This is a special, special, special, special, special dedication (Memorial Day)
Memorial Day. We hang flags (some years anyway) and fire up grills and, hopefully for a second or two in between, we think about what it means to lose somebody....
Memorial Day. We hang flags (some years anyway) and fire up grills and, hopefully for a second or two in between, we think about what it means to lose somebody. Hip-hop has had to bury a lot of its own taken by violence, illness, accidents, addiction, take your pick. Not everyone on here was a saint, but they all contributed something to the culture.
I pulled this list together through a mix of wikipedia, old XXL articles, and my own fading memory:
A
Archie Eversole, July 26, 1984 - April 3, 2022 -- We Ready
A$AP Yams, August 26, 1988 - January 18, 2015 -- Yamborghini High
B
Bankroll Fresh, December 4, 1987 - March 4, 2016 -- Hot Boy
Big Hawk (H.A.W.K.), December 12, 1969 - May 1, 2006 -- Southside
Big L, May 30, 1974 - February 15, 1999 -- Ebonics
Big Pun, November 9, 1971 - February 7, 2000 -- Still Not a Player
Biz Markie, April 8, 1964 - July 16, 2021 -- Just a Friend
Black Rob, July 9, 1968 - April 17, 2021 -- Whoa!
Brother Marquis (2 Live Crew), February 12, 1970 - June 3, 2024 -- Me So Horny
Bugz (D12), 1979 - May 21, 1999 -- Revelation
C
Camoflauge, January 29, 1982 - May 19, 2003 -- I'm Da Man
Charizma, 1973 - December 16, 1993 -- Red Light Green Light
Chinx, October 4, 1983 - May 17, 2015 -- Cocaine Riot
Chino XL, January 6, 1974 - July 28, 2024 -- Riiiot!
Combat Jack (Reggie Ossé), February 20, 1969 - December 19, 2017 -- The Combat Jack Show
D
Dallas Penn, July 9, 1970 - April 30, 2024 -- Internets Celebrities
DJ Unk, November 28, 1982 - January 24, 2025 -- Walk It Out
DMX, December 18, 1970 - April 9, 2021 -- Ruff Ryders' Anthem
Dolla, July 2, 1987 - May 18, 2009 -- Who the F*** Is That?
Drakeo the Ruler, June 1, 1993 - December 19, 2021 -- Flu Flamming
E
Eazy-E, September 7, 1964 - March 26, 1995 -- Boyz-n-the-Hood
Enchanting, August 4, 1997 - February 9, 2024 -- Track & Field
F
Fat Pat, September 4, 1970 - February 3, 1998 -- Tops Drop
FBG Duck, October 17, 1993 - August 4, 2020 -- Slide
Fredo Santana, July 4, 1990 - January 19, 2018 -- Jealous
G
Gangsta Boo, August 7, 1979 - January 1, 2023 -- Where Dem Dollas At
Guru (Gang Starr), July 17, 1961 - April 19, 2010 -- Mass Appeal
H
Huey, September 12, 1988 - June 25, 2020 -- Pop, Lock & Drop It
J
Jam Master Jay (Run-DMC), January 21, 1965 - October 30, 2002 -- It's Tricky
JayDaYoungan, July 15, 1998 - July 27, 2022 -- 23 Island
Jimmy Wopo, September 4, 1996 - June 18, 2018 -- Elm Street
Juice WRLD, December 2, 1998 - December 8, 2019 -- Lucid Dreams
Julio Foolio, June 23, 1998 - June 23, 2024 -- Who I Smoke
K
King Von, August 9, 1994 - November 6, 2020 -- Crazy Story
L
Lil JoJo, November 15, 1994 - September 4, 2012 -- BDK
Lil Peep, November 1, 1996 - November 16, 2017 -- Awful Things
Lil Snupe, October 1, 1994 - June 20, 2013 -- Meant to Be
M
Mac Dre, July 5, 1970 - November 1, 2004 -- Feelin' Myself
Mac Miller, January 19, 1992 - September 7, 2018 -- Self Care
Magnolia Shorty, October 28, 1982 - December 20, 2010 -- Monkey on the D*ck
MCA (Beastie Boys), August 5, 1964 - May 4, 2012 -- SabotageMessy Mya, November 12, 1988 - November 14, 2010 -- A 27 Piece
Miss Melodie (BDP), March 21, 1969 - July 17, 2012 -- Self Destruction (Stop the Violence Movement)
MO3, April 2, 1992 - November 11, 2020 -- Errybody
Mr. 3-2, September 3, 1972 - November 10, 2016 -- Southside Still Holdin'
N
Nate Dogg, August 19, 1969 - March 15, 2011 -- Music & Me
Nipsey Hussle, August 15, 1985 - March 31, 2019 -- Racks in the Middle
