“Remix this shit, put it back out when I die.”
Today it's been exactly thirty years since we lost Scott La Rock (August 27th, 1987). Last month it was announced that rock is now officially America's second favorite, hip hop reigns supreme. Or rather pop has shifted focus slightly. The rap genre just celebrated its 44th birthday earlier this month. And it's been just over forty years since Elvis died, with the anniversary of his death not two weeks ago (August 16th, 1977). Even though there's merely a ten year difference between the passing of The King and the murder of Scott, Elvis' death might as well be prehistory to me in comparison. I'll try and explain. Maybe it's being born in the eighties and I'm sure that egocentric thinking plays a large part. But I think there's a cultural aspect at play as well.
Whereas Elvis epitomized the start of a global rock and roll movement and died at arguably the peak of it, Scott La Rock has only been able to be deified by the hip hop world in hindsight. Elvis had almost a twenty five year run of the ultimate fame and celebrity; Scott was just getting started with his career in music, he didn't live long enough to benefit from that. And though within the hip hop community there is a history of keeping names alive through shout-outs and tributes, murals and t-shirts, the impact is decidedly different between decades and genres. Elvis so permeated the zeitgeist, got such worldwide recognition, and was mythologized to such a degree, that to someone who was born into the pop culture spawned from that, his influence seems almost omnipresent. By contrast, invoking the name Scott La Rock still somehow feels oddly personal, as though you have specialist inside information, rather than mere common knowledge or social trivia.
Of course one of the biggest ways to keep departed artists' music in the ears of listeners is to release more of it. Elvis has never stopped putting out records, making him one of the few whose posthumous career has outlasted potentially generations of his audience. With Scott La Rock you could scarcely cobble together a compilation to this day. Regardless of the amount of unheard content being mined, the problem remains that posthumous projects tend to be fairly bittersweet, pretty much no matter what.
You're hoping that you're about to hear something you haven't before perhaps from one of your favorite artists, though you know it's likely this isn't going to be their best work, so you start to temper expectations accordingly. By the same token, with each previously unreleased record, chances are growing greater and greater that it's dwindling down to the last one you'll ever hear by them. Plus it just can be a weird, almost eerie, feeling when first listening to a song you haven't before that features the voice or sounds of an artist you know to be deceased. Especially if the sound or content of the record seems to comment on their demise or even as if they're somehow speaking to more current events. Not only can this change the intended feel of the work, it also helps perpetuate the numerous conspiracy theories about Illuminati sacrifice or artists faking their deaths. When you continue to see new pictures, hear new stories, watch new video, and listen to new music from someone who died over twenty years ago, even though it's irrational, your brain questions on some level whether this person is actually gone.
The thought of someone unearthing something previously unknown conjures up both the idealist who decides what a noble act this is to honor an artist's legacy, and the skeptic who thinks that there's a reason why these recordings stayed hidden and / or that the motivation is not truly fans of the culture wanting music to be heard but simply suits seeing dollar signs. Obviously to get started on an endeavor like this you have to have enough material, but generally you also need an established fanbase or at least some kind of demographic, a market to whom this product would cater. Then there's the legal and financial aspects. If that all gets solved, the moral and ethical quandary here ultimately stems from trying to decide what the deceased would've wanted. Was this something they planned on releasing? Should this project be put out at all? How much should the original recordings be altered? What to do about guest features, if any? Where is the line where tribute becomes exploitation? These are just some of the questions that need to be asked for nearly every posthumous release.
As many have noted throughout the years, it has evolved into a sub-genre unto itself. In the beginning rapping street kids had more in common with the punk movement's live fast and die young culture than with the gonna get mine by any means code valued among hustlers and gangsters. While the former was typically focused on reckless self harm, the latter was becoming more prominent, and more dangerous to others. And though obviously the body count has risen along with hip hop's popularity, the posthumous album process hasn't changed much in the thirty years since Scott La Rock, the genre's first major death. For example, a year after Mr. Mic Rippa's death, he had his two singles combined into a sort of best of and reissued, not unlike how B-Boy Records consolidated Scott La Rock's work just months after he was shot and killed. Basically within the music biz if you're lucky you get a remastered version, a thorough retrospective, or potentially best of all, new material. If you're not, you get a rush job and / or cash grab filled with recycled bars, needless features, and trash beats. Rap music of course has seen its fair share of both sides, the good and the bad.
With what we can do now technologically, hopefully we're learning from past mistakes. But even though people are keeping it real to the grave in huge numbers and after-death records are bigger now more than ever, the conversation revolving around posthumous hip hop albums online remains stale and stagnant. It's always about how some record doesn't count because it was finished before death and then of course the only ones that ever get mentioned are by the people who get celebrated with tributes every year: Pac, Big, L, maybe a couple others depending on where you're lookin'. A casual fan might think that there's pretty much just Makaveli, “Life After Death”, and “The Big Picture”. In an attempt to combat this style of thinking here's a compiled list of as many posthumous projects as I could find, that fit within the realm of hip hop and related culture. It's also an attempt to try and keep up with all the projects which have been promised to us, including upcoming posthumous debuts such as Bankroll Fresh “In Bank We Trust”, Capital Steez “King Capital”, and possibly any unheard recordings Prodigy might've made, perhaps for his planned “The Book of Heroine” or “The Book of the Dead” albums. Other supposedly forthcoming projects are added in the notes section of the corresponding artist, listed below. And who doesn't wanna see and hear what the careers of some of their favorite artists have been up to since their death?
