Died On This Date (November 1, 2004) Mac Dre / Popular Rapper
themusicsover Mac Dre (Born Andre Hicks)
July 5, 1970 – November 1, 2004
Born Andre Hicks, Mac Dre was a San Francisco Bay area rapper who built a following during the ’90s due to his songs that chronicled life on the tough streets around him. Throughout his career, he had several hits, including “Too Hard For This Fuckin’ Radio” and “California Livin.” He also worked with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Too Short and Warren G. Hicks started his own label in 2000, calling it Thizz Entertainment, where he was instrumental in the development of the hyphy sub-genre of rap. Andre Hicks was 34 when he was gunned down by the occupants of another vehicle while he riding in a van with a friend. Though the case has never been solved, a Kansas City rapper by the name of Anthony “Fat Tone” Watkins was killed the following year in what is believed by some to be in retaliation for the murder of Hicks.
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Antonio Luis Alves de Souza was respected Brazilian drummer who, with his group, Olodum played a unique blend of Oludum percussion and reggae which they called samba reggae. In 1990, de Souza was invited by Paul Simon to play on his Rhythm of the Saints album and in 1991, to perform with him at his huge Central Park concert. In lieu of payment, de Souza asked Simon to give him money to purchase an old building that eventually housed an educational program for local adults and children. In 1996, de Souza performed in 
Jason Mizell, who went by the stage name, Jam-Master-Jay, was a musician in and DJ for Run D.M.C., arguably the most influential rap group ever. In 2009, they would become the first hip-hop act to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. An accomplished drummer, keyboardist and bass player, Mizell performed in a handful of bands before joining up with Joseph Simmons and Darryl McDaniels to form Run D.M.C. in 1983. The group, who sold upwards of seven million albums, was positioned at number 48 in Rolling Stone’s list of the greatest musical acts of all time. They were even instrumental in bridging the gap between rap and rock. Their cover of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way,” with guests, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, was one of the most popular songs of the era. On October 30, 2002, Jam-Master-Jay, 37, was in his recording studio when two assailants came in and shot and killed him. The murder remains unsolved.
