Posts Categorized: RIP

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RIP: Virgil Abloh Dead at 41 after private battle with cancer

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Louis Vuitton artistic director and Off-White founder Virgil Abloh died Sunday in Chicago, Ill, after a private 2-year battle with cancer. He was 41.

In 2019, Abloh was diagnosed with malignant primary cardiac angiosarcoma, an extremely rare tumor of the heart.

His death was announced in a tweet by luxury group LVMH and the Off-White label on Sunday.

"We are all shocked after this terrible news. Virgil was not only a genius designer, a visionary, he was also a man with a beautiful soul and great wisdom," Bernard Arnault, chairman and chief executive of LVMH said in a statement.

The designer was the first Black man to head a major European fashion house when Louis Vuitton named him as menswear designer in 2018.

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Abloh graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He received his Master of Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology in 2006.

He first gained fame in the mid-2000s through his affiliation with rap producer Ye, formerly Kanye West, after the two met at a Chicago print shop where Abloh worked.

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Abloh interned at Fendi in the same class as Ye in 2009. He worked in Fendi's Rome, Italy office, where he and Ye began to collaborate on designs.

In 2010, Ye appointed Abloh as creative director of his DONDA agency. In 2011, Ye hired Abloh as the artistic director for his and Jay Z's album Watch the Throne.

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Abloh founded his second fashion house Off-White in 2013. He launched Off-White's women's wear line in 2014.

In 2018, Abloh designed a custom Off-White gown and veil for Hailey Bieber's wedding day. On the veil, he included his famous quotation marks design around the words "till death do us part".

In 2019, LVMH reported a 20% growth in sales attributed in part to Abloh's appointment as artistic director.

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In July 2021, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton announced it acquired a 60% stake in Off-White, with Abloh retaining 40%.

Abloh leaves behind his wife, Shannon Sundberg, and their two children.

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RIP: Memphis rapper Young Dolph dead at 36

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Memphis rapper Young Dolph was killed inside a cookie shop by an unknown gunman, law enforcement officials confirmed. He was 36.

The shooting occurred at Makeda's Butter Cookies on Airways Boulevard, according to WHBQ. He was a frequent visitor to the shop to buy cookies.

The assailant ran into the shop and shot Dolph twice. The rapper, born Adolph Thornton, Jr., reportedly returned fire before expiring.

Last month, Dolph performed at ONE Musicfest at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia (above).

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Dolph, pictured in Atlanta in 2018, was best known for his debut studio album, King of Memphis, which peaked at number 49 on the Billboard 200 chart.

His second album, Rich Slave was released in 2020 and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Crowds gathered at the crime scene and filmed the aftermath with their cell phones.

"Bruh they done killed Young Dolph bro what the f***... bro ain't no way these folks done just killed Dolph," a bystander said. "Ain't no way these folks just straight came and ran down on Dolph."

The rapper was previously shot outside a retail store in Hollywood, Los Angeles on September 26, 2017. He survived three gunshot wounds.

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RIP: 9-year-old Ezra Blount dies from injuries sustained at Astroworld

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Getty Images, Facebook

Ezra Blount, the 9-year-old boy who was trampled at Travis Scott's Astroworld music festival, has died.

The family's attorney Ben Crump confirmed Ezra's death in a statement late Sunday. Ezra is the youngest victim of the Astroworld tragedy.

Ezra was pronounced brain dead and removed from life support at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. He had been in a medically-induced coma to relieve pressure on his brain.

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Facebook

Ezra was sitting on his dad's shoulder when the crowd surged forward as surprise guest Drake took the stage at NRG Park on Nov. 5.

Treston Blount said he lost consciousness and collapsed and his son was trampled when he fell into the crowd.

The unconscious boy was admitted to Texas Children's Hospital under the name John Doe. His frantic family found him hours later and identified him.

Ezra is the second victim to die in the past week, and the tenth Astroworld death overall.

The family filed a lawsuit against Travis Scott and others on Tuesday.

Over 50,000 fans attended Day 1 of what was to be a two-day music festival. Experts say a crowd surge can produce more than 1,000 pounds of pressure at the front of the stage.

Over 100 lawsuits have been filed naming Scott, Live Nation Entertainment, NRG Park, and other entities as co-defendants.

A $26 million insurance policy was in place in case of deaths or injuries. However, lawsuit damages are expected to top $100 million.

Scott, 29, earned over $65 million from Astroworld ticket sales and sponsorships.