A List of Hip Hop Affiliated Artists with Posthumous Hip Hop Records:
Artist: DJ Scott La Rock (Scott Monroe Sterling) d. August 27th, 1987
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Boogie Down Productions – Man & His Music 2LP (1988)
Scott La Rock & KRS-One – Memory of a Man and His Music 2LP (1988)
Boogie Down Productions – By All Means Necessary LP (1988)
Notes: The first death in hip hop from an artist with recorded music. “Man & His Music” was the first retrospective. “By All Means Necessary” had already partially been completed at the time of Scott's death, including, ironically, the song “Stop the Violence”. He is credited as “Overseer” on the project.
Artist: Paul C. (Paul McKasty) d. July 17th, 1989
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud – Romeo 12” (1991)
Freddy B & The Mighty Mic Masters – The Main Event LP (2005)
Mikey D & The L.A. Posse – Better Late Than Never LP (2006)
Kev-E-Kev & AK-B – Welcome to Dopeland EP (2013)
Paul C – Welcome to Dopeland Instrumentals EP (2013)
Ultramagnetic MCs – Ain't It Good to You 7” (2014)
Notes: Like Scott La Rock, Paul C. isn't really thought of right away as someone with posthumous rap records, largely due to being on the boards rather than the mic. Despite being one of the first high profile deaths in hip hop, the Mikey D & the L.A. Posse recordings went unreleased for over a decade and a half, reflected in the titled of the album.
Artist: The Mac (Michael Charles Robinson) d. July 22nd, 1991
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Mac Dre – What's Really Going On? EP (1992)
Mac Dre – Back N Da Hood EP (1992)
Mac Dre – Young Black Brotha LP (1993)
Lil Bruce vs. Mac Dre – The Super Sig Tapes LP (2010)
Notes: Mac Dre's mentor, the first artist death outside New York.
Artist: Lord Dumar (Edward Dumar Israel) d. November 18th, 1991
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Class A Felony – Class A Felony LP (1993)
Notes: The first of its kind and another one that is often forgotten, mostly because by the time his debut was released, the MC of the group, Lord Dumar, had already been killed.
Artist: Kid Hood / MC Hood (Troy Anthony Hall) d. Early 1992 [Exact date unknown at this time.]
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): A Tribe Called Quest – Scenario 12” (1992)
Kid Hood – Drop the Bomb Demo (1995)
Notes: The first posthumous rapper many people ever heard, on the Scenario remix. But lesser known is that El-P created a beat for an a capella demo given to him around the time Company Flow was formed. Though the demo remains unreleased, it first debuted on Stretch & Bobbito in the mid-nineties. The version floating around online is from the March 23rd, 1995 show.
Artist: Plan Bee (Jesse Rahim Hall) d. June 29th, 1992
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Plan Bee – Quest for Survival EP (1993)
Notes: Often overlooked, Plan Bee of Hobo Junction's sole EP is the first posthumous project to be released from somewhere other than New York.
Artist: DJ Subroc (Dingilizwe Raheem Dumile) d. April 23rd, 1993
Cause of Death: Hit By a Car
Release(s): KMD – Black Bastards LP (2000)
Notes: Today most known for being MF DOOM's brother, his posthumous work is featured on KMD's infamous shelved sophomore effort, finally released years later. Also the first on our list to die from something unrelated to gun violence. Recently discovered tapes featuring DJ Subroc will hopefully be released at some point.
Artist: Charizma (Charles Hicks) d. December 16th, 1993
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf – My World Premiere 12” (1996)
Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf – Devotion '92 / Devotion '93 12” (2000)
Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf – Big Shots LP (2003)
Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf – Here's a Smirk 12” (2003)
Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf – Big Shots Bonus EP (2004)
Charizma & Peanut Butter Wolf – Circa 1990-1993 Box Set (2014)
Notes: Almost all of Charizma's discography was released posthumously, with an album and EP around the ten year anniversary of his passing, and an anthology that dropped ten years after that.
Artist: Pimp Daddy (Edgar Givens) d. April 18th, 1994
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Pimp Daddy – Pimp'n Ain't E-Z LP (1996)
Notes: The first Southern rapper to have a posthumous album.
Artist: Rockafella / Timbox (Timothy [Last Name Unknown]) d. Mid 1994 [Exact date unknown at this time.]
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Redman – Dare Iz a Darkside LP (1994)
Notes: First time a deceased friend got a track to themselves on someone else's album, on the interlude “Rockafella (R.I.P.)”. Tim was also a human beatbox, hence the nickname Timbox.
