Source: Radio One / Radio One
In two short months, we’ll be halfway through the decade, and in just under four years the culture as a whole has experienced the loss of many notable rappers, producers, DJs and other figures who, each in their own way, helped push the culture forward.
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Though no longer here in the physical form, their music and legacy continue on through their fans and younger ears who will eventually use their art as inspiration for their own contribution to the rap genre. In that way, their time here takes on a second life of sorts, as samples, rhyme schemes and melodies crafted long ago re-emerge for an all-new wave of eager consumers.
Scroll below for a look back to the personalities we’ve lost since the start of the decade.