Dungeon Family producer Rico Wade has died at the age of 52.
Wade’s family issued a statement on Saturday (April 13).
It reads: “We are deeply saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of our son, father, husband, and brother Rico Wade. Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of a talented individual who touched the lives of so many. We ask that you respect the legacy of our loved one and our privacy at this time.”
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Killer Mike, who recently deployed the legendary producer’s services for his Grammy award-winning album, MICHAEL, took to Instagram on Saturday (April 13) to share the news of Wade’s death with his followers.
“I don’t have the words to express my deep and profound sense of loss. I am Praying for your wife and Children. I am praying for the Wade family. I am praying for us all,” he wrote in the caption. “I deeply appreciate your acceptance into The Dungeon Family, mentorship, Friendship and Brotherhood. Idk where I would be without ya’ll. This is a part of the journey. You told me “It ain’t been hard throughout the journey, it’s been a Journey” . The journey ain’t gonna be the Same Journey without U. Like U say tho Umma “Stay Down on it”……we all are. Love and Respect, Michael.”
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Check out Killer Mike’s post below.
The Dungeon Family was a collective of rappers and producers who were considered pioneers of Southern Hip Hop. Consisting of the likes of OutKast, the Goodie Mob, and Killer Mike (as part of the so-called “second generation” of the Dungeon Family), the crew got its name from Wade’s recording studio, which was known as “The Dungeon,” which is where most of the now-legendary records were recorded.
In addition to his production work on the Dungeon Family’s collection of albums, the producer (real name Rico Renard Wade) was also behind the boards for some super-smash R&B hits, including En Vogue’s “Don’t Let Go (Love)” and TLC’s “Waterfalls.” He was one-third of the production collective Organized Noize, which also included Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown.
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Back in 2019, Rico Wade sat down with HipHopDX to talk about how he felt about influencing a whole generation of rap producers, and he explained that it was important to keep one hand on the pulse of the youth in order to stay relevant.
“You just really gotta keep your ear to the pulse of what’s going on sometimes, even when you established,” he said. “Cuz’ I feel like, our style is being used by a lot of people, but we did it. That means they want to do it the right way, they not doing it because they’re copying us, they’re doing it because that’s right.”
He continued: “Tuning 808s, adding Hip Hop drums with ghetto shit, rapping, making it a cluster fuck is where it’s at. That’s what makes it great, that’s why you see the Earthgangs and Kendrick Lamars … and I love it. I love what they’re doin’.”
Wade is survived by his two children. He is also a cousin of the rapper Future — who began his career as a “second generation” member of DF.
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HipHopDX sends its condolences to the friends and family of Rico Wade.