Artist: Eazy-E (Eric Wright) d. March 26th, 1995
Cause of Death: A.I.D.S.
Release(s): Eazy-E – Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin' Compton LP (1995)
Notes: Highest profile death to date, the first on the list whose death was caused by health reasons rather than violence or accident.
Artist: Young Ace [Name Unknown] d. 1996 [Exact date unknown at this time.]
Cause of Death: Cancer
Release(s): Young Ace – Step Into My World LP (2012)
Notes: G-funk rapper from up in Tacoma, Washington, perhaps one of the least known artist of the list. First listed to die of cancer. His sole LP shelved after death until it was finally released in Japan more than fifteen years later.
Artist: Tommy Gunn (Thomas Blincoe) d. January 25th, 1996
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Various Artists – Insomnia LP (1996)
Notes: Def Squad member who was killed shortly before the release of this compilation album.
Artist: East (Olivier Kponton) d. February 3rd, 1996
Cause of Death: Motorcycle Crash
Release(s): East – Eastwoo EP (1997)
Notes: French MC, making “Eastwoo” the first international posthumous project.
Artist: Bradley Nowell d. May 25th, 1996
Cause of Death: Overdose
Release(s): Sublime – Sublime LP (1996)
Sublime – What I Got EP (1997)
Sublime – Doin' Time EP (1997)
Sublime – Second-hand Smoke Compilation (1997)
Sublime – Stand By Your Van Live LP (1998)
Sublime – 3 Ring Circus Live LP (2013)
Notes: More of a hip hop fan and affiliate than actual rapper, first listed to die from drugs.
Artist: Seagram (Seagram Miller) d. July 31st, 1996
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Seagram – Souls on Ice LP (1997)
Notes: Died protecting his friend Gangsta P (Anton Barret Sr.) from gunfire. Gangsta P would himself be shot down, in 2012 by Vallejo PD.
Artist: 2Pac / Makaveli (Lesane Parish Crooks / Tupac Amaru Shakur) d. September 13th, 1996
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Makaveli – The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory LP (1996)
2Pac – R U Still Down? LP (1997)
2Pac – Still I Rise w/ Outlawz LP (1999)
2Pac – Until the End of Time LP (2001)
Makaveli & Daz Dillinger – Don't Go 2 Sleep EP (2001)
2Pac – Better Dayz LP (2002)
2Pac – Tupac: Resurrection OST (2003)
2Pac – 2Pac Live Live LP (2004)
2Pac – Loyal to the Game LP (2004)
2Pac – Live at the House of Blues Live LP (2005)
2Pac – Pac's Life LP (2006)
2Pac – Beginnings: The Lost Tapes LP (2007)
Notes: The man who made the posthumous album a sub-genre. The hundreds of songs recorded in a five year span amidst touring and filming only adds to the mythology.
Artist: Sess (Herbie Ford Foster IV) d. October 10th, 1996
Cause of Death: Car Crash
Release(s): Abstract Pack – Bousta Set It LP (1997)
Notes: The final track on “Bousta Set It” is dedicated to Sess by the way of a quick sound collage outro containing some of his bars.
Artist: Yaki Kadafi (Yafeu Akiyele Fula) d. November 10th, 1996
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Yaki Kadafi – Son Rize Vol. 1 LP (2004)
Notes: Between the Pac and Big murders. Outlawz member Yaki Kadafi was killed not even two months after Shakur's death, adding fuel to the conspiracy that was already brewing.
Artist: Bloodshed (Derek Michael Armstead) d. March 2nd, 1997
Cause of Death: Car Crash
Release(s): Children of the Corn – The Collector's Edition Mixtape (2003)
Notes: Most known nowadays for being fellow COTC member Cam'Ron's cousin, his death was soon overshadowed by Biggie's a week later.
Artist: The Notorious B.I.G. / Biggie Smalls (Christopher George Latore Wallace) d. March 9th, 1997
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): The Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death 2LP (1997)
The Notorious B.I.G. – Born Again LP (1999)
The Notorious B.I.G. – Duets LP (2005)
The Notorious B.I.G. – Come On 12” (2008)
The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready to Die: The O.G. Edition Mixtape (2008)
The Notorious B.I.G. – Notorious OST (2009)
The Notorious B.I.G. & Faith Evans – The King & I LP (2017)
Notes: One of the most revered rappers dropped one of the highest acclaimed double albums mere months after his death. Subsequent odds and ends haven't helped much, but they haven't hurt his legacy any either.
Artist:
G (James Luther Means) d. March 28th,
1997
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): G – Northern Californian EP (2016)
Notes: Little known Sacramento rapper who put out one cassingle, titled Stay Outta' My Way.
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): G – Northern Californian EP (2016)
Notes: Little known Sacramento rapper who put out one cassingle, titled Stay Outta' My Way.
Artist:
Killa Black (Todd Samuel Muchita) d. April 24th,
1997
Cause of Death: Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound
Release(s):
Mobb Deep – The Infamous Mobb Deep 2LP (2014)
Notes: Havoc's
older brother, immortalized in true story depicted in the song
Temperature's Rising.
