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Phife Dawg's Protege Jax Dies On Stage

Phife Dawg of veteran rap group A Tribe Called Quest suffered a crushing loss earlier this month when his protege, underground rapper Jax, died on stage during a performance at Lenny's in Atlanta. According to reports, the young rapper, born Chris Thurston, died of a heart attack.

Thurston was a popular and well-respected rapper in Atlanta's thriving underground scene, along with his group Binkis Recs, and his talent eventually caught the attention of Phife, DJ Rasta Root and DJ Drama.

"I just don't cater to anyone like that," Phife said in a radio interview. "I used to kid him and call him Ghostface Jr., with his whole swagger and the way he attacked the tracks. His energy was also similar to [Busta Rhymes']."

The underground emcee was working alongside Phife and Rasta Root to launch the independent label Smokin' Needles Records before his untimely death. Funeral services for Thurston were held in his hometown of Queens, N.Y. on November 15.

Departed Music Personalities

    Mitch Mitchell, Nov. 12: The rock durmmer, left, and last surviving member of the legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience, was found dead of apparent natural causes in a Portland hotel room at age 61. The leader of the band overdosed in 1970, while bassist Noel Redding, right, died in 2003.

    Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

    Miriam Makeba, Nov. 10: THe South African singing legend who was banned from her own country for more than 30 years under apartheid died from a heart attack after collapsing on stage in Italy. She was 76.

    AP

    Shakir Stewart, Nov. 1: The Island Def Jam executive who became head of the legendary rap label following Jay-Z's departure, killed himself on Nov. 1. Police say he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 34 years old.

    Merl Saunders, Oct. 24: The rock and jazz keyboardist who recorded albums with music titans like The Grateful Dead and Miles Davis, died at the age of 74 after complications from a stroke.

    Christopher Felver, Corbis

    Dee Dee Warwick, Oct. 18: The soul songstress died after months of declining health. Warwick, the sister of soul legend Dionne, also achieved a great deal of success, both as a solo artist as well as with her sister.

    Getty Images

    Levi Stubbs, Oct. 17: The iconic lead singer, second from left, who gave voice to Four Tops classics like "Reach Out I'll Be There" and "Baby I Need Your Loving" died at 72 from complications of cancer and a stroke. Abdul Fakir, far left, is now the sole living member of the original quartet.

    AP

    Nick Reynolds, Oct. 1: The Kingston Trio led the folk music uprising in the late 1950s, paving the way for the Dylans and the Baezs of the world. Reynolds, right with Dave Guard and Bob Shane, had been in the hospital with acute respiratory disease before his family took him off life support. He was 75.

    AP

    Norman Whitfield, Sept. 16: The Motown tunesmith responsible for anthems like 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' 'Car Wash' and 'War' died shortly after awakening from a diabetes-related coma. He was 67.

    Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

    Richard Wright, Sept. 15: With Pink Floyd, he unleashed new sounds from his collection of synths and organs that gave the band its signature psychedelic sheen. Wright, who also wrote mammoth cuts like "Us and Them" for the band, died following a battle with cancer. He was 65.

    AP

    Jerry Reed, Sept. 2: He started off as a guitarist, eventually had a string of country hits and also made the jump to the big screen with successful turns in Burt Reynolds films like 'Smokey and the Bandit' and 'Gator.' Reed lost a battle to emphysema at 71.

    Doug McKenzie, Getty Images

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110 Comments

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Michelle

Chris, now why does it have to be crack. You must of been there smoking it with him. You seem to have the inside scoop on the story. This man is someones family, while you the real crackhead are on here yapping your big mouth about someone you don't know. Have some respect, I know it's hard for your little peanut brain to soak in. And no please don't say more, this country will be a better place without your dumb, ignorant, anal comments.

November 23 2008 at 7:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cathyxyz123

John Donne said it best:

No Man is an island
entire of itself.
Every man is a piece of the continent,
a part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the lesser.
As well as if a promonotory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
or of thine own were.
Any man's death diminishes me
because I am involved with mankind.
Therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls.
It tolls for thee.

Lisa and Jax' dad, I send my love and my comfort.

November 20 2008 at 1:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
yousthezous

My heart goes out to the family, I loved his music and will always remember him. He will always live through his music. Much love for everyone affected by this tragedy, my prayers are with you.Jax Forever King

November 19 2008 at 12:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Justin

bet I sound black too anyway a good person was lost and Ill miss him no Im a white boy and Im not related to him. amd btw not all rappers are thugs

November 19 2008 at 6:33 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Justin's comment
InfidelCrusader

No, and not all muslimes are terrorists.

But its funny, how most terrorists are muslimes.

Do the math.

November 21 2008 at 6:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
distyblues

damn shame

November 19 2008 at 5:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
King Orgasmic

notice how every(yes every) time there is a story about black folk, be it sports,music,politics,whatever..notice how some future meth head has to drop by any spew their yadda yadda..if you hate it so much, why are you compelled to spit that venom.three doors down is three pages away.get to steppin'...

November 19 2008 at 3:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
King Orgasmic

just ran a list of the worlds all time greatest serial killers..talk about a box full of saltines...

November 19 2008 at 3:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Roxie

Tami
at 11-18-2008

"Are you BLACK? You sure sound black to me! Why? Because you sound like an IMBECILE! I mean seriously. Why are you taking his comment so seriously? Are you related to this rapper person?
Dude, people die everyday. People who actually CONTRIBUTE to this world. The majority of rap and the thugs who write the words and do the rapping are garbage. What do they contribute but a bunch of violence and hate. It's not like they are trying to find a cure for cancer or even Sickle Cell Anemia, so what's the big deal? I now I'll save my tears for someone worth it. In the mean time you can continue to sound like a fool. By the way, what does YOUR mother do for a living? ;)"
----------------------------------------------------

Tami, you don't know what he has done for his community. The fact remains that a man died. You typed a nice size paragraph criticizing stephenseebaranat. Your comment was unnecessary and made no sense.

November 19 2008 at 1:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
julinayde

well thats what happens when you smoke your health out with marijuana, cocaine, drinking everyday, not doing what your body needs for you to do. I see it happen all too often. they dont report about it alot. but drugs play a big role in these type of unfortunate deaths.

November 19 2008 at 12:38 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
gldendome

rap please go away my ears are bleeding

November 19 2008 at 12:30 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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