Gene “Groove” Allen (1964–2025), Groove B. Chill rapper

Gene “Groove” Allen was a rapper and actor best known for his work in the hip-hop trio Groove B. Chill and for his roles in movies like “House Party” and “House Party 2.” 

Saafir (1970–2024), Bay Area rapper and actor

Saafir was a Bay Area rapper and actor known for his innovative rhythms, collaborations with artists like Xzibit, and acting career, which included the film “Menace II Society.”

DJ Clark Kent (1966–2024), producer who helped discover Jay-Z

DJ Clark Kent was a music insider and hip-hop producer who played a role in the rise of some of the genre’s biggest stars, including Jay-Z and Notorious B.I.G.

Rich Homie Quan (1989–2024), Type of Way rapper

Dequantes Devontay Lamar , better known as Rich Homie Quan, was an Atlanta rapper known for trap hits like “Type of Way” and “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh).”

Fatman Scoop (1968–2024), rap star and hype man 

Fatman Scoop was a DJ, rapper, and hype man best known for his booming voice, which appeared on hits by Missy Elliott and Mariah Carey, as well as his own club mainstay, “Be Faithful.” 

Chino XL (1974–2024), rapper and actor

Chino XL , who once beefed with , was a New Jersey-based rapper and actor best known for his debut album, “Here to Save You All.” 

Brother Marquis (1966–2024), rapper with 2 Live Crew

Mark Ross, aka Brother Marquis, was a mainstay of the Miami rap group 2 Live Crew, whose raunchy lyrics set the stage for anti-censorship battles in the 1980s and ‘90s.

Rico Wade (1972–2024), key player in Atlanta’s hip-hop scene

Rico Wade was a member of the Atlanta-based production trio Organized Noize, a key player in Atlanta’s hip-hop scene, and one of the architects of the “Dirty South” sound.

Mister Cee (1966–2024), influential hip-hop DJ

Mister Cee was an influential hip-hop DJ who spun for Big Daddy Kane and helped discover Notorious B.I.G. 

Keith LeBlanc (1954–2024), Grandmaster Flash, Nine Inch Nails drummer

Keith LeBlanc was a drummer whose work can be heard on early hip-hop records by The Sugarhill Gang and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, as well as on tracks by such artists as Nine Inch Nails and R.E.M.

Lichelle “Boss” Laws (1969–2024), pioneering female rapper 

Lichelle Laws was better known as Boss, a pioneering rapper and the first woman signed to Def Jam Records.

C-Knight (2023), rapper with the Dove Shack 

C-Knight was a rapper with the hip-hop group the Dove Shack, known for their 1995 hit “Summertime in the LBC.” 

The 45 King (1961–2023), producer for Jay-Z, Eminem 

Mark Howard James , better known by his stage name The 45 King , was a hip-hop producer who worked with greats like Jay-Z, Queen Latifah, and Eminem. 

Magoo (1973–2023), rapper with Timbaland

Magoo was a rapper who collaborated with celebrated rapper and producer Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley as the duo Timbaland & Magoo.

Big Pokey (1974–2023), longtime Houston rapper

Big Pokey was a longtime rapper in the “chopped and screwed” scene out of Houston and a founding member of the Screwed Up Click collective.

Dave 'Trugoy the Dove' Jolicoeur (1968–2023), De La Soul cofounder 

David Jolicoeur was a founding member of the pioneering rap trio De La Soul.  He performed under the names “Trugoy the Dove,” “Plug Two,” and simply "Dave.” 

Gangsta Boo (1979–2023), rapper in Three 6 Mafia

Gangsta Boo  was an influential rapper and a former member of the hip hop group Three 6 Mafia.

Grand Daddy I.U. (1968–2022), 1990s rapper and producer

Grand Daddy I.U. was a rapper and producer known for singles including “Something New” and “Sugar Free.”

Don Newkirk (2022), De La Soul collaborator  

Don Newkirk was a New York City musician and producer known for his work with De La Soul and Prince Paul.  

B. Smyth (1994–2022), R&B singer  

B. Smyth was an R&B singer known for his song “Twerkaholic” which received millions of views on YouTube.

Aaron Carter (1987–2022), “Aaron’s Party” pop star

Aaron Carter was a pop star known for songs including “Aaron’s Party,” “That’s How I Beat Shaq.”

Takeoff (1994–2022), rapper with Migos

Takeoff was a rapper with the hip hop trio Migos, known for hits including “Bad and Boujee.”

Coolio (1963–2022), “Gangsta’s Paradise” rapper

Coolio was a rapper and actor who won a Grammy Award for his 1995 No. 1 single “Gangsta’s Paradise.”

