2024 has been a tough year, especially for hip-hop fans. We learned this year truly nobody is invincible, even those we bump every day. We saw a lot of our favorites pass away from overdoses this year, something we have to get under control ASAP. Fentanyl is destroying not only the hip-hop community but the larger Black community. We lost some legends to gun violence, another prevalent issue in our community. But today, we going to take the time to celebrate these hip-hop stars and look back on the contributions they left hip-hop.
Rich Homie Quan
Rich Homie Quan might have been the hardest death to accept this year. He was still so young, and his passing seemed to come out of the blue. When the tests came back, his death was officially ruled an accidental overdose, and reportedly, the late Atlanta rapper had the combination of fentanyl, alprazolam, codeine and promethazine in his system. Rich Homie left his mark forever in hip-hop with his I Will Never Stop Going In mixtape series, and of course, Rich Gang with Young Thug.
Beat King
This one really shocked rap, especially the strip club scene. Beat King, beloved Houston rapper and producer, died at age 39 from heart failure. He was doing a radio interview when he passed away. He gave us club bops like “THICK,” “Throw That Ahh,” “Then Leave” and “Scream.” He was the one who taught us to get that head, get that bread then leave. Honestly, the strip club culture may never recover from this one.
Rico Wade
Without Rico, we might have never gotten Future or Andre 3000. What state would hip-hop truly be in right now? Rico Wade passed in April from heart failure, and the entire city of Atlanta cried. He was an Atlanta pioneer; he was a part of the legendary Organized Noize camp. The production team — which featured Sleepy Brown, Ray Murray and the Dungeon Family collective — helped discover some of Atlanta’s finest, like OutKast and Goodie Mob.
Foolio
On June 23, Foolio — a rapper from Jacksonville, Florida — was shot and died in Tampa, Florida, while out celebrating his 26th birthday. After getting kicked out from an Airbnb due to overcrowding, Foolio and his team went to a Holiday Inn, where he and three other men were shot while seated in a hotel car. Apparently, one of the girls in Foolio’s car was sharing his location with his opps, pretty much setting him up to get ambushed by at least three shooters. The only victim who did not make it out alive was Foolio, whose real name was Charles Jones. Rest in peace, Foolio.
Enchanting
This one really broke hearts. Enchanting died at 26 in June after suffering from a drug overdose. The female rapper was signed to Gucci Mane, and she was started to finally make waves with her music. The saddest part of her death was that she was trying her hardest to get clean, according to reports from her friends. She left us way too soon and was a huge moment in the fentanyl discourse.
DJ Clark Kent
We lost one of Brooklyn’s finest. DJ Clark Kent, the iconic producer behind multiple classic records, died at 57. His family released a statement that revealed that the Brooklyn DJ died in October of colon cancer. The iconic producer made hits, and he also excelled as a producer and crafted classic records like Jay-Z’s “Brooklyn’s Finest,” The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Sky’s the Limit” and Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s “Player’s Anthem.”
Tan DaGod
On July 13, Tan DaGod, a young rapper from Oakland, passed away. Tan was shot and died while attending a meet-and-greet outside of a beauty shop in her hometown, according to KTVU. She had posted her location on Instagram for her fans to know her location, Unfortunately, some people with bad intentions came instead and robbed her of her life way too soon.
Quincy Jones
We lost maybe the greatest producer ever this year. Quincy Jones passed away in November, and it felt like the world stopped. Without Quincy Jones, we wouldn’t have gotten prime MJ, no Thriller. Could you imagine that? Along with giving us Michael Jackson’s magnum opus, he organized the “We Are The World” song in 1985. Jones also founded Vibe in 1993. He lived a long life — passing at 91 — but we will never forget his contributions to hip-hop and the greater world of entertainment.
