Tame One, a founding member of the Artifacts Hip Hop collective from New Jersey, died at the age of 52. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Rah Digga, who posted an emotional tribute and condolences on Instagram, confirmed his death.
"I don't usually rush to the internet to post news like this when I'm in the midst of feeling it... 'However, we're going to give this Jersey legend his muthafuckin flowers!!' she wrote. "hold your head."
The Artifacts were Tame One, El Da Sensei, and DJ Kaos from Newark, New Jersey.
The Artifacts, also known as "The Brick City Kids," released their debut album, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, on October 25, 1994. The album featured production from Buckwild of D.I.T.C. and T-Ray of the Soul Assassins crew, and it was critically acclaimed for its B-boy and graffiti motifs. That's Them, their sophomore album, was released on April 15, 1997, and the group split up soon after it's release.
Artifacts would reunite for occasional performances over the years but didn't release another project until this year's No Expiration Date, a collaboration with producer Buckwild that will be released in August 2022.
Tame One formed The Weathermen with Cage Kennylz, Masai Bey, Aesop Rock, Yak Ballz, El-P, Jakki Tha Motamouth, Camu Tao, Copywrite, Vast Aire, and Breeze Brewin in 1998.
Tame One, Redman's first cousin, released six solo albums, three mixtapes, and three collaborations, one as Leak Bros (Waterworld) with former labelmate Cage, one with Del The Funky Homosapien (Parallel Uni-verses), and The Revolution album with Dro Pesci and Nick Jackelson.
When word of Tame One death broke, many people took to social media to share their memories of the pioneering MC.
"East Tame Rest" One of the legendary Artifacts crew... I had the pleasure of working with him a long time ago. "My heartfelt condolences to his closest friends and family," Dante Ross wrote on Twitter.
Rest East Tame One of the mighty Artifacts crew...Had the pleasure of working with him many moons ago. MY deepest of condolences to his closest friends and family🙏
— Dante Ross (@DanteRoss) November 7, 2022
Tame One and Artifacts were recognised by Statik Selektah for keeping graffiti at the forefront of their artistry.
"If you ever tagged your name with a magnum marker, you were connected to what Artifacts means to us," he wrote in his post. "Tame One, RIP."
Just Blaze, a fellow New Jersey native, also shared his Tame One memories on Instagram.
"RIP Tame One @tamerdizzle of the mighty Artifacts / Boom Skwad, my big bro and hometown hero." Thanks to @maliqmania and @black45nj_, he and @ .senseifromnj were the first two signed artists to ever rhyme on something of mine back in the Pipeline nightclub days in Newark, along with the Outsidaz shortly after. That experience gave me the confidence and belief that I could possibly make a career out of music. Fast forward nearly 30 years, and I'm proud to call him a friend as well as a fan."
HipHopDX extends our heartfelt condolences to Tame One family and friends.