Artist: Fat Pat (Patrick Lamark Hawkins) d. February 3rd, 1998
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Fat Pat – Ghetto Dreams LP (1998)
Fat Pat & The Wreckshop Family – Throwed In Da Game LP (1998)
DJ Screw & The Screwed Up Click Presents Dead End Alliance – Screwed For Life LP (1998)
Fat Pat – Since The Gray Tapes LP (2004)
Fat Pat – Since The Gray Tapes Vol. 2 LP (2005)
Fat Pat – I Had a Ghetto Dream LP (2008)
Notes: The first time a debut posthumous album would be released this soon after death (six weeks later).
Artist: Scientifik (Dinitry A. Behrmann) d. June 4th, 1998
Cause of Death: Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound
Release(s): Scientifik – The Most Blunted LP (1998)
Note: The first suicide listed, although this ruling by police has been questioned by certain family members of Behrmann. His posthumous album is his second album but actually it's more like a first album (that had been previously shelved) or even a demo tape. Recorded in '92, prior to his official debut in '94.
Artist: Fo' Clips Eclipse / Young Malcolm (Elijah B. Saleem) d. October 25th, 1998
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Fo' Clips Eclipse – Just Be Thankful LP (1995)
Notes: Little known g-funk work from a gangster gunned down.
Artist: Big Steve / Granpappy Mafioso (Steven Aniekan Eduok) d. January 11th, 1999
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Big Steve – My Testimony LP (1999)
Notes: Screwed Up Click had already lost a couple members and associates up to this point, with Tee Lee and Pat Lemmons both shot in '97, and then Big Rue was gunned down along with Big Steve.
Artist: Big L (Lamont Coleman) d. February 15th, 1999
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Shyheim – Manchild LP (1999)
D.I.T.C. – D.I.T.C. LP (2000)
Big L – The Big Picture LP (2000)
Children of the Corn – The Collector's Edition Mixtape (2003)
DJ Ron G – Da Thriller Blends Mixtape (2003)
D.I.T.C – Unreleased Bootleg (2004)
J-Love – In Memory of... Vol. 2 Mixtape (2004)
Big L – Harlem's Finest: A Freestyle History Parts I & II Bootleg (2006)
Big L – The Archives Bootleg (2006)
Various Artists – Classic Whites Vol. 1: The Illest White Labels LP (2006)
Herb McGruff – The Demo EP (2008)
Lord Finesse – Rare Selections Vol. I EP (2008)
Lord Finesse – Rare Selections Vol. II EP (2008)
Lord Finesse – Rare Selections Vol. III EP (2008)
Big L – Gorilla in a Phonebooth 12” (2010)
Big L – The Danger Zone LP (2011)
Big L – The Devil's Son EP (2017)
Notes: Though aspects of it were rushed or botched, “The Big Picture” did succeed at exposing L's work to a larger audience. His career and appreciation for his work continues to reach new levels with the occasional surfacing of additional unheard material.
Artist: Freaky Tah (Raymond Rogers) d. March 28th, 1999
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Lost Boyz – LB IV Life LP (1999)
Notes: Though more hypeman than MC, his death marked the end of Lost Boyz as a group.
Artist:
Kwesro (Rohan Whittingham) d. April 23rd,
1999
Cause of Death: Unknown
Release(s): Nefarius – Tough
Dumplin LP (2000)
Notes: The shorter cassette version of Tough
Dumplin (ver. 1.0) had been released in the year prior to his death.
Artist: Bugz (Karnail Paul Pitts) d. May 21st, 1999
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Bugz & DJ Butter – The One Man Mob Mixtape (2004)
Notes: D12 Member, first on the list from the Mid-West.
Artist: Slang Ton (Salih Ibn Al Bayyinah Scaife) d. September 5th, 1999
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Outsidaz – The Bricks LP (2000)
Notes: Member of the New Jersey group Outsidaz, though he only appeared on a couple songs.
Artist: Big Pun (Christopher Rios) d. February 7th, 2000
Cause of Death: Heart Attack
Release(s): Big Pun – Yeeeah Baby LP (2000)
Big Pun – Endangered Species LP (2001)
Big Pun – Bronx Legends Never Die LP (2014)
Notes: As a whole, Pun's posthumous work has not been great, however dedicated fans will continue to check out his projects in hopes of hearing just one new quality verse.
Artist:
Yusef “Afloat” Muhammad d. May 21st,
2000
Cause of Death: Unknown
Release(s): The Nonce – Advanced
Regression EP (2005)
The Nonce – The Right State of Mind EP
(2005)
The Nonce – World Ultimate Anthology LP (2005)
The
Nonce – Unreleased & Rarities EP (2016)
Notes: Afloat was
found by the side of Freeway 110 but the truth about what happened
remains unknown.
Artist: Big Ed the Assassin (Edward Lee Knight) d. July 8th, 2001
Cause of Death: Cancer
Release(s): Big Ed the Assassin – Edward Lee Knight 1971-2001 LP (2001)
Notes: TRU member, whose final album was released six weeks after his death.
