Musician Don Newkirk reportedly handed away this week, though no reason for loss of life has been revealed. Rahiem of the Livid 5 shared a Fb put up on Friday (November 25) confirming his loss of life.
“It’s with a heavy coronary heart I announce the transitioning of my brother Don Newkirk,” he wrote. “Fifty-six years younger. Don Newkirk was among the many first R&B artists signed to Def Jam data. My condolences exit to his household. S.I.P bro.”
Newkirk was well-known for his voice-overs on albums corresponding to De La Soul’s 3 Ft Excessive and Rising and the third Bass’ tune “The Fuel Face” from the group’s 1989 debut, The Cactus Album. Across the similar time, he dropped a solo album known as Funk Metropolis by way of OBR/Columbia Information, a subsidiary of Def Jam Information. The album spawned the singles “I Need” and “Sweat You.”
Talking to AllHipHop final 12 months, Newkirk mirrored on his journey and the impression he made on each R&B and Hip-Hop.
“Funk Metropolis was like in a mode of me experimenting, studying instrumentation and studying how you can use my voice differently different than simply rapping,” Newkirk mentioned on the time. “As a result of I used to be by no means a singer. I used to be at all times an MC. However I simply felt like I may categorical what I used to be attempting to save lots of higher with melody again then. So it got here out extra in order Funk Metropolis, which I feel is dope as a result of it gave folks an entire completely different ingredient of me. And simply that entire time of like what was happening our crew.
‘Perhaps I’d have had extra success If I had caught to emceeing, being the 3 Ft Excessive and Rising got here out and ‘Fuel Face’ was about to return out. After which I used to be in that entire camp, just about within the Native Tongues camp however probably not a Native Tongue, extra so as a result of I used to be singing than spitting. However I’m glad that it it did go down the best way it went down as a result of it created this legacy that I’m solely now realizing, has made an impact that I didn’t even know from again then as a result of we didn’t have web.”
In 2016, Newkirk joined Prince Paul (Stetsasonic, De La Soul), Ladybug Mecca (Digable Planets) and Rodrigo Brandão as a member of BROOKZILL!, a short-lived however potent experimental challenge. The group launched one album, Throwback To The Future, after which went their separate methods. 4 12 months later, once more linked up with Prince Paul to compose the rating for the Netflix documentary, Who Killed Malcolm X.
AllHipHop sends its condolences to Newkirk’s household, associates and followers. Try a couple of of the reactions beneath.