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RIP: Coronji Calhoun Sr., ‘Monster’s Ball’ Actor, Dead at 30

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Lionsgate, Instagram

Coronji Calhoun Sr., who played Halle Berry's abused son in Monster's Ball, passed away from congestive heart failure on October 13. He was 30.

Calhoun was only 10 years old when he was cast to play Halle Berry's son Tyrell Musgrove in Lee Daniels' Monster's Ball.

Berry played Leticia Musgrove in the role that won her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2002.

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Lionsgate

Berry and Monster's Ball director Lee Daniels each donated $3,394 to a GoFundMe account created by Calhoun's mother, Theresa Bailey.

Bailey wrote:

"Coronji Calhoun Sr. recently joined the ancestors in watching over me and our family on October 13, 2021.

"We are blown away by the outpouring of love the community and Coronji's adopted family has shown during our process of grief. As we close this chapter, we ask that in your remembrance of him, you remember to love your neighbor as yourself, because that is what Coronji did for his entire community."

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RIP: Ronnie Wilson, Gap Band Founder, Dead at 73

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Mercury PTG Records

R&B legend Ronnie Wilson, a founding member of R&B/funk group The Gap Band, died of natural causes at his Tulsa, OK home on Tuesday, Nov. 2. He was 73.

Ronnie's wife, Linda Boulware-Wilson, tells TMZ that he died peacefully at 10:01 a.m., with Linda holding his hand as he took his last breath.

Linda says Ronnie suffered a stroke last week, and was in a semi-coma. Ronnie was in ill health after reportedly suffering several strokes over the years.

In a Facebook post, Linda remembered her late husband as a "genius with creating, producing and playing the flugelhorn, trumpet, keyboards and singing music."

Ronnie is the older brother of former Gap Band lead singer Charlie Wilson.

The Gap Band consisted of three brothers Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson. The band was named after streets (Greenwood, Archer, and Pine) in remembrance of the Tulsa race massacre.

The Gap Band is best known for their 1980s R&B/funk hits "Oops Up Side Your Head", "Burn Rubber on Me", "Humpin'", "Yearning for Your Love" and "You Dropped a Bomb on Me."

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The Gap Band members retired in 2010 after 43 years together. Charlie (pictured) is the last surviving brother.
 

 

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RIP: Jovita Moore Dies After Battle with Brain Cancer

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Channel 2 Action News Anchor Jovita Moore has died from brain cancer, three months after revealing her diagnosis. She was 54.

"It is with a broken heart that we announce the passing of passing of Channel 2's Jovita Moore," Channel 2 Actions News reported

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"Jovita died overnight, seven months after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Jovita had been with Channel 2 Action News since 1998. She is survived by her mother, her two wonderful children and stepdaughter, who she called the most important accomplishments of her life."

Moore was diagnosed with a brain tumor in April, less than a month after she received the Covid-19 mRNA vaccines.

After the surgery, doctors determined the tumors were an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma.

Moore gave Channel 2 Action News permission to report her brain tumor diagnosis on Thursday, July 29, after undergoing.

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Instagram/@JovitaMoore

"Our girl is strong. Our girl is a fighter and she's doing great every day," WSB-TV Community and Public Affairs Director Condace Pressley told WSB.

Moore leaves behind her mom and three children, two daughters and a son.

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RIP: Rapper Snoop Dogg’s Mother Dies

Rapper Snoop Dogg is mourning the loss of his beloved mother, Beverly Tate, who died Sunday of an undisclosed illness.

Snoop, real name Calvin Broadus Jr., paid tribute to his mother on social media on Sunday, Oct. 24.

"Thank u god for giving me an angel for a mother," he wrote in the caption of a photo of himself with his mom.

TMZ reports that Snoop's father Vernell Varnado has also confirmed the sad news.

In May, Snoop asked for prayers for his mother, who he said was hospitalized with an undisclosed illness.

In another post in May, he wrote: "Mama thank u for having me could of gave me up but u raised a family."

Snoop credited his mother for his apology to Gayle King after he dissed her over questions she asked about the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant.

In a video on social media, Snoop said, "Respect the family and back off, bitch, before we come get you."

"She didn't say I was wrong," Snoop said of his mother. "She just said, 'You know I raised you better than that. You're a representation of us. Every woman that ever crossed your life, you're a representation of that' – so I got it," Snoop recalled during his appearance on Jada Pinkett Smith's "Red Table Talk."

