Rico Wade Passed Away!

Killer Mike said Hip-Hop producer Rico Wade passed away 

Organized Noize is a set of rap producers who contributed to Future, Outkast, Goodie Mob, Killer Mike, Bubba Sparxxx, Ludacris, Janelle Monáe and numerous others.

The collective included singer Sleepy Brown, Ray Brown and Rico Wade.

They are members of the Dungeon Family. The Dungeon Family is a supergroup of the aforementioned rappers and the production.

It was announced on social media that Rico Wade had passed away. He was the cousin of Future. The rapper and Metro Boomin released their second album "We Still Don't Trust You" which aimed at Lil Wayne, Drake and 21 Savage.

Rico Wade was 52 years old.

Rico Wade co-founded the Dungeon Family collective alongside Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown in the early ’90s. Members included Big Boi, André 3000, CeeLo Green, Khujo, Big Gipp, Big Rube and later, a young Future (Wade’s cousin). Wade, who set up a makeshift studio in his mother’s basement called The Dungeon, helped craft the Atlanta Hip-Hop sound with albums such as Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik by Outkast (1994) and Cell Therapy by Goodie Mob (1995).

Organized Noize found insurmountable success outside of the Dungeon Family as well. In 1995, they produced “Waterfalls” by TLC, which went on to spend seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also was nominated for two Grammy at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards in 1996 for Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Rico Wade, Future and L.A. Reid.

Future was then known as Meathead. He was part of a group call Da Connect. Before he became a multi-platinum rapper and producer, he got his start in the Dungeon.

The rapper has nine children. Disclosure, one of my cousins has a child with the rapper as well as pop singer Ciara who is married to NFL star Russell Wilson.

Killer Mike took three Grammy awards for his album "Michael."

Killer Mike also confirmed his death on IG with a poignant post:

“I don’t have the words to express my deep and profound sense of loss. I am Praying for your wife and Children. I am praying for the Wade family. I am praying for us all. I deeply appreciate your acceptance into The Dungeon Family, mentorship, Friendship and Brotherhood. Idk where I would be without ya’ll. This is a part of the journey. You told me “It ain’t been hard throughout the journey, it’s been a Journey” . The journey ain’t gonna be the Same Journey with U. Like U say tho Umma “Stay Down on it”……we all are. Love and Respect”