Artist: Too Poetic / Grym Reaper (Anthony Ian Berkeley) d. July 15th, 2001
Cause of Death: Cancer
Release(s): Gravediggaz – Nightmare in A-Minor LP (2002)
Too Poetic – Droppin' Signal EP (2015)
Notes: A week after Big Ed, Gravediggaz member Too Poetic also dies of cancer. Droppin' Signal was originally a '89 promo only LP.
Artist: E Moneybags (Eric Smith) d. July 16th, 2001
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): E Moneybags – I'm the Wrong Nigga to Fuck Wit' Mixtape (2003)
Notes: Shot and killed a day after Poetic's death.
Artist: Aaliyah (Aaliyah Dana Haughton) d. August 25th, 2001
Cause of Death: Plane Crash
Release(s): Aaliyah – I Care 4 U LP (2002)
Notes: Hip hop affiliate engaged to Dame Dash, first death due to plane crash.
Artist: Left Eye (Lisa Lopes) d. April 25th, 2002
Cause of Death: Car Crash
Release(s): TLC – 3D LP (2002)
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes – Eye Legacy LP (2009)
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes – Reigndrops in My LeftEye EP (2013)
Notes: First female MC on the list, her death came exactly eight months after rap associate Aaliyah's.
Artist: Big Mello (Curtis Donnell Davis) d. June 15th, 2002
Cause of Death: Car Crash
Release(s): Big Mello – The Gift LP (2002)
Big Mello – Done Deal LP (2003)
Notes: After earlier Screwed Up Click members met violent ends, DJ Screw died due to an overdose in 2000. Mello's death was the first accident out of the clique.
Artist:
Jam Master Jay (Jason William Mizell) d. October 30th,
2002
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Run-D.M.C. – Live at
Montreux 2001 Live LP (2007)
Notes: One of the last live shows
recorded with JMJ.
Artist: Sabotage (Mauro Mateus dos Santos) d. January 24th, 2003
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Sabotage – Sabotage LP (2016)
Notes: First posthumous material outta South America.
Artist: Lil Skandalaz (Nicholas J. Brown) d. January 25th, 2004
Cause of Death: Car Crash
Release(s): Lil Skandalaz – Survival of Da Spittest LP (2004)
Notes: Lil Skandalaz's debut was released by his mother seven months after he died. She oversaw everything from beat selection to promotion.
Artist: King Freako (Frederick Gaines) d. February 16th, 2004
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): King Freako – Story of a Young G LP (2005)
Rydah J. Klyde & King Freako – El Pueblo Children LP (2005)
Notes: His sophomore effort dropped less than a week after he died.
Artist: Mac Dre (Andre Louis Hicks) d. November 1st, 2004
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Mac Dre & Mac Mall – Da U.S. Open LP (2005)
Mac Dre & Da'unda'dogg – 15 Years Deep LP (2005)
Mac Dre – Judge Dre Mathis Bootleg (2005)
Mac Dre – Uncut LP (2006)
Mac Dre & DJ Backside – 16 Wit' Dre LP (2006)
Mac Dre & DJ Backside – 16 Wit' Dre, Vol. 2 LP (2006)
Mac Dre & J-Diggs – DreDiggs LP (2007)
Mac Dre & Jay Tee – Everybody Ain't Able LP (2007)
Mac Dre – Starters in the Game LP (2007)
Mac Dre – Pill Clinton LP (2007)
Mac Dre & Andre Nickatina – A Tale of Two Andres LP (2008)
Mac Dre – For the Streets LP (2008)
Mac Dre – Dre Day: July 5th, 1970 LP (2008)
Mac Dre – What It Thizz? LP (2008)
Mac Dre & Da'unda'dogg – Maccin' & Doggin' LP (2009)
Lil Bruce vs. Mac Dre – The Super Sig Tapes LP (2010)
Mac Dre – The Musical Life of Mac Dre, Vol. 1: The Strictly Business Years Compilation (2013)
Mac Dre – The Musical Life of Mac Dre, Vol. 2: True to the Game Years Compilation (2013)
Mac Dre – The Musical Life of Mac Dre, Vol. 3: The Young Black Brotha Years Compilation (2014)
Notes: After losing his artist King Freako at the top of the year, Thizz Ent. CEO, label head and star, Mac Dre's prolific run is also cut short. Icon of The Bay now more so than ever, bests even 2Pac in terms of his officially released post-death discography.
Artist: Ol' Dirty Bastard / Ason Unique / Big Baby Jesus / Dirt McGirt / Osirus (Russell Tyrone Jones) d. November 13th, 2004
Cause of Death: Overdose
Release(s): Ol' Dirty Bastard – Osirus: The Official Mixtape Mixtape (2005)
Ol' Dirty Bastard – Free to Be Dirty! Live Live LP (2005)
Ol' Dirty Bastard – A Son Unique LP (2009)
Ol' Dirty Bastard – Message to the Other Side LP (2009)
Wu-Tang Clan – Once Upon a Time in Shaolin... 2LP (2015)
Notes: The manic energy behind one of rap's most unique voices, silenced by accidental overdose.