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On Wednesday, Snoop celebrated his birthday at a star-studded "Pimps & Ho*s" bash in Hollywood, California.

He smiled from ear-to-ear as he sat in his birthday gift, a '55 Impala vintage automobile. He gave no indication that his mother was on her death bed.

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Tommy DeBarge, of R&B/Funk Group Switch, Dead at 64

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YouTube

Tommy DeBarge -- a founding member of the R&B/funk band Switch -- has died of natural causes. He was 64.

Tommy suffered from liver and kidney failure for years. Tommy was a lifelong drug addict and was on kidney dialysis for years before he died.

Tommy was a member of the famed DeBarge family of singers, songwriters and music producers.

According to TMZ, Tommy suffered from liver and kidney failure for years, and his health recently took a turn for the worse. He was hospitalized a couple weeks ago, and died in the hospital Thursday.

While his younger siblings would later rise to fame as DeBarge, Tommy blazed his own trail as a member of Switch alongside his brother, Bobby, who died of AIDS in 1995 at age 39.

The group's smash hits in the 1970s included "I Call Your Name," "There'll Never Be," and "Love Over & Over Again."

Switch, with Bobby's falsetto lead vocals, had a huge following in the mid '70s and would influence emerging R&B/funk bands.

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Bobby and Tommy left Switch to mentor their younger brothers, James, Randy, El, Mark, and sister, Bunny.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan family band signed a record deal with Motown subsidiary Gordy Records.

Their hit singles in the 1980s included "I Like It," "All This Love," "Time Will Reveal," "Love Me in a Special Way," and "Rhythm of the Night."
 

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RIP: Olympian Agnes Tirop Found Stabbed to Death

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Olympian Agnes Jebet Tirop was reportedly stabbed to death in her own home in Iten, Kenya on Oct. 13. She was 25.

The body of the long-distance runner was found in her bed by police responding to a welfare check call from the athlete's father.

Her father reached out to the authorities when he couldn't get in touch with his daughter by phone.

According to police, Tirop sustained multiple stab wounds to her neck and abdomen.

Police are looking for Agnes' husband, who went missing after her death, according to TMZ sources.

The sad news comes just weeks after Tirop set a women's world record at a 10-kilometer race in Germany.

Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya's president, said in a statement:

"It is unsettling, utterly unfortunate and very sad that we've lost a young and promising athlete who, at a young age of 25 years, had brought our country so much glory."

Adidas bosses also paid tribute to the athlete in a statement:

"The Adidas family is deeply saddened by the tragic news about Agnes Jebet Tirop. Agnes was an incredible person, a record-breaking athlete and a beloved member of our family. She will be greatly missed by us all and her legacy will forever live on in our memory."

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RIP: Filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles Dead at 89

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Filmmaker, author and songwriter Melvin Van Peebles has died from natural causes. He was 89.

Melvin Van Peebles is best known for his cult classics Watermelon Man and Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song.

A family statement reads:

"In an unparalleled career distinguished by relentless innovation, boundless curiosity and spiritual empathy, Melvin Van Peebles made an indelible mark on the international cultural landscape through his films, novels, plays and music.

"His work continues to be essential and is being celebrated at the New York Film Festival this weekend with a 50th anniversary screening of his landmark film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song; a Criterion Collection box set, Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films next week; and a revival of his play Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death, slated for a return to Broadway next year."

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Dubbed the Godfather of Black Cinema, Van Peebles shot to fame with his mainstream directorial debut, The Story of a Three-Day Pass, and landed the job of bringing Watermelon Man to the big screen in 1970.

The racial satire, starring Godfrey Cambridge, was a huge hit, landing Van Peebles a three-picture deal at Columbia.

However, movie executives were not supportive of his follow-up, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, which Van Peebles made anyway using cash loaned to him by Bill Cosby.

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Melvin wrote, directed, produced, scored and edited Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, while also starring as the title character.

Following its release, the movie became the highest-grossing independent film in history.

His filmmaking credits also include Identity Crisis, which starred his son Mario Van Peebles, and Posse, in which he co-starred with his son.

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Mario also adapted his father's novel about the growth of the Black Panther Party into 1995 film Panther, and the younger Van Peebles paid homage to his dad in 2003's Baadasssss.

Among his many accolades, Melvin picked up a Cinema Vanguard Award and a Special Achievement Award from the African-American Film Critics Association, a Daytime Emmy, a Gotham Tribute Award, the Humanitas Prize, and a NAACP Image Award.

Source: WENN.com