The Southern rap leader co-produced albums by OutKast and Goodie Mob, and co-wrote TLC’s hit “Waterfalls.”
Rico Wade goesto “The Art of Organized Noize” at Gallery 72 on October 15, 2015 in Atlanta. Prince Williams/WireImage
Rico Wade, a member of the famous Atlanta production trio Organized Noize and co-founder of the hip-hop/soul cumulative Dungeon Family, has passedaway, Billboard validated with his agents. He was 52.
“We are deeply saddened by the unexpected and unforeseen death of our child, daddy, otherhalf, and bro Rico Wade,” his household composed in a declaration on Saturday (April 13). “Our hearts are heavy as we grieve the loss of a talented private who touched the lives of so numerous. We ask that you regard the tradition of our enjoyed one and our personalprivacy at this time.”
Organized Noize and the Dungeon Family likewise shared a sincere message following news of Wade’s passing.
“We are ravaged by the news of the passing of our dear bro Rico Wade. The world hasactually lost one of the most ingenious designers in music, and we have lost an vital pal,” Organized Noize and the Dungeon Family composed in a joint declaration. “Rico was the foundation of Organized Noize and the Dungeon Family, and we will permanently treasure his memory and the minutes we shared, producing music as a joined group. Our hearts weigh heavy with grief, and we kindly demand personalprivacy and compassion throughout this tough duration. Rico’s existence will constantly have a unique area in our hearts, and in the music we provided to the world.”
Wade’s cause of death had not been offered at press time.
Wade — thoughtabout one of the designers of Southern rap noise — was one-third of the songwriting and production group Organized Noize, whose members likewise consistedof Sleepy Brown and Ray Murray. The group formed in the early 1990s and played a essential function in OutKast’s 1994 launching album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, and Goodie Mob’s 1995 veryfirst release, Soul Food.
Organized Noize likewise produced much of OutKast’s 1996 sophomore album, ATLiens, as well as tracks on the duo’s Aquemini (including “Skew It on the Bar-B”) and Stankonia (including “So Fresh, So Clean”). The group went on to work with Big Boi on his solo tasks, Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty (2010) and Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors (2012).
Wade and Organized Noize were likewise accountable for co-writing and producing TLC’s hit tune “Waterfalls,” which invested 7 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in1995 TLC’s T-Boz exposed in the 2016 documentary The Art of Organized Noize that she was accountable for presenting Organized Noize’s Sleepy Brown and Rico Wade through the latter’s task at LaMonte’s Beauty Supply.
“Rico looked at me, did a little dance and stated, ‘So?’” Brown remembered. “And when he did it, it split me up so much that I was like, ‘Yeah, I like him.’”
In addition to TLC, Organized Noize was accountable for producing En Vogue’s “Don’t Let Go” and Ludacris’ “Saturday (Oooh! Ooooh!).”
Wade and Organized Noize mostly worked with their Atlanta-based Dungeon Family cumulative, whose members have consistedof a variety of talen