Artist: Baby Chill (Borne Christoper Humbert) d. February 10th, 2005
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Blaque Spurm – Spurmacidal Tendencies LP (2008)
The Funk Family – Everything'll Befyne LP (2008)
Baby Chill – Wake Up Call LP (2016)
Blaque Spurm – Spurmacidal Tendencies Vol. 1 EP (2017)
Notes: One of the groups Baby Chill was in, Blaque Spurm, put out a couple singles in the mid-nineties but that was it, until a full album of material got put out almost fifteen years after the fact. Meanwhile, his debut solo album had been recorded in '93 but wasn't released officially for nearly another quarter of a century.
Artist: Blade Icewood (Darnell Quincy Lyndsey) d. April 19th, 2005
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Blade Icewood – Blood, Sweat, & Tears LP (2005)
Notes: Having already survived one attempt on his life and confined to a wheelchair, Detroit rapper Blade Icewood would not be as fortunate the second time around.
Artist: Fat Tone (Anthony Watkins) d. May 23rd, 2005
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Fat Tone – It's Nothin' EP (2006)
Fat Tone – Da Saga Continues LP (2008)
Fat Tone – Still I Rise LP (2014)
Notes: Fat Tone was killed retaliation for the murder of fellow rapper, Mac Dre. According to the FBI, Tone was not involved. However, he also waited to squash the rumors about his possible involvement in Mac Dre's death, and some say was playing that up and to his advantage.
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Fat Tone – It's Nothin' EP (2006)
Fat Tone – Da Saga Continues LP (2008)
Fat Tone – Still I Rise LP (2014)
Notes: Fat Tone was killed retaliation for the murder of fellow rapper, Mac Dre. According to the FBI, Tone was not involved. However, he also waited to squash the rumors about his possible involvement in Mac Dre's death, and some say was playing that up and to his advantage.
Artist: J Dilla / Jay Dee (James Dewitt Yancey) d. February 10th, 2006
Cause of Death: TTP
Release(s): J Dilla – Donuts EP: J. Rocc's Picks EP (2006)
J Dilla – The Shining LP (2006)
J Dilla – Ruff Draft LP (2007)
J Dilla – Jay Love Japan LP (2007)
J Dilla – Jay Stay Paid LP (2009)
J Dilla – Donut Shop EP (2010)
J Dilla – Dillatroit EP (2012)
J Dilla – Rebirth of Detroit LP (2012)
J Dilla – The Lost Scrolls Vol. 1 EP (2013)
J Dilla – Lost Tapes Reels + More EP (2013)
J Dilla – Diamonds & Ice EP (2013)
J Dilla – Give 'Em What They Want EP (2014)
J Dilla – Dillatronic LP (2015)
J Dilla – The Diary LP (2016)
Notes: Following the historic deathbed album Donuts, Ma Dukes has made sure the world knows just how much music her son created in his short life.
Artist: Big Hawk / H.A.W.K. (John Edward Hawkins) d. May 1st, 2006
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): H.A.W.K. – Endangered Species LP (2007)
Lil Keke & H.A.W.K – Still Wreckin' LP (2008)
Notes: The Screwed Up Click curse continues. And it doesn't stop here. Following Hawk is Big Moe who died of an overdose / drug induced heart attack, but D-Drew, Money Clip-D, D-Pac, and most recently, Mr. 3-2 all died by the gun, as Hawk did.
Artist: Stack Bundles (Rayquon Elliott) d. June 11th, 2007
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Jim Jones & Byrd Gang – M.O.B.: The Album LP (2008)
Stack Bundles – Jackin' For Beats Mixtape (2009)
Stack Bundles – Salute Me Mixtape (2010)
Notes: Debut album “The Rock's Star” on the way.
Artist: Big Moe (Kenneth Doniell Moore) d. October 14th, 2007
Cause of Death: Drug Induced Heart Attack
Release(s): Big Moe – Unfinished Business LP (2008)
Notes: Too much codeine led to a heart attack that led to a coma, which then killed this Screwed Up Click member a week later.
Artist: Pimp C (Chad Lamont Butler) d. December 4th, 2007
Cause of Death: Overdose
Release(s): UGK – UGK 4 Life LP (2009)
Pimp C – The Naked Soul of Sweet James Jones LP (2010)
Pimp C – Still Pimping LP (2011)
Pimp C – Long Live the Pimp LP (2015)
Notes: The biggest death out of the South to date, an unfortunate situation, halfway between illness and overdose.
Artist: KL (Kenny Lou) d. March 28th, 2008
Cause of Death: Asthma
Release(s): Kamakazee – Head On LP (2014)
Notes: Head On is a promo only LP from 1995, leaked online in 2014.
