Melikka

rest in the deepest most profound peace 💔

“My only goal is to stay focused on my craft and make sure my life is as sharp as it can be to attack any character that is given to me.“

And he did just that.

“More than ‘Just a Friend:’” Biz Markie, Hip-Hop’s “Clown Prince,” Dead at 57

Biz Markie, “The Clown Prince of Hip Hop” died June 16 at age 57, his manager said in a statement.

No cause was given.

“Biz created a legacy of artistry that will forever be celebrated by his industry peers and his beloved fans whose lives he was able to touch through music, spanning over 35 years,” the statement from Jenni Izumi said.

“I’m gonna miss my guy,” Ice T tweeted.

Markie released five albums between 1988 and 2003 and became a regular on “Yo Gabba Gabba!,” where a new generation became familiar with the “Just a Friend” rapper and beat boxer.

“To a lot of us he was more than ‘Just a Friend,’” Bootsy Collins posted on Facebook. “R.I.P.”

The Aquabats! called Markie “our pal … a great big guy with a great big heart.”

“If you knew him, you loved him,” they said on Facebook. “He was one of a kind.”

They Might be Giants have used Markie’s recordings as pre-show music for years and said, “It would never fail to rouse the audience into a deliriously uplifting singalong.

“Thank you, Biz,” the band tweeted. “Rest in power.”

PAC & SHOCK

Shock G, the co-founder of the iconic hip-hop group Digital Underground, has died. He was 57.

The rapper, born Gregory Jacobs, was found dead on Thursday.

“Our son, brother and friend, Gregory Jacobs, also known as Shock G, suddenly passed away today,” his family said in a statement provided to PEOPLE. “The cause of death is currently unknown. We truly, truly appreciate all the out-pouring of love and concern. Please keep us in your prayers at this very difficult time.”

Jacobs’ father, Edward Racker, told TMZ that his son was discovered in a hotel room in Tampa, saying authorities will conduct an autopsy to determine his cause of death.

Digital Underground’s Chopmaster J also confirmed Jacob’s death in an Instagram tribute to the artist.

“34 years ago almost to the day we had a wild idea we can be a hip hop band and take on the world,” he wrote, “through it all the dream became a reality and the reality became a nightmare for some. And now he’s awaken from the fame long live shock G Aka Humpty Hump and Rest In Peace my Brotha Greg Jacobs!!!”

There are not many people who know how to eloquently express pain. I am terrible at it. But DMX had a way of making pain feel a little less painful. He didn’t hide from it. You felt his pain, you heard it, it was deep & if you’ve ever felt that deep soul crushing pain, you could relate. It was like he felt your pain too. Like he was with you, like he understood. We don’t have to have similar backgrounds to know how painful this world can be. It will eat away at you. It will change you. It will make you forget who you are and who you’ve always been. You’ll feel alone even surrounded by those who love you.

I hate that he felt any of that. I hate that any of us have to feel that. It comes in so many ways, shapes and forms. I hate that his pain started at such a young age. That he was thrown into the world so young. And I know he struggled with those feelings. Because we all know the worst part is sometimes you’ll even feel guilty for feeling sad, being depressed, hurting when it’s not your fault. He shared his pain with us. Vulnerable. Unfiltered. Uncensored. He let us in and now so many of us don’t feel alone. So many of us know that we aren’t the only ones who experience that kind of pain.

As he got older, we saw a shift which let us know that things can get better. He let us know that the pain doesn’t last and how to find joy in it. He let us know that we are all God’s children so we should love who we are. I found comfort in that. As someone who tends to fuck up, someone who gets called crazy, emotional, someone who has a temper. I appreciated his candidness because it helped me see that I’m a beautiful mess & that’s okay because I’m trying everyday to be better. I love him because he’s always been him and I feel that because imma always be me. Just ya know maybe getting a little wiser, trying to make better decisions but still human & still God’s child regardless.

Remembering ~ Mary Wilson