Hip Hop

Died On This Date (April 4, 2009) Anthony “Tony D” Depula / Hip Hop Producer

Tony D (Born Anthony Depula)
DOB Unknown – April 4, 2009

Tony D (right) with Russell Simmons
Tony D (right) with Russell Simmons

Trenton, New Jersey’s Anthony Depula (aka Tony D) was a veteran hip hop producer who started his career as a DJ in the mid ’80s by accident.  As a young fan of the music, he liked to help set up gear at parties and dances around town, so one night when the hired DJ failed to show up, he was told to get up there and do it.  He never looked back.  Tony D soon got into management, representing MC Serch of 3rd Base at one time.  But his true calling was as a producer.  Over the past two decades, he produced such as acts DJ Muggs, Young Zee, The Outsidaz, King Sun, and most famously, Poor Righteous Teachers, on their “Rock Dis Funky Joint,” a chart topping hip hop classic from 1990.  Anthony Depula was killed in what initially appeared to have been a single car accident in Hamilton, New Jersey.



Died On This Date (March 28, 1999) Freaky Tah / Lost Boyz

Freaky Tah (Born Raymond Rogers)
May 14, 1971 – March 28, 1999

Member of the 27 Club

Born Raymond Rogers, the rapper known as Freaky Tah was from Queens, New York.  He worked primarily with the Lost Boyz, a chart topping and gold selling hip hop group during the mid to late ’90s.  Tah was gunned down as he left a birthday party for fellow Lost Boy, Mr. Cheeks.

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Legal Drug Money - Lost Boyz

Died On This Date (March 26, 1995) Eazy-E / N.W.A.

Eazy-E (Born Eric Wright)
September 7, 1963 – March 26, 1995

eazy-eEazy-E was a groundbreaking rapper who, along with his group, N.W.A. was a pioneer of the gangsta rap genre.  During the mid ’80s, Eazy-E co-formed N.W.A. while also starting his own label, Ruthless Records, through which he released the group’s records.  In 1988, N.W.A. released their landmark album, Straight Outta Compton, which made a massive impact on both music and pop culture in general.  With its hard hitting lyrics strewn with violence and profanity, it offered a glimpse of the inner city life, appealing to both urban kids and those from the suburbs alike.  The album sold over three million copies and is often cited as one of the most important albums of all time.  Shortly after the release of it, Eazy-E released his own Eazy-Duz-It which also sold in the multi-million copy range.  N.W.A.  group broke up in 1991, reportedly over money issues.  Eazy-E continued to release solo albums through the early ’90s.  On March 16, 1995, Eazy-E went to the hospital complaining of what he assumed were asthma-related issues.  But to the shock of friends, family and fans, he was diagnosed with AIDS and died as a result of it just ten days later.  He was 31 years old.

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Straight Outta Compton: 20th Anniversary - N.W.A.

Died On This Date (March 9, 1997) Christopher Wallace / The Notorious B.I.G.

The Notorious B.I.G. (Born Christopher Wallace)
May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997

Christopher Wallace (aka The Notorious B.I.G.; Biggie Smalls) was an east coast rapper signed to Sean “Puffy” Combs’ Bad Boy Records. Although Wallace had some run-ins with the law, his musical talent could not be denied. And just as that talent was catapulting him to the upper stratosphere of the musical world, Wallace’s reported life of crime and involvement in a festering east coast vs west coast feud, he was executed in a hail of bullets outside the Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles, CA.  Christopher Wallace was just 24 when he was allegedly assassinated during a drive-by shooting.  The crime remains unsolved and is ripe with theories involving Marion “Suge” Knight, the LAPD, the Crips and the Bloods.  Wallace was married to R&B singer, Faith Evans.

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Ready to Die - The Remaster - The Notorious B.I.G.