Artist: Camu Tao (Tero Smith) d. May 28th, 2008
Cause of Death: Cancer
Release(s): Central Services – Forever Frozen in Television Time EP (2010)
Camu Tao – King of Hearts LP (2010)
Notes: Fellow member of The Weathermen, El-P dedicated his album “Cancer 4 Cure” to Camu.
Artist: Jax (Chris Thurston) d. November 3rd, 2008
Cause of Death: Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Release(s): Soundsci – Dig For Victory EP (2009)
Señor Kaos – Walk Stoftly and Carry a Big Stick Mixtape (2009)
Manchild – Inside Volume 2 Mixtape (2010)
Count Bass D & DJ Pocket – Hartsfield JAXson LP (2010)
Clan Destined – Self Titled LP (2011)
Notes: Binkis Recs member who actually died onstage. Didn't seem to have much unreleased at the time of his death but has popped up multiple times with the occasional guest verse. The Count Bass D album Hartsfield JAXson is dedicated to him.
Artist: Party Arty (Arthur Sheridan) d. December 4th, 2008
Cause of Death: Unknown
Release(s): Ray West & Party Arty – Pianos in the Projects EP (2011)
A.G. & Party Arty – Live From the Balcony LP (2016)
Notes: At the time of his death due to unspecified health complications, it seemed that D-Flow's partner in The Ghetto Dwellas didn't have much in the vaults. However, bits and pieces have trickled out, enough to form a couple song EP with producer Ray West and later a brief joint album with A.G., who had put P-80 on his and Showbiz's sophomore LP, Goodfellas.
Artist: Tony D (Anthony Depula) d. April 4th, 2009
Cause of Death: Car Crash
Release(s): Dungeon Lordz – Straight Out the Dungeon EP (2015)
Tony D Presents... Black Prince & Aziatic – Roger Gardens EP (2016)
Tony D – Beats From the Golden Era LP (2016)
Blaque Spurm – Spurmacidal Tendencies Vol. 1 EP (2017)
Notes: MC turned producer out of Trenton, NJ.
Artist: Killa Sha / Prince A.D. (Adam Shannon Larkin) d. January 18th, 2010
Cause of Death: Diabetes
Release(s): Killa Sha – Lumi the Great LP (2011)
Killa Sha & DJ Peter Parker – Sha Wuminati Mixtape (2017)
Notes: New album “The Shepard” on the way.
Artist: Nujabes (Jun Seba) d. February 26th, 2010
Cause of Death: Car Crash
Release(s): Nujabes – Spiritual State LP (2011)
Notes: First posthumous record out of Asia.
Artist: Guru / MC Keithy E. (Keith Edward Elam) d. April 19th, 2010
Cause of Death: Cancer
Release(s): MC Keithy E. – Demo EP (2011)
Notes: The Gang Starr MC's local Boston demo before his Guru moniker, recorded in '86.
Artist:
Eyedea (Michael David Larsen) d. October 16th,
2010
Cause of Death: Overdose
Release(s): Sixth Sense –
Grand's Sixth Sense LP (2011)
Face Candy – Waste Age Teenland LP
(2001)
Eyedea – The Many Stories of Mikey LP (2015)
Notes:
The Sixth Sense project is an Eyedea & Abilities demo made prior
to their debut album, while Face Candy's album is made up of live
freestyling.
Artist: Nate Dogg (Nathaniel Dwayne Hale) d. March 15th, 2011
Cause of Death: Stroke
Release(s): Suga Free & Pimpin' Young – Blood Makes You Related, Loyalty Makes You Family EP (2013)
Warren G – Regulate...G Funk Era, Pt. II EP (2015)
Notes: New album “Nate Dogg: It's a Wonderful Life” on the way.
Artist: Gil Scott-Heron d. May 27th, 2011
Cause of Death: A.I.D.S.
Release(s): Gil Scott-Heron – Nothing New LP (2014)
Notes: Spoken word artist, poet, and proto-rapper.
Artist: Amy Winehouse d. July 23rd, 2011
Cause of Death: Alcohol Poisoning
Release(s): Amy Winehouse – Lioness: Hidden Treasures LP (2011)
Amy Winehouse – At the BBC Live LP (2012)
Amy Winehouse – Amy OST (2015)
Notes: A hip hop affiliate whose 2011 album contained features from NaS and Salaam Remi.
Artist:
LSD (Lord Spencer Nobles) d. May 25th,
2012
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Nick Wiz – Cellar Sounds Volume 4 2LP Compilation (2015)
Nick Wiz – Cellar Sounds Volume 6 2LP Compilation (2016)
Nick Wiz – Cellar Sounds Volume 5 2LP Compilation (2017)
Notes: Lesser known New Jersey rapper who recorded multiple tracks with producer Nick Wiz and appeared on Cellar Sounds Volume 1 prior to his death.
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Nick Wiz – Cellar Sounds Volume 4 2LP Compilation (2015)
Nick Wiz – Cellar Sounds Volume 6 2LP Compilation (2016)
Nick Wiz – Cellar Sounds Volume 5 2LP Compilation (2017)
Notes: Lesser known New Jersey rapper who recorded multiple tracks with producer Nick Wiz and appeared on Cellar Sounds Volume 1 prior to his death.
