Prolific Hip Hop Producer Chucky Thompson Dead at 53

The music world suffered a major loss Monday when it was confirmed by his publicist that Chucky

Thompson, who was responsible for some of the label’s biggest hits as one of Bad Boy Entertainment’s in-house production team known as the Hitmen, died at the age of 53.

Image source: Instagram (@chucklife365)

“It is with a very heavy heart that I can confirm the passing of Chucky Thompson,” Juda said in a statement posted on Twitter. “To anyone in his orbit, you know how generous he was with his energy, creativity and love. Both the music industry and the world has lost a titan.”

While no cause of death was released, AllHipHop.com reported he was battling COVID-19 when he died. If that holds true the Washington D.C. native, born Carl E. Thompson, is just the latest in a long list of notable musicians who have fallen victim to the virus including fellow hip hop standouts DJ Black N Mild, DJ Mike Huckaby and Fred the Godson.

Thompson helped shape the sound of a generation of hip hop in the 90s while working with Bad Boy, producing some of its biggest hits including Notorious B.I.G.’s signature jam “Big Poppa,” the Craig Mack classic “Flava in Ya Ear” and his production of Mary J. Blige’s second album and early opus “My Life” both started his career with the label and helped propel the singer to superstardom. 

He also helmed huge hits for Nas (“One Mic”), Usher “Think of You”) and TLC (“If I Was Your Girlfriend”) among others. 

Below is a playlist of some of the producer's greatest work:

Kool & The Gang Co-Founder Dennis 'Dee Tee' Thomas Dead at Age 70

Dennis “Dee Tee" Thomas, Kool & The Gang co-founder and the bands master of ceremonies at concerts, died “peacefully in his sleep” Saturday at his home in New Jersey, according to the Associated Press.

Courtesy of K.T.F.A. Entertainment Inc

Thomas, 70, was one of seven friends who created the seminal soul group. Along with brothers Ronald and Robert Bell, Spike Mickens, Ricky Westfield, George Brown and Charles Smith, he founded the Jazziacs in 1964, which would eventually become Kool & The Gang.

Under that moniker the group has enjoyed decades of success, particularly in the late 70s and early 80s when the ablums “Ladies' Night “(1979), “Celebrate!” (1980), and “Emergency” (1984) produced multiple high-charting hits including Billboard No. 1“Celebration," "Get Down on It," "Joanna,” "Misled" and "Cherish.”

Born February 9, 1951 in Orlando, Florida, Thomas was a saxophonist, flutist and percussionist. His last performance with Kool & The Gang came on July 4th of this year at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. He is the second member of the band to die in recent years. Ronald Bell died on September 9 of last year, aged 68.

Kool & the Gang has sold more than 70 million records worldwide according to the New Jersey Hall of Fame, released more than two dozen albums and won two Grammy Awards and seven American Music Awards.

Las Vegas Bringing Whitney Houston Back in Hologram Show

Courtesy Base Hologram 

Nearly 20 years after her accidental death Whitney Houston is making a return to the American stage.
Thanks to technology created by Houston, Texas',  Base Hologram — in partnership with the late singer's estate —Houston will begin a residency in Las Vegas in October.

An Evening With Whitney: The Whitney Houston Hologram Concert features holograms of Houston from various stages of her career interacting with live backup singers, dancers, and musicians in an attempt to create a one-of-a-kind concert experience that gives the audience a chance to see the diva breathe life into her greatest works. 

“A hologram show is all about the imagination and creating a “wow factor” that extends to an incredible experience to enjoy for years to come,"  said Pat Houston, Whitney's sister-in-law, former manager and CEO of the Whitney E. Houston Estate, of the show adding that while Whitney is not with us her music will be with us forever and projects like this hologram tour will help keep her memory alive.

"We know we made the right decision partnering with BASE because they understand how important it is to produce a phenomenal hologram. They also know that engaging her fans with an authentic Whitney experience would resonate worldwide because of the iconic status that she created over three decades. Her fans deserve nothing less because she gave nothing less than her best.”

Choreographer Fatima Robinson, known for her award-winning work with celebrities such as Michael Jackson and Mary J. Blige amongst many others, described Houston as a musical trailblazer, adding, "I'm extremely honored to have this opportunity to help craft this show in her honor."

The show opens October 26th at the Harrah’s Showroom, with performances currently scheduled to occur almost nightly until April 30, 2022. Tickets are available now on Vivid Seats and Ticketmaster. This will be the second run for the show. It debuted in the U.K. in February of  2020 before the pandemic to mixed reviews.