New York rapper Black Rob, who was part of Diddy's Bad Boy Records and best known for 2000 hit "Whoa," has died at the age of 51.
According to the Daily Beast, the artist, born Robert Ross, had been suffering a series of health problems in recent years, including several strokes and kidney failure. He was hospitalized in Atlanta when he died on Saturday.
The artist's former label mate, Mark Curry, announced the rapper's death on social media.
“I don’t know where to begin this,” he said in an Instagram video. “But I thank everybody for the donations. Rob passed away about an hour ago.”
Curry was referring to the donations which were raised through a GoFundMe page while Ross received treatment at the hospital.
"This GoFundMe is to help him find a home, pay for medical help & stability during these trying times," Curry and producer Mike Zombie stated amid fundraising efforts. "We’ve lost a lot legends and we can’t afford to lose anymore. This is my way to try and help."
The Bad Boy artist started rapping as a preteen while growing up in East Harlem, Variety reported. The New York native, who released four studio albums, is best known for smash single “Whoa!.”
The song peaked at No. 43 on the Billboard Hot 100. His most successful album, Life Story, debut in 2000. After leaving the Bad Boy Records in the mid-2000s, Ross joined the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour in 2016.
Curry posted a second Instagram video after Ross' death, saying he spoke with Diddy for the first time in a long time on Saturday because that's what his friend wanted.
“Puff, I ain’t talked to Puff in 15 years — we talked today,” he said. “This is the beginning of a new us. Rob made sure he knew what he had to do before he parted this world to make sure we all alright, and that’s what he did. Bad boy for life, yo.”
The rapper expressed his struggles last week in an Instagram video posted by his friend, DJ Self.
"I've been dealing with this for five years. Four strokes," he said, adding that he doesn't have a house to live in. "I need some rest, man. I need some rest, man. My side is killing me. I don't wanna talk about it no more."
In a separate Instagram video, also posted by DJ Self, the music icon expressed his admiration for DMX as he lay in his hospital bed.
"I feel everything about X," he said about the other legend who died last week. "Big love to X."
The rapper passed away just one week after iconic rapper DMX died in New York.