Artist: Cadence (Seth Boyd) d. March 30th, 2013
Cause of Death: Unknown
Release(s): Glad2mecha & ILL Treats – Hello' LP (2014)
Docta Bec – No Way Out LP (2014)
MG Gost – Waking Walk LP (2015)
ILL Treats, Audessey, & Oxygen LP (2016)
Notes: MC / producer from the group Raw Produce.
Artist: Lil Snupe (Addarren Ross) d. June 20th, 2013
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Lil Snupe – R.N.I.C. 2: Jonesboro LP (2015)
Meek Mill – Dreamchasers 4 Mixtape (2016)
Notes: Meek Mill protégé gunned down a couple months after his debut.
Artist: L'A Capone (Leonard Anderson) d. September 26th, 2013
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): L'A Capone – King L'A Mixtape (2013)
L'A Capone – Separate Myself Mixtape (2014)
RondoNumbaNine & L'A Capone – Squad Shit Only Mixtape (2014)
Notes: One of many deaths coming out of the Chicago scene, but one of few who was sitting on enough material for multiple projects.
Artist: Lord Infamous (Ricky Dunigan) d. December 20th, 2013
Cause of Death: Heart Attack
Release(s): Lord Infamous – Anarchy EP (2016)
Notes: Three 6 Mafia co-founder. Member Koopsta Knicca died from a stroke less than two years later.
Artist: Doe B (Glenn Lamar Thomas) d. December 27th, 2013
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Doe B – D.O.A.T. 3 Mixtape (2014)
Notes: A week after Lord Infamous' heart attack. Debut album “No Life After Death” on the way.
Artist: Speaker Knockerz (Derek McAllister) d. March 6th, 2014
Cause of Death: Unknown
Release(s): Speaker Knockerz – Married to the Money II Mixtape (2014)
Notes: Died suddenly and mysteriously just as he was starting to gain traction online. Foul play was not suspected, though it isn't known whether it was health, drug related, or otherwise.
Artist: Fish [Name Unknown] d. September of 2014
Cause of Death: Suicide
Release(s): Elliot Fresh & Fish – Mirrors LP (2016)
Notes: Manchester UK producer.
Artist: Kevlaar 7 (Kevin Cross) d. December 23rd, 2014
Cause of Death: Blood Disorder
Release(s): Kevlaar 7 – A Beautiful Soul LP (2016)
Notes: MC / DJ perhaps most known for being the brother of Bronze Nazareth.
Artist: The Jacka (Dominick Newton / Shaheed Akbar) d. February 2nd, 2015
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Berner & The Jacka – Drought Season 3 LP (2015)
The Jacka & Husalah – Mash Out Babylon LP (2015)
Notes: The biggest setback to The Bay since Mac Dre over ten years prior.
Artist: Chinx (Lionel Pickens) d. May 17th, 2015
Cause of Death: Shot
Release(s): Chinx – Welcome to JFK LP (2015)
Chinx – Legends Never Die LP (2016)
Notes: Chinx's murder may be connected to the killing of Stack Bundles, as the two were friends and part of the same crew.
Artist: Sean Price / Ruck (Sean Duval Price) d. August 8th, 2015
Cause of Death: Asthma
Release(s): Sean Price – Songs in the Key of Price Mixtape (2015)
Sean Price – Imperius Rex LP (2017)
Notes: One of the only to not have his vision sullied by those around him who meant well. This is what happens when it's done right, a celebration of a life lived, not focus on a life gone. Nowhere to be found are the sappy missing you tributes or the constant barrage of rest in peace shout outs that do nothing but take up space and bring you down. The guests feel right at home, there isn't an an attempt at passing off remixes or recycled bars as unreleased, it's purely genuine through and through. Others might do well if they take notice, perhaps this sub-genre is evolving after all.
Artist: Phife Dawg (Malik Izaak Boyce-Taylor) d. March 22nd, 2016
Cause of Death: Diabetes
Release(s): A Tribe Called Quest – We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service LP (2016)
Notes: It definitely helped to cushion the impact of Phife's death to find out right after he died that he did so while completing a secret final Tribe album, which quickly became one of the highest profile and most well received posthumous albums. New solo album “Forever” on the way.
Artist: Shawty Lo (Carlos Walker) d. September 21st, 2016
Cause of Death: Car Crash
Release(s): Shawty Lo – R.I.C.O. LP (2017)
Notes: Snap rapper outta Atlanta, member of D4L, and CEO of D4L Records.
When done right, a posthumous discography can add perspective to help change the way you see an artist. But just try to think of how many more classics we would've had and how much accidents, illnesses, and especially violence, has helped to rob us all of that. It's truly unfathomable.
So what's the best project listed? The worst? Your personal favorite? How many have you heard? How many did you not even know about? Anything you're aware of that wasn't included and should've been? Lemme know here.
Peace,
– The Big Sleep