Rico Wade: Hip-hop community, Atlanta react to the passing of the legendary producer

Legendary producer Rico Wade, 52, has died leaving the hip-hop community mourning and fans replaying the classic albums he helped create. Wade’s death was announced Saturday on Instagram by artist and activist Killer Mike, a frequent collaborator of the Southern hip-hop icon. “I don’t have the words to express my deep and profound sense of loss,” Killer Mike said in his post. “I am Praying for your wife and Children. I am praying for the Wade family. I am praying for us all.” The official cause of Wade’s death has not been announced, but his family confirmed the tragic news in a statement obtained by the New York Times. “We are deeply saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of our son, father, husband and brother Rico Wade,” the statement said. “Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of a talented individual who touched the lives of so many. We ask that you respect the legacy of our loved one and our privacy at this time.” How Rico Wade helped form Organized Noize Wade became a mainstay in hip-hop when he, Ray Murray and Patrick Brown, also known as Sleepy, formed the Atlanta-based production group Organized Noize in...