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Rico Wade, a member of Organized Noize and one of the founding members of the legendary Dungeon family of producers and artists from Atlanta, has died, according to multiple sources. He was 52.
Along with Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown, Wade formed Organized Noize, a production group working out of his mother's basement in Atlanta – which became known as “The Dungeon”. Organized Noize to produce OutKast's landmark debut album, Southernplayaliticadillacmuzik, and would go on to make music for TLC, En Vogue, Ludacris and more. The “Dungeon Family” includes artists such as OutKast, Goodie Mob, Killer Mike, Witchdoctor and Cool Breeze, among others.
So to call Wade a key figure in the creation and popularization of Atlanta's Southern Hip-Hop sound is a huge understatement.
Grammy-winning rapper Killer Mike took to Instagram to mourn Wade's death. “I have no words to express my deep and profound sense of loss,” Mike captioned a photo of Wade in a studio. “I am praying for your wife and children. I am praying for the Wade family. I pray for all of us. I deeply appreciate your acceptance into The Dungeon Family, guidance, Friendship and Brotherhood. I don't know where I'd be without you.”
A documentary about the Dungeon Family collective, The Art of Organized Noizefeatured Wade prominently and was released on Netflix in 2016. It's also worth noting that Wade is the cousin of star rapper Future.
The cause of death has not been revealed at this time. Rest in peace Rico Wade.
See the reactions to his untimely death in the gallery.
This story is developing.
