Rico Wade, Founding Member Of Organized Noize And The Dungeon Family, Dead At 52
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Rico Wade, legendary producer and founding member of Organized Noize and The Dungeon Family, has passed away at 52.
News of Wade’s death surfaced on Saturday (April 13), with the producer’s family releasing a statement confirming his passing shortly after.
“We are deeply saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of our son, father, husband, and brother Rico Wade,” the statement reads. “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.” The cause of Wade’s death has not been revealed at this time.
A native of Atlanta, Wade formed the production trio Organized Noize with Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown during the early ’90s, with their first breakout credits coming via their work on Grammy Award-winning rap duo OutKast’s 1994 debut Southernplaylisticadillacmuzik and TLC’s seismic 1995 single “Waterfalls.”
Organized Noize was also a driving force in the creation of The Dungeon Family, an Atlanta-based collective comprised of acts such as OutKast, Goodie Mob, Cool Breeze, Witchdoctor, Killer Mike, and more. The crew released their lone studio album, Even in Darkness, in 2001, with various Dungeon Family proteges going on to reach acclaim with subsequent solo and group projects.
“We are devastated by the news of the passing of our dear brother Rico Wade. The world has lost one of the most innovative architects in music, and we have lost an invaluable friend,” The Dungeon Family expressed in a statement reacting to Wade’s death.
“Rico was the cornerstone of Organized Noize and The Dungeon Family, and we will forever treasure his memory and the moments we shared, creating music as a united team.”
Wade and Organized Noize were lauded for their versatility, having produced signature hits for R&B acts such as En Vogue (“Don’t Let Go”) and Hip-Hop artists like Ludacris (“Saturday”) during their multi-decade career.
In 2016, Netflix released The Art of Organized Noize, a documentary detailing the trio’s early beginnings, rise to success and impact on the music landscape in Atlanta and beyond.
VIBE sends our condolences to the Wade family. R.I.P. Rico Wade.
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