The Notorious B.I.G., May 21, 1972 - March 9, 1997 -- Juicy
O
OG Maco, February 21, 1992 - June 25, 2024 -- U Guessed It
Ol' Dirty Bastard, November 15, 1968 - November 13, 2004 -- Shimmy Shimmy Ya
P
Paul C, 1965 - July 17, 1989 -- The Mike & Dave Show
Phife Dawg (A Tribe Called Quest), November 20, 1970 - March 22, 2016 -- Award TourPimp C, December 29, 1973 - December 4, 2007 -- Int'l Players Anthem
PnB Rock, December 9, 1991 - September 12, 2022 -- Fleek
Pop Smoke, July 20, 1999 - February 19, 2020 -- Welcome to the Party
Proof (D12), October 2, 1973 - April 11, 2006 -- Kurt Kobain
R
Rich Homie Quan, October 4, 1989 - September 6, 2024 -- Type of Way
Rico Wade, July 30, 1971 - March 29, 2024 -- So Fresh, So Clean (Outkast)
S
Saafir, 1970 - September 22, 2024 -- Box Car Sessions
Scott La Rock (BDP), March 2, 1962 - August 27, 1987 -- South Bronx
Seagram, 1970 - July 31, 1996 -- Get My Grind On
Sean Price, March 13, 1972 - August 8, 2015 -- Kimbo Price
Snootie Wild, August 1, 1985 - February 27, 2022 -- Yayo
Soulja Slim, September 9, 1977 - November 26, 2003 -- I'll Pay for It
Static Major, November 9, 1974 - February 25, 2008 -- Lollipop (with Lil Wayne)
Stretch, 1968 - November 30, 1995 -- Stretchin' Out
T
Takeoff (Migos), June 18, 1994 - November 1, 2022 -- Ric Flair Drip
The Jacka, April 6, 1977 - February 2, 2015 -- Drought Season
Trouble, November 21, 1987 - June 5, 2022 -- Bring It Back
Trugoy the Dove (De La Soul), September 21, 1968 - February 12, 2023 -- Me Myself and I
Tupac Shakur, June 16, 1971 - September 13, 1996 -- Dear Mama
X
XXXTentacion, January 23, 1998 - June 18, 2018 -- SAD!
Y
Young Dolph, July 27, 1985 - November 17, 2021 -- 100 Shots
Young Greatness, February 7, 1984 - October 29, 2018 -- Moolah
Young Scooter, September 28, 1986 - September 27, 2025 -- Colombia
I am sure I missed some names here, no disrespect to any I did. If there is someone I overlooked drop a name in the comments and I'll add it. Rest easy to all of them.
Memorial Day. We hang flags (some years anyway) and fire up grills and, hopefully for a second or two in between, we think about what it means to lose somebody. Hip-hop has had to bury a lot of its own taken by violence, illness, accidents, addiction, take your pick. Not everyone on here was a saint, but they all contributed something to the culture.
I pulled this list together through a mix of wikipedia, old XXL articles, and my own fading memory:
A
Archie Eversole, July 26, 1984 - April 3, 2022 -- We Ready
A$AP Yams, August 26, 1988 - January 18, 2015 -- Yamborghini High
B
Bankroll Fresh, December 4, 1987 - March 4, 2016 -- Hot Boy
Big Hawk (H.A.W.K.), December 12, 1969 - May 1, 2006 -- Southside
Big L, May 30, 1974 - February 15, 1999 -- Ebonics
Big Pun, November 9, 1971 - February 7, 2000 -- Still Not a Player
Biz Markie, April 8, 1964 - July 16, 2021 -- Just a Friend
Black Rob, July 9, 1968 - April 17, 2021 -- Whoa!
Brother Marquis (2 Live Crew), February 12, 1970 - June 3, 2024 -- Me So Horny
Bugz (D12), 1979 - May 21, 1999 -- Revelation
C
Camoflauge, January 29, 1982 - May 19, 2003 -- I'm Da Man
Charizma, 1973 - December 16, 1993 -- Red Light Green Light
Chinx, October 4, 1983 - May 17, 2015 -- Cocaine Riot
Chino XL, January 6, 1974 - July 28, 2024 -- Riiiot!
Combat Jack (Reggie Ossé), February 20, 1969 - December 19, 2017 -- The Combat Jack Show
D
Dallas Penn, July 9, 1970 - April 30, 2024 -- Internets Celebrities
DJ Unk, November 28, 1982 - January 24, 2025 -- Walk It Out
DMX, December 18, 1970 - April 9, 2021 -- Ruff Ryders' Anthem
Dolla, July 2, 1987 - May 18, 2009 -- Who the F*** Is That?
