Died On This Date (December 16, 2011) Slim Dunkin / Rapper with 1017 Brick Squad, Brick Squad Monopoly
themusicsover Slim Dunkin (Born Mario Hamilton)
DOB Unknown – December 16, 2011
Slim Dunkin was an up-and-coming rapper who was part of the hip-hop collective, 1017 Brick Squad / Brick Squad Monopoly. Formed in Atlanta in 2008, the group also includes Waka Flocka Flame, Wooh Da Kid, OJ Da Juiceman, Frenchie, and Gucci Mane, who has since become the CEO and leader of the group. Dunkin can be heard on several Waka Flocka Flame recordings as well as his own, and had just completed a 20-song mixtape. During the evening hours of December 16, 2011, Slim Dunkin was working in an Atlanta recording studio when he reportedly got into an argument with another individual. The altercation escalated to the point where Dunkin was believed to have been shot in the chest. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The presumed assailant remained unidentified in the immediate aftermath.
Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.
What You Should Own
Karryl “Special One” Smith was one half of the popular San Francisco hip-hop duo, the Conscious Daughters. Smith formed the act with Carla “CMG” Green in 1992, and within a year, they were signed to Paris’ label, Scarface Records. Their first album, 1994’s Ear To The Street, included their first hit, “Somethin’ to Ride (Fonky Expedition).” They went on to secure a deal with the iconic Priority Records who released their follow-up, Gamers, which landed on the Billboard charts and sold upwards of 300,000 copies. More releases followed, including 2011’s The Jane Of All Trades. Special One was reportedly found dead inside her home on December 10, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Sylvia Robinson is best remembered as the founder and CEO of influential rap label, Sugar Hill Records who introduced most of the world to rap and hip-hop thanks to a stable of artists that included the Sugarhill Gang, Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, Melle Mel, and the Treacherous Three. In doing so, Robinson was largely responsible for what we know as popular music, fashion, and pop culture today. Born in New York City, Robinson achieved a bit of success as a singer herself when she released the moderate hit, “Love Is Strange” in 1957. By the late ’60s, she had moved over to the label side of the business with her own company, All Platinum Records where she produced and released mostly soul records. In 1973, Robinson released another record, this time simply as Sylvia. It was called “Pillow Talk” and sold over 2 million copies, ultimately reaching #3 on the pop charts. It is widely considered one of the foundations on which disco was built, while its drumming rhythm would later be heard on “Running Up The Hill” by Kate Bush and “Big Love” by Fleetwood Mac. During the late ’70s, Robinson, her husband, Joe Robinson, and Milton Malden launched Sugar Hill Records where she quickly helped form the Sugarhill Gang who went on to release rap music’s first commercially successful single, 1979’s “Rapper’s Delight.” Robinson soon followed that with “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. That song is credited for bringing socially conscience lyrics to rap, and along with other early releases from Sugar Hill, introduced the fine art of sampling to the world. According to 
Known professionally as DJ Mehdi, Mehdi Faveris-Essadi was a prominent French DJ and producer who has been praised throughout the underground hip-hop scene for his skills at combining elements of hip-hop and electronica. During his early professional years, Faveris-Essadi was a DJ or producer for such acts as Different Teep, Ideal J, and 113. He also worked on several French film soundtracks. As his reputation grew, Faveris-Essadi began collaborating with the likes of Chromeo, Daft Punk and Asian Dub Foundation. Faveris-Essadi released a handful of his own critically albums as well, beginning with 2002’s The Story of Espion. On September 13, 2011, DJ Mehdi Faveris-Essadi died in a tragic mishap that resulted in his falling through the roof his house. He and friends had reportedly been on the roof celebrating his birthday.
Leon Botha was a visual artist and turntablist who is perhaps best remembered for his collaborations with fellow South African alt-Hip Hop outfit, Die Antwoord. Performing under the name, DJ Solarize, Botha appeared in Die Antwoord’s immensely popular video, “Enter The Ninja,” and toured with them as opening act. In 2007, Botha presented his first art exhibit, Liquid Sword: I am HipHop, which revolved around his love of the music. Botha suffered from the rare genetic disorder, progeria which produces rapid aging and generally leads to death of the afflicted by their early teens. In Botha’s case however, he beat the odds for several years. On June 5, 2011, just one day past his 26th birthday, Leon Botha died of heart failure, a by-product of progeria.