Rico Wade, key figure in Atlanta hip-hop scene, dies aged 52

Rico Wade, one of the architects of Atlanta’s “dirty south” hip-hop sound, who co-produced albums by OutKast, Goodie Mob and CeeLo Green and who co-wrote TLC’s 1994 hit Waterfalls, has died. He was 52.

Atlanta’s mayor, Andre Dickens, paid tribute to Wade, saying he had “led in the creation of a hip-hop sound that has spanned decades and genres. Rico left an indelible mark on music and culture around the world and for that, the south will always have something to say.”

Wade’s family announced his death on Sunday but gave no details. As a member of the Organized Noize production team and part of the Dungeon Family collective, Wade played a key role in OutKast’s 1994 debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik and its follow-up ATLiens, as well as Goodie Mob’s Soul Food, which featured Green, in 1996.

The albums introduced a different, perhaps dirtier, sound to hip-hop that would soon become dominant.

The collective also produced TLC’s Grammy-nominated Waterfalls and En Vogue’s Don’t Let Go.

Organized Noize and the Dungeon Family said in a statement: “The world has lost one of the most innovative architects in music, and we have lost an invaluable friend.”

Killer Mike, the Run the Jewels rapper who started out with the Dungeon Family, spoke of his “profound sense of loss” on Instagram.

“Idk where I would be without y’all,” he added. “This is a part of the journey. You told me, ‘It ain’t been hard throughout the journey, it’s been a journey.’ The journey ain’t gonna be the same journey without U.”

Others, including Green, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Fat Joe and the former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, posted tributes in the comments section.

Wade was the cousin of the rapper Future, who told Rolling Stone in 2014 that Wade was responsible for launching his career.

“Rico supported me 1,000 more times than anybody ever could,” Future said. “Nobody could ever do what Rico Wade did for me … Everything I know about music, I know because of Rico.”