Meghan Stabile (1982–2022), jazz revival promoter

Meghan Stabile was a music impresario who blended jazz and hip-hop to introduce jazz to a new, younger audience.

DJ Kay Slay (1966–2022), hip-hop’s “Drama King”

DJ Kay Slay was a hip-hop DJ known for producing mix tapes on which star rappers battled each other.

Archie Eversole (1984–2022), rapper known for “We Ready”

Archie Eversole was an Atlanta-based rapper best known for his 2002 hit “We Ready.”

Snootie Wild (1985–2022), rapper known for “Yayo”

Snootie Wild was a rapper known for songs including his 2013 hit “Yayo.”

Kangol Kid (1966–2021), pioneering rapper with UTFO

Kangol Kid was a rapper with the old school hip-hop group UTFO, known for their 1984 hit “Roxanne, Roxanne.”

Leonard “Hub” Hubbard (2021), longtime bassist for the Roots

Leonard “Hub” Hubbard was the bassist for the acclaimed hip-hop band the Roots from 1992 to 2007.

Young Dolph (1985–2021), rapper known for “Rich Slave”

Young Dolph was a rapper known for music including his Top 5 2020 album “Rich Slave.”

Ricarlo Flanagan (2021), “Last Comic Standing” comedian

Ricarlo Flanagan was a comedian and actor who competed in “Last Comic Standing” in 2015, making it to the semifinals.

Chucky Thompson (1968–2021), acclaimed hip hop and R&B producer

Chucky Thompson was a hip-hop and R&B producer who worked with artists including the Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige.

Biz Markie (1964–2021), rapper known for “Just a Friend”

Biz Markie was a rapper best known for his 1989 hit song, “Just a Friend.”

Gift of Gab (1971–2021), rapper with Blackalicious

Gift of Gab was a rapper with the hip hop duo Blackalicious, known for songs including “Alphabet Aerobics.”

Lil Loaded (2000–2021), rapper known for “6locc 6a6y”

Lil Loaded was a rapper who had a viral hit in 2019 with “6locc 6a6y.”

Shock G (1963–2021), frontman for Digital Underground

Shock G was the frontman for the hip-hop group Digital Underground, whose hits included “The Humpty Dance.”

Black Rob (1969–2021), rapper known for “Whoa”

Black Rob was a rapper best known for his 2000 hit single, “Whoa.”

U-Roy (1942–2021), Jamaican musician who pioneered toasting

U-Roy was a Jamaican musician who pioneered toasting, a precursor to rap music in which a DJ talked over the records he was playing.

Prince Markie Dee (1968–2021), the Fat Boys' rapper

Prince Markie Dee was a rapper with the legendary hip-hop group the Fat Boys who were hugely popular in the 1980's.

Duke Bootee (1951–2021), influential rapper who co-wrote “The Message”

Duke Bootee , born Edward Fletcher, was an early rapper who co-wrote the influential hip-hop song “The Message,” performed by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.

MF DOOM (1971-2020), masked rapper & master lyricist

Daniel Dumile, most widely known by the stage name MF DOOM, was one of the most influential rap lyricists of the 2000s.

John “Ecstasy” Fletcher (1964–2020), rapper with influential group Whodini

John Fletcher was a rapper with the influential early rap group Whodini, who went by the name Ecstasy.

Roy Charles Hammond (2020), legendary soul singer

Roy Charles Hammond was a legendary soul singer known as Roy C. His best-known song was “Shotgun Wedding,” a top 20 R&B hit in 1965.   

Malik B. (1972–2020), founding member of the Roots

Malik B. was a rapper and singer who was a founding member of the Roots.

Lil Marlo (2020), Atlanta rapper

Lil Marlo , born Rudolph Johnson, was an Atlanta rapper who recorded for the Quality Control label.

Jordan Groggs (1988–2020), rapper with Injury Reserve

Jordan Groggs , also known as Stepa J. Groggs, was a rapper with the Arizona hip hop group Injury Reserve.

Huey (Lawrence Franks Jr.) (1989–2020), rapper known for “Pop, Lock & Drop It”

Huey was a rapper from St. Louis known for his 2006 top ten hit “Pop, Lock & Drop It”

Tray Savage (1993–2020), Chicago rapper

Tray Savage, born Kentray Young, was a Chicago-based rapper who was signed to Chief Keef’s Glo Gang record label. He was featured on tracks by Chief Keef and released his first mixtape, “Brain Dead,” in 2013. He had since released several singles. His songs and verses described gang violence and life on Chicago’s South Side.

Andre Harrell (1960–2020), Uptown Records founder discovered Diddy

Andre Harrell was a hip-hop and R&B visionary who started Uptown Records and discovered Sean “Diddy” Combs.