Chicago electronic music giant DJ Rashad has died, according to Complex.com. Details are currently scarce, but it is believed that a drug overdose is the cause of death.
DJ Rashad had been scheduled to perform at Detroit’s North End Studios, an “Inhale Art Expo” with Detroit's DJ Godfather on Saturday night, and it was Godfather who broke the news on Twitter .
Godfather said, “R.I.P. to my long time friend DJ Rashad. Great friend & producer. I loved all the music we released over the years. U will be missed!”
On Saturday night, Godfather said on Twitter, “I can't even play tonight the more I think about Rash...fuck today.”
Chance the Rapper said, "Music lost a legend today. And he was my friend. Love you DJ Rashad. RIP." In an interview with Spin last year, Rashad said, "Hopefully, it keeps going and evolving even higher than what it is. If not, I'm cool with just the accomplishments we got so far. We didn't know it was going to go this far. Hopefully in the next three, four, five years, I'll be in the back somewhere, producing and writing for other people. That's my dream."A key player in the popular Chicago juke scene alongside the likes of Paul Johnson, DJ Gant-Man and DJ Spinn, Rashad was a true musical pioneer and he will be missed.
"Juke" is the Chicago equivalent of "jit" the Detroit-created dance associated with ghettotech or ghetto house music. The focus of both juke and jit is on fast-moving feet, and the music allows for that with fast beats.
We at the Metro Times send our sincerest condolences to his family and friends.
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