Rapper MC Breed’s Death Mourned; Label Releases Statement

It was a sad day indeed for hip-hop on Saturday (Nov. 22), when Flint, Michigan-based rapper MC Breed, born Eric Breed, 36, passed away after struggling with kidney failure. Breed’s kidney failure stems back to when the rapper collapsed on September 5, 2008 during a game of basketball in Atlanta. Afterwards, Breed was hospitalized and placed on life-support.

The rapper began his career in the early 90’s with album “MC Breed & DFC,” then solo albums “20 Below” in 1992, “The New Breed” in 1993 and “Funkafied” in 1994. Breed dropped over 10 albums in his career and was preparing to release another album entitled “Original Breed/Mc Breed – The Original Swag” featuring Too Short before his death.

One of Breed’s over 10 albums was “Saucy” which was released February 1997 for Ichiban Records. The album Saucy featured production by MC Breed, Jazze Pha, amongst others.

Nina K. Easton, co-Founder of Ichiban Records and President of IMG International, Inc., who states they recently signed a new recording deal with the hip hop pioneer released the following statement to MemphisRap.com:

“Eric was a real poet, a colorful character, and most of all a hip-hop pioneer who had so much more to say and so much living yet to do. He made my life a little brighter by being in it. I will never forget his smile, his excitement for the industry and the true happiness he showed all of us the last number of months as we collaborated with each other once again. My heart goes out to his wife Tasha, his children, mother, father and siblings who lost a husband, father, son and brother. He left us way too soon and will be missed deeