Rico Wade, one of many architects of Atlanta’s “soiled south” hip-hop sound, who co-produced albums by OutKast, Goodie Mob and CeeLo Inexperienced and who co-wrote TLC’s 1994 hit Waterfalls, has died. He was 52.
Atlanta’s mayor, Andre Dickens, paid tribute to Wade, saying he had “led within the creation of a hip-hop sound that has spanned many years and genres. Rico left an indelible mark on music and tradition all over the world and for that, the south will all the time have one thing to say.”
Wade’s household introduced his dying on Sunday however gave no particulars. As a member of the Organized Noize manufacturing workforce and a part of the Dungeon Household collective, Wade performed a key function in OutKast’s 1994 debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik and its follow-up ATLiens, in addition to Goodie Mob’s Soul Meals, which featured Inexperienced, in 1996.
The albums launched a distinct, maybe dirtier, sound to hip-hop that will quickly grow to be dominant.
The collective additionally produced TLC’s Grammy-nominated Waterfalls and En Vogue’s Don’t Let Go.
Organized Noize and the Dungeon Household mentioned in an announcement: “The world has misplaced probably the most revolutionary architects in music, and we have now misplaced a useful buddy.”
Killer Mike, the Run the Jewels rapper who began out with the Dungeon Household, spoke of his “profound sense of loss” on Instagram.
“Idk the place I’d be with out y’all,” he added. “This is part of the journey. You instructed me, ‘It ain’t been arduous all through the journey, it’s been a journey.’ The journey ain’t gonna be the identical journey with out U.”
Others, together with Inexperienced, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Fats Joe and the previous Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, posted tributes within the feedback part.
Wade was the cousin of the rapper Future, who instructed Rolling Stone in 2014 that Wade was liable for launching his profession.
“Rico supported me 1,000 extra occasions than anyone ever might,” Future mentioned. “No person might ever do what Rico Wade did for me … Every little thing I learn about music, I do know due to Rico.”
