Music Stars We Lost in 2015
These beloved artists have gone to the great beyond.
1 / 15
Music Stars We Lost in 2015 - As another year approaches we bid a sorrowful farewell to music stars past and present, who gave the world sweet melodies as well as beats and rhymes before passing on. Here’s a look at the beloved artists who’ve gone to the great beyond in 2015.
Photo By Photos from left: Johnny Nunez/WireImage
2 / 15
Chinx - The Queens-born member of the Coke Boys crew was on the verge of stardom via French Montana’s new Coke Boys label, having rocked mixtapes like Cocaine Riot 1 & 2. The 31-year-old died from gunshot wounds on May 17. (Photo: Brad Barket/Getty Images for BET)
Photo By Brad Barket/Getty Images for BET
3 / 15
ASAP Yams - The Harlem native was the co-founder, visionary and executive that helped elevate the ASAP Mob into the ASAP Worldwide Record label. This past March Yams died of acute mixed drug intoxication. He was 26. (Photo: John Ricard/BET/Getty Images for BET)
4 / 15
Sean Price - Sean Price, one half of the '90s rap duo Heltah Skeltah and member of the Brooklyn hip hop collective Boot Camp Clik, made his mark on music via LPs like 1995’s Nocturnal and 1998’s Magnum Force. On August 8, just before his solo album, Songs in the Key of Price, was scheduled for release, Price died in his sleep. (Photo: Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)
5 / 15
The Jacka - This Cali rhyme-star was known as much for his massive productivity as he was for his lyrics. Starting out as a member of Mob Figuz, where he scored noteworthy tracks like “Hustlin’ in the Rain,” Jacka would go solo and release over 13 LPs, including The Street Album and Tear Gas. This past February, he was fatally shot in Oakland. (Photo: D-Ray Archer)
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 15
Pumpkinhead - In 1997, Brooklyn-based rapper Pumpkinhead got a music break when he released the underground hit single “Dynamic.” He died while undergoing surgery on June 9. (Image by: Rick Davis / Splash News)
7 / 15
Hussein Fatal - He was the famed member of the rap group Outlaws and most famous for his work with hip hop music icon Tupac Shakur. On July 10 the 36-year-old rap star died after being in a car accident in Georgia. (Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Photo By Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage
8 / 15
Kool DJ AJ - Original-school hip hop DJ Kool DJ AJ musically backed two of hip hop’s pioneering MCs, Busy Bee and Kurtis Blow. He was even immortalized by Blow, who wrote the 1984 hit “AJ Scratch” to honor him. AJ died from an undisclosed illness in September. (Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
9 / 15
Koopsta Knicca - An original member of Three 6 Mafia, Koopsta struck out on his solo career in 1999 with the disc Da Devil’s Playground. Koopsta Knicca died on October 6 after suffering a stroke and brain aneurysm. (Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
10 / 15
B.B. King - Famously known as the “King of the Blues,” B.B. King’s 60-year music career was not only fueled by his masterful guitar playing but also his plethora of iconic hits such as “The Thrill Is Gone,” “Everyday I Have the Blues” and “Lucille” (also the name of his guitar). The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer died this past May. He was 89. (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
ADVERTISEMENT