a truck. Henry jumped into the bed of the vehicle and then fell into the street nearly a half mile from the home. When police and paramedics responded to the scene, police said Henry had suffered life-threatening injuries, including severe head trauma.

The Cincinnati Bengals dispatched their head of security to Charlotte Thursday morning to be with the Henry family.

The wrestling community is reeling today after news that WWE superstar Edward “Umaga” Fatu has died.

The former wrestler, known to fans as Umaga, died Friday after suffering a heart attack, CNN reports. The 36-year-old’s wife reportedly found him unconscious with blood coming out of his nose. He was rushed to a hospital in Houston, Tx, but was pronounced dead at around 6:00 pm EST.

In 2007, The News reported that Fatu was one of many superstars who bought prescription drugs from an online pharmacy, which violated the same WWE “Talent Wellness” program. The wrestler had purchased a growth hormone called somatropin in the months following a WWE rule was instituted stating no drugs from online sources.

Fatu was the cousin of Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, and a member of the Anoa’I wrestling family. He was nicknamed the Samoan Bulldozer for his powerful technique and won the WWE Intercontinental title two times. But despite his stellar performances, Umaga was fired by the WWE this summer for once again violating the Wellness Program by not entering rehab.

On its official website, the WWE expressed “its deepest condolences to Mr. Fatu’s family, friends and fans on his tragic passing.”

Fatu had just completed a wrestling tour of Australia alongside WWE legend Hulk Hogan when he passed away.

HERE IS A LIST OF OTHER WRESTLERS WHO ARE NO LONGER WITH US

Frank Gotch (39)–December 16, 1917–Uremic Poisoning

Ed “The Strangler” Louis (76)–August 7, 1966–Died of Natural Causes

Stanislaus Zbyszko (88) –September 23, 1967–Natural Causes

Dory Funk, Sr.: June 3, 1973–Died in his home.

Bobby Shane (Bob Schoenberger)–February 20, 1975–Died when the private airplane he was piloting crashed near Tampa, FL; he was 40. Injured in

the crash were wrestlers Buddy Colt, Austin Idol and Playboy Gary Hart.

Chris Taylor–June 30, 1979–Died of heart failure after a long period of declining health.

Edward “Bearcat” Wright–August 28, 1982–Died from sickle cell anemia

David Von Erich–February 2, 1984–Died of enteritis (acute inflammation of the intestine)

Vince McMahon, Sr.: May 27, 1984–Died from Cancer.

Adrian Adonis: July 4, 1988–Died when a mini van drove off a cliff into a lake.

Bruiser Brody–July 17, 1988–Stabbed to death in a locker room fight with another wrestler.

Haystacks Calhoun: December 7, 1989–Complications from diabetes.

Dick the Bruiser–November 10, 1991–Died of internal bleeding after rupturing a blood vessel while weight lifting.

Buzz Sawyer–February 7, 1992–Died of a drug overdose.

Andre The Giant: January 27, 1993–Died of a heart attack.

Texas Tornado Kerry Von Erich: February 18, 1993–Committed suicide.

Dino Bravo: March 11, 1993–Died of gunshot wounds in his living room.

Joey Marella (WWF Referee/Gorilla Monsoon’s Son): July 4, 1994–Died in motorcycle accident.

Jerry “Crusher” Blackwell–January 22, 1995–Died of complications from injuries sustained in a road accident.

Big John Studd: March 20, 1995–Died of liver cancer.

Ray Stevens–May 3, 1996–Died of heart failure.

Dick Murdoch–June 14, 1996–Died of heart failure.

Sapphire: September 10, 1996–Died from a heart attack.

Dr. Bill Miller–March 24, 1997–Died of heart failure.

Stan Stasiak: June 12, 1997–Died from heart failure.

Dick “Bulldog” Brower–September 15, 1997–Died of heart failure.

Brian Pillman: October 5, 1997–Died from arteriosclerotic heart disease.

Bobo Brazil: January 20, 1998–Died from complications from a stroke.

Louie Spicolli: February 15, 1998–Died from arteriosclerotic heart disease caused by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy syndrome.

Junk Yard Dog: June 2, 1998–Died in a car accident after falling asleep at the wheel.

Sky Low Low [famous midget wrestler]: November 9, 1998–heart failure.

Shohei “Giant” Baba: January 31, 1999–Died of colon cancer.

Rick Williams [Renegade in WCW]: February 23, 1999–Died from suicide.

Ravishing Rick Rude: April 20, 1999–Died from heart attack.

Owen Hart: May 23, 1999–Died from 50 foot fall from ceiling to ring.

