Price's wife Bernadette made an announcement on Facebook [via Rap Radar], saying that her husband had died in his sleep this morning (August 8). The cause of his death is not known. Peers like Raekwon, Killer Mike, Joey Bada$$, De La Soul, DJ Premier, Just Blaze and more tweeted tribute messages to Price. Read those messages at the bottom of this page.
Also known as Ruckus or Ruck, Price rose to prominence in the mid-to-late '90s as a member of the rap duo Heltah Skeltah. They broke up for a few years around the turn of the millennium, but reunited in 2005. According to Price's Twitter account, he was in the process of looking for beats for a new Heltah Skeltah album.
Price also recorded a few albums with Boot Camp Clik, and he made a one-off LP in 2011 under the name Random Axe (a trio also featuring Black Milk and Guilty Simpson).
In the past decade, he released music under his own name and was associated with the label Duck Down Music. His new mixtape Songs in the Key of Price had been expected out on August 21; it remains to be seen whether its release will go ahead as planned. Below, hear "S.E.A.N." from that project.
RIP Sean Price. Mic God, lyrical Warrior and supreme Emcee
— Killer Mike (@KillerMike) August 8, 2015
R.I.P. Ruck....Love and Respect to The Duck Down Family!!! #SeanPrice https://t.co/7K1R6X8dSs
— DJ Premier (@REALDJPREMIER) August 8, 2015
I feel like I just got kicked in the heart. RIP Sean P.
— Just Blaze (@JustBlaze) August 8, 2015
I can't believe I even just typed that..
— Just Blaze (@JustBlaze) August 8, 2015
I can't believe I even just typed that..
— Just Blaze (@JustBlaze) August 8, 2015
Heading to this rhythm roulette thing. Going to try and make something I would've wanted to hear him on in tribute.
— Just Blaze (@JustBlaze) August 8, 2015
(Photos + Video) RIP To Our Brother, Rapper Sean Price, Has Passed Away http://t.co/xbIHjkk7BD http://t.co/xXQTmZjsga
— Funk Flex !!!!! (@funkflex) August 8, 2015
Our condolences go out to the family of Sean Price... "To him we belong and to him we shall return"… https://t.co/idnKGrcZ8a
— De La Soul (@WeAreDeLaSoul) August 8, 2015
Life is too crazy man smh... RIP to the big homie Sean Price
— B4.DA.$$ OUT NOW!!! (@joeyBADASS) August 8, 2015
My people are dying too quickly for me to keep up
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) August 8, 2015
J Period, me, Sean Price & Redman. I'm reeling right now https://t.co/UAn07yo27l
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) August 8, 2015
Wow... We just lost a REAL ONE. Smh.... I don't even wanna be typing this... Was just listening to him yesterday... R.I.P Sean Price. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
— Joell Ortiz (@JoellOrtiz) August 8, 2015
RIP Sean Price
— Raekwon The Chef (@Raekwon) August 8, 2015
Omfg Sean Price passed away 😔😔😔😢
— Hudson Mohawke (@HudMo) August 8, 2015
This is the worst. To the legend...and big man with a big heart and big sense of humor...we love you Sean Price. RIP.
— Rapsody (@rapsody) August 8, 2015
— Duck Down Music Inc. (@DuckDownMusic) August 8, 2015