Rapper Black Rob, best known for his association with P. Diddy’s Bad Boy Records, passed away on Saturday. He was 51.
TMZ reported the news, with Rob’s fellow MCs Mark Curry and DJ Self supporting themselves on social media.
At the moment, the cause of death has not yet been announced. However, it is known that he had a struggle with kidney failure, and that he also suffered a series of strokes until 2015. Recently, he was admitted to the hospital in Atlanta, although he was subsequently discharged.
Born Robert Ross, Black Rob grew up in East Harlem and started raping before reaching his teens. At the age of 22, he performed with his first rap group, the Schizophrenics, under the stage name “Bacardi Rob.”
In 1996, Rob became involved with the Bad Boy label and appeared on a remix of 112’s “Come See Me.” The rapper would remain with Bad Boy until 2010, when he left independent label Down Duck Records and eventually co-founded his own label, Box and One, with Jemal Mosley.
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While Black Rob has been featured on albums by Cru, Ol Dirty Bastard, Channel Live, The Madd Rapper, Benzino, Tony Touch and more during his career, many know him for his 2000 hit single, “Whoa!”, Which number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100. In total, he has released four studio albums, including Life story (2000), The Black Rob Report (2005), Game tested, streets approved (2011) and Real article (2015).
In 2013, Rob also ventured into television with a short-lived reality series called Come Back Kings, in which he appeared opposite Ed Lover, Calvin Richardson, David “Davinch” Chance and more.
Black Rob was the father of four children, named Kayli, Rianna, Diamond and Million.
Reactions to his passing can be found below.
Mark Curry has revealed that former Bad Boy recording artist Black Rob has passed away.#RIPBlackRob pic.twitter.com/VGnC5wLGMM
– Versey (@VerseyMusic) 17 April 2021