Brian Hildebrand (WCW Referee Mark Curtis) (37)–September 8, 1999–Died after a two year battle with stomach cancer.

Gorilla Monsoon (62)–October 5, 1999–Died from a heart attack.

Bobby Duncum, Jr (34)–January 24, 2000–Drug overdose.

Gordon Solie (71)July 27, 2000–Died from cancer.

Toru Tanaka (70)–August 22, 2000–Died from a heart attack.

Yokozuna (34)–October 22, 2000–Died from a heart attack.

Johnny Valentine (72)–April 24, 2001–Natural Causes.

Tex McKenzie –May 31, 2001–Died of an aortic aneurysm.

Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy (40)–July 16, 2001–Blood clot in the heart.

Rhonda Singh (40) –August 2, 2001–Drug Overdose which caused a Heart Attack

Blaise Alexander (WCW race car driver) (25) –October 4, 2001–Complications from a head injury received in a car race.

“Gentleman” Chris Adams (46)–October 7, 2001–Shot to death.

Helen Hart–November 4, 2001–Complications from a seizure.

Russ Haas (27)–December 15, 2001–Heart Attack.

Wahoo McDaniels (63)–April 18, 2002–Died from complications from renal failure and diabetes.

Lou Thesz (86)–April 28, 2002–Died from natural causes after heart surgery earlier in the year.

Randy Anderson (42)–May 5, 2002–Cancer

Big Dick Dudley (36)–May 16, 2002–Kidney failure

“The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith (39) –May 18, 2002–Died from a heart attack.

Rocco Rock of Public Enemy (49)–September 21, 2002–Heart Attack.

“Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig (44)–February 10, 2003–acute cocaine intoxication.

Miss Elizabeth (42)–May 1, 2003–Died from a combination of alcohol and painkillers.

“Classy” Freddie Blassie ((85)–June 2, 2003–Unknown

Stu Hart (88)–October 16, 2003–Natural Causes

Hawk [Michael Hegstrand] (46)– October 19, 2003–Heart Attack

Crash Holly (32)–November 6, 2003–Drug overdose

Larry “Moondog Spot” Booker (51)–November 29, 2003–Collapsed in the ring

Malice/The Wall [Jerry Tuite] (37)–December 6, 2003–acute heart attack

Jack Tunney (69)–January 24, 2004–Heart attack

Hercules “Hernandez” (46)–March 6, 2004–Died in his sleep.

James Dudley (93)– June 1, 2004–Died of natural causes.

Ray “Big Bossman” Traylor (41)–September 22, 2004–Heart failure.

Chris Candido (33)–April 28, 2005–Blood clot and complications due to surgery.

Lord Alfred Hayes (76)–July 21, 2005–Complications from a series of strokes.

Moondog King [Ed "Sailor" White (56)]–August 26, 2005–Complications from Car Accident

Eddie Guerrero (37)–November 13, 2005–Enlarged Heart due to years of drug use.

Johnny Grunge of Public Enemy (39)–February 16, 2006–Complications from Sleep Apnea.

John Tenta [Earthquake] (42)–June 7, 2006–bladder cancer.

Bam Bam Bigelow [Scott Bigelow] (45)–January 19, 2007–Drugs.

Mike Awesome (42)–February 17, 2007–Apparent Suicide.

Bad News Brown (63)–March 6, 2007–Heart Attack

“Big Cat” Ernie Ladd (68)–March 10, 2007–Cancer

“Sensational” Sherri (Martel) (49)–June 15, 2007–Accidental overdose.

Nancy “Women” (Sullivan) Benoit (43)–June 25, 2007–Strangulation. Died at home with Chris Benoit and their son Daniel (Suffocation).

Chris Benoit (40)–June 25, 2007–Suicide by Hanging

Brian “Crush” Adams (43)–August 13, 2007–Overdose of prescription medications.

The Missing Link (Dewey Robertson) (68)–August 16, 2007–Died from cancer

Fabulous Moolah (Lillian Ellison) (84)–November 3, 2007–Complications due to surgery.

Gary Hart (66) March 16, 2008– Heart Attack

Walter “Killer” Kowalski (81) August 30, 2008–Complications from Heart Attack

S.D. Jones (63) October 26, 2008– Stroke

Andrew “Test” Martin (33) March 13, 2009 – accidental overdose of Oxycodone.

“Playboy” Buddy Rose (56) April 28, 2009

Capt Lou Albano (76) October 14, 2009 – unknown at the time

Umaga (36) December 4, 2009 – Heart Attack