PM Dawn's Prince Be, one of the most prominent hip hop artists of the early 90's, has passed away due to renal kidney disease, at age 46.
PM Dawn was formed in the late 80's by two brothers, Attrell Cordes, a.k.a Prince Be, and Jarrett Cordes, a.k.a. DJ Minutemix. The duo rose to prominence with their unique blend of traditional hip hop, bohemian style, and pop influences. Best known for their 1991 single, Set Adrift on Memory Bliss, PM Dawn released five albums within the span of the next decade, and the first two sold well enough to be certified Gold by the RIAA. At a time when many hip hop acts were trying to portray themselves as "hard," PM Dawn stood out for embracing their softer, more emotional sound.
Prince Be struggled with health problems throughout his life. He was diagnosed with diabetes twenty years ago, and suffered a stroke in 2005 that left him paralyzed on one side. According to a statement from his wife to the NY Times, Prince Be's fatal renal kidney disease was a result of his diabetes.
Prince Be's death comes just three months after the death of A Tribe Called Quest's Phife Dawg, who also passed away due to diabetes-related complications at the age of 45. Yo MTV Raps host Doctor Dre also recently announced that he has gone blind due to diabetes, and is currently producing a reality show that details his struggle with the disease.
By Michael Lacerna for RAPstation.com
