Hip Hop Deaths

MCA of the Beastie Boys Dies

Adam “MCA” Yauch, a founding member of the pioneering rap band Beastie Boys, died Friday after a nearly three-year battle with cancer, the band’s publicist said. A torrent of Twitter messages from entertainers lauded Yauch, 47, as a visionary musical artist, filmmaker and humanitarian. “He stood for integrity as an artist. What a loss. He was a very good man,” said actor Ben Stiller. Yauch revealed in 2009 that he had a cancerous tumor in a salivary gland. As a result, the band canceled its scheduled concerts and delayed the release of an album. “I started feeling this little lump in my throat, like you would feel if you have swollen glands or something like that, like you’d feel if you have a cold, so I didn’t really think it was anything,” he said then in a video to fans. Yauch, a self-taught bassist and vocalist, underwent surgery to treat the tumor that year. The Beastie Boys burst on the music scene in 1986 with the album “Licensed to Ill,” which included hits such as “(You Gotta) Fight for the Right (to Party”), an anthem to teen angst; “Brass Monkey” and “No Sleep Till Brooklyn.” The group came together for the first time to play at Yauch’s 17th birthday party, its publicist said. Yauch was the oldest of the Beastie Boys, an only child who grew up in Brooklyn Heights, according to Current Biography magazine. The band, which also featured Michael “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Adrock” Horovitz, sold more than 40 million records.

Yauch was unable to attend the band’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last month. Horovitz read Yauch’s acceptance letter. Yauch converted to Buddism in the 1990s after visiting Nepal and hearing the Dalai Lama speak in Arizona, he told the Buddhist magazine Shambhala sun in 1995.

“It just seemed like Buddhism, especially Tibetan Buddhism — because that’s mainly what I’ve been exposed to — was a real solid organization of teachings to point someone in the right direction,” the magazine quoted him as saying. “Some real well thought out stuff. But I don’t know, like, every last detail about Buddhism.” The conversion led him to have second thoughts about the bawdy party-boy image the band portrayed in the 1980s, he told the Boston Globe in 1998. “I didn’t realize how much harm I was doing back then and I think a lot of rap artists probably don’t realize it now,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. “I said a lot of stuff fooling around back then, and I saw it do a lot of harm. I had kids coming up to me and saying, ‘Yo, I listen to your records while I’m smoking dust, man.’ And I’d say, ‘Hey, man, we’re just kidding. I don’t smoke dust.’ People need to be more aware of how they’re affecting people.”  He founded the Milarepa Fund, which helped raise money for the effort, and organized charity concerts involving the Beastie Boys and other acts, including the first Tibetan Freedom Concert in 1996. Several similar concerts followed. Yauch founded Oscilloscope Laboratories, which was active in independent video distribution. Its founder directed the basketball documentary “Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot,” released in 2008. “Adam was incredibly sweet and the most sensitive artist, who I loved dearly,” said music impresario Russell Simmons. “I was always inspired by his work. He will be missed by all of us.” Yauch is survived by his wife, Dechen, and a daughter, according to the band’s publicist.

Vinson Hardimon charged with the murder of Slim Dunkin

Vinson Hardimon, also known by the alias “Young Vito,” was indicted and charged with murder over the shooting death of rapper Slim Dunkin.

Vito was formerly charged with felony murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Vito is charged with murdering Mario “Slim Dunkin” Hamilton during a recording session in an Atlanta studio on December 16 2011.

According to reports, Dunkin was recording in the the booth, when an argument ensued.

Young Vito entered the booth at some point and the pair began to tussle.

The altercation then escalated when Young Vito shot Slim Dunkin in the chest amidst the struggle.

Slim Dunkin was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

No future court dates have been set for Young Vito.

“The Notorious B.I.G” Gone 15 years Today

Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls (after a character in the 1975 film Let’s Do It Again), Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White (after the main character of the 1990 film King of New York). Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. When Wallace released his debut album Ready to Die in 1994, he became a central figure in the East Coast hip-hop scene and increased New York’s visibility at a time when West Coast artists were more common in the mainstream. The following year, Wallace led his childhood friends to chart success through his protégé group, Junior M.A.F.I.A. While recording his second album, Wallace was heavily involved in the East Coast/West Coast hip-hop feud, dominating the scene at the time.

