OutKast, Goodie Mob and Killer Mike have held a big Dungeon Family reunion in honor of the late Rico Wade.
The likes of André 3000, Big Boi, Killer Mike, Sleepy Brown and Goodie Mob’s Big Gipp, Khujo and T-Mo all gathered for a cookout in Atlanta this past weekend to celebrate the legacy of the pioneering producer.
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The ATL rap legends were also joined by Wade’s mother as they posed for photos outside of the producer’s old family home, which was better known as the Dungeon for its basement recording studio where many of the acts recorded their early works.
“The Dungeon had a picnic today. Everybody came home: OutKast, Dre and Big, Goodie, [Mr.] DJ,” Gipp explained in a video posted to Instagram.
The reunion comes a little over a month since Wade’s unexpected death at the age of 52 from heart failure.
In the aftermath of his passing, tributes flooded in from many of the Grammy-winner’s close friends and collaborators.
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Big Boi wrote on Instagram: “This is a different type of hurt …. Slick Ricky Wade .. I know you’re with us STILL … in a bigger role now… Big Angel Energy… the Highest of Vibrations … Praise Yah.”
The OutKast legend also included a video of himself talking about Wade’s contributions to Hip Hop.
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In the clip, he says: “Rico Wade is one third of Organized Noize and he’s like the mouthpiece for that collective of producers. He was connected to LaFace Records through Pebbles ’cause he went to school with Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins from TLC. She connected him with Pebbles and through them, Pebbles introduced Rico to LA Reid.
“He was like the gateway to get to LA, as well as the producers who produced Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. They signed OutKast. Organized Noize were responsible for us signing to LaFace Records. So without Rico Wade, Sleepy Brown and Ray Murray, there would [be no OutKast].”
CeeLo Green also bought Wade’s former home for around $1 million to preserve it as a piece of Hip Hop history and turn it into a museum.
“It was too important and invaluable to leave it be. The asking price was around 1 million, I would’ve paid more!” CeeLo explained in a social media post. “I’m proud to say me and my real estate partner… my sister did that for the family! My pleasure.
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“One day soon it will be a museum, archiving our rich musical history. You’ll be the first to know… and if you’re ever in Atlanta on the southside, come see us sometime and we will take good care of you, the way Father took care of us. #facts one time for Mr. Wade.”