Drakeo the Ruler, June 1, 1993 - December 19, 2021 -- Flu Flamming
E
Eazy-E, September 7, 1964 - March 26, 1995 -- Boyz-n-the-Hood
Enchanting, August 4, 1997 - February 9, 2024 -- Track & Field
F
Fat Pat, September 4, 1970 - February 3, 1998 -- Tops Drop
FBG Duck, October 17, 1993 - August 4, 2020 -- Slide
Fredo Santana, July 4, 1990 - January 19, 2018 -- Jealous
G
Gangsta Boo, August 7, 1979 - January 1, 2023 -- Where Dem Dollas At
Guru (Gang Starr), July 17, 1961 - April 19, 2010 -- Mass Appeal
H
Huey, September 12, 1988 - June 25, 2020 -- Pop, Lock & Drop It
J
Jam Master Jay (Run-DMC), January 21, 1965 - October 30, 2002 -- It's Tricky
JayDaYoungan, July 15, 1998 - July 27, 2022 -- 23 Island
Jimmy Wopo, September 4, 1996 - June 18, 2018 -- Elm Street
Juice WRLD, December 2, 1998 - December 8, 2019 -- Lucid Dreams
Julio Foolio, June 23, 1998 - June 23, 2024 -- Who I Smoke
K
King Von, August 9, 1994 - November 6, 2020 -- Crazy Story
L
Lil JoJo, November 15, 1994 - September 4, 2012 -- BDK
Lil Peep, November 1, 1996 - November 16, 2017 -- Awful Things
Lil Snupe, October 1, 1994 - June 20, 2013 -- Meant to Be
M
Mac Dre, July 5, 1970 - November 1, 2004 -- Feelin' Myself
Mac Miller, January 19, 1992 - September 7, 2018 -- Self Care
Magnolia Shorty, October 28, 1982 - December 20, 2010 -- Monkey on the D*ck
MCA (Beastie Boys), August 5, 1964 - May 4, 2012 -- SabotageMessy Mya, November 12, 1988 - November 14, 2010 -- A 27 Piece
Miss Melodie (BDP), March 21, 1969 - July 17, 2012 -- Self Destruction (Stop the Violence Movement)
MO3, April 2, 1992 - November 11, 2020 -- Errybody
Mr. 3-2, September 3, 1972 - November 10, 2016 -- Southside Still Holdin'
N
Nate Dogg, August 19, 1969 - March 15, 2011 -- Music & Me
Nipsey Hussle, August 15, 1985 - March 31, 2019 -- Racks in the Middle
The Notorious B.I.G., May 21, 1972 - March 9, 1997 -- Juicy
O
OG Maco, February 21, 1992 - June 25, 2024 -- U Guessed It
Ol' Dirty Bastard, November 15, 1968 - November 13, 2004 -- Shimmy Shimmy Ya
P
Paul C, 1965 - July 17, 1989 -- The Mike & Dave Show
Phife Dawg (A Tribe Called Quest), November 20, 1970 - March 22, 2016 -- Award TourPimp C, December 29, 1973 - December 4, 2007 -- Int'l Players Anthem
PnB Rock, December 9, 1991 - September 12, 2022 -- Fleek
Pop Smoke, July 20, 1999 - February 19, 2020 -- Welcome to the Party
Proof (D12), October 2, 1973 - April 11, 2006 -- Kurt Kobain
R
Rich Homie Quan, October 4, 1989 - September 6, 2024 -- Type of Way
Rico Wade, July 30, 1971 - March 29, 2024 -- So Fresh, So Clean (Outkast)
S
Saafir, 1970 - September 22, 2024 -- Box Car Sessions
Scott La Rock (BDP), March 2, 1962 - August 27, 1987 -- South Bronx
Seagram, 1970 - July 31, 1996 -- Get My Grind On
Sean Price, March 13, 1972 - August 8, 2015 -- Kimbo Price
Snootie Wild, August 1, 1985 - February 27, 2022 -- Yayo
Soulja Slim, September 9, 1977 - November 26, 2003 -- I'll Pay for It
Static Major, November 9, 1974 - February 25, 2008 -- Lollipop (with Lil Wayne)
Stretch, 1968 - November 30, 1995 -- Stretchin' Out
T
Takeoff (Migos), June 18, 1994 - November 1, 2022 -- Ric Flair Drip
The Jacka, April 6, 1977 - February 2, 2015 -- Drought Season
Trouble, November 21, 1987 - June 5, 2022 -- Bring It Back
Trugoy the Dove (De La Soul), September 21, 1968 - February 12, 2023 -- Me Myself and I
Tupac Shakur, June 16, 1971 - September 13, 1996 -- Dear Mama
X
XXXTentacion, January 23, 1998 - June 18, 2018 -- SAD!
Y
Young Dolph, July 27, 1985 - November 17, 2021 -- 100 Shots
Young Greatness, February 7, 1984 - October 29, 2018 -- Moolah
Young Scooter, September 28, 1986 - September 27, 2025 -- Colombia
I am sure I missed some names here, no disrespect to any I did. If there is someone I overlooked drop a name in the comments and I'll add it. Rest easy to all of them.