On March 9, 1997, Wallace was killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. His double-disc set Life After Death, released 15 days later, hit #1 on the U.S. album charts and was certified Diamond in 2000 (one of the few hip hop albums to receive this certification).

Nate Dogg’s Manager says all his rapper friends turned their backs on him

West Coast native Nate Dogg received medical treatment from CareMeridian Rehab Center in Orange County, California in the final stages of his life. But, despite having no issues with the service or claims of mistreatment, Nate’s camp apparently never paid the bill and is now facing a 300K lawsuit. After Nate Dogg suffered his second stroke in 2008, he moved into CareMeridian, where patients with serious injuries get the rehabilitation they need. According to TMZ, the singer received more than 290,000 dollars in treatment from 2008 to 2010, as per CareMeridian’s claims. And, one of Nate’s managers, David Michery guaranteed they would get compensated. Now CareMeridian is suing Nate Dogg’s estate, alleging the balance was never paid, even after the death of Nate Dogg in 2011. As a result, the court has entered a default judgement against Nate’s camp, including manager Michery, ordering them to shell out $293,512.52.

Michery told TMZ he stepped up to the plate to pay the bill because none of Nate’s famous “rapper friends” offered to help out. Think about all the big huge songs Nate sung the hook on and you know who they are talking about.

“I was the only person who would come forward because I didn’t want him to die,” he explained. “Me and Nate have 20 years history together and I did what everyone should have done and tried to save his life … not let him get kicked out in the streets and die.” Michery says he intends to pay the hefty bill by releasing several never-before-heard Nate Dogg tracks. When asked if he regrets taking responsibility for Nate’s medical bill, Michery said, “Not at all. I would do it again in a minute. I just wish that the people he looked out for all these years and the people who claim to love him so much would help out.” TMZ spoke with Warren G, who appeared on “Regulate” with Nate, and in his own defense said, “I rode with Nate ’til the end … I did what I could do for him with other things financially. If I was able to pay for his hospital bill, I would have. I made several calls to numerous people for help. I love Nate … he’s my brother.” —Christian Mordi

$25,000 reward for information Offered on the M-Bone murder

Inglewood, CA police announced that they are now offering a $25,000 reward for information that can lead to an arrest and a conviction for the murder of Montae “M-Bone” Talbert, a member of the group Cali Swag District. M-Bone was gunned down in May of 2011 as he sat in a parked vehicle, in front of a liquor store. Family members of the slain dancer/artist joined the Inglewood police department in handing out the reward fliers around the 400 block of North La Brea, where he was shot. Group creator and 319 Music Group CEO Wytony “Big Wy” Dillon issued a statement in regards to the reward:

“It’s a good thing to try to add some help to the case. Some of the leads didn’t materalize like they [the Inglewood Police Department] thought they would. Hopefully this will help bring justice to Montae and bring closure for his family. This kid had no gang affiliations and I don’t know why they picked him as a target.”

A man charged with killing Slim Dunkin has turned himself in to police

A man charged with killing Atlanta rapper Slim Dunkin at a recording studio has turned himself in to police. WSB-TV reports that Vinson Hardimon, known as rapper Young Vito, surrendered to Atlanta police Monday afternoon. He was handcuffed and taken to the Fulton County jail. Police say the 28-year-old shot and killed 24-year-old Mario Hamilton, known as rapper Slim Dunkin, on Dec. 16 at an Atlanta recording studio. Detective David Quinn says police still need more information in the case. Quinn says Hardimon’s attorney called police and said Hardimon wanted to surrender.

Police have no suspects in the Slim Dunkin Murder

Atlanta Police are still seeking the gunman who shot and killed rapper Slim Dunkin in an Atlanta recording studio on Friday afternoon (December 16). According to Police Major Keith Meadows, as many as 20 people were in a recording studio on Memorial Drive in Atlanta, when a dispute broke out between Slim Dunkin and an unknown individual. During the altercation, an unknown individual produced a gun and shot the 24-year-old rapper once in the chest.

According to Keith Meadows, police have yet to produce a suspect, despite interviewing as many as eight eyewitnesses. “We’re still talking to people,” Meadows told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “The truth is we don’t know exactly what happened.” Slim Dunkin, born Mario Hamilton, was a part of Gucci Mane ‘s 1017 Bricksquad. Slim Dunkin was pronounced dead at Grady Memorial Hospital on Friday after being shot once in the chest. Police are seeking the gunman and have yet to recover the murder weapon used in the deadly shooting.