R.I.P. Sean Price – PLANET APES

Bio: Sean Du-Val Price (March 17, 1972 – August 8, 2015) was an American rapper and member of the hip hop collective Boot Camp Clik. He was half of the duo Heltah Skeltah, performing under the name Ruckus, or in short Ruck, along with partner Rock.

A member of the underground hip hop collective Boot Camp Clik, Price first appeared on Smif-N-Wessun’s 1995 albumDah Shinin’. He would soon resurface in 1996 as one half of the critically acclaimed Brooklyn duo Heltah Skeltah, who released their debut album Nocturnal on Duck Down Records that year. Heltah Skeltah would go on to release two more albums, 1998’s Magnum Force and 2008’s D.I.R.T..

In the 2000s, Price would establish himself as a strong force in the underground hip hop community. In 2005, Price released his first solo album Monkey Barz, which was released to overall critical acclaim. Price would follow up in 2007 with Jesus Price Supastar and later with Mic Tyson in 2012.

He was also featured in the video game NBA 2K11 as a playable character in street mode. Price lived in Brownsville, Brooklyn.

In 2011, Price was a judge on the Ultimate MC TV show alongside Royce da 5’9″, Organik, Planet Asia, and Pharoahe Monch.

Price had been interviewed on the online series Grand Angel TV in 2008 and 2010, with Paid Dues performance footage alongside Boot Camp Clik and Dru Ha, respectively.

In 2011 he formed the group Random Axe with Guilty Simpson and producer Black Milk.

He had a planned collaborative album with rapper Ill Bill in the works, called “The Pill.”

He was a Muslim, having converted in 2009.

On August 8, 2015, Price died at the age of 43. Details surrounding his death were not immediately available, but a statement from his reps confirmed his death, while adding that he died in his sleep. “It is with beyond a heavy heart that Duck Down Music is sadly confirming that Sean Price passed away early this morning in his Brooklyn apartment, Saturday, August 8th, 2015,” read the statement. “The cause of death is currently unknown, but it was reported that he died in his sleep. He’s survived by his wife, and his three children.”

As of August 12th, 2015, fans of the fallen rapper had raised almost $73,000 on the fundraising website Crowdrise in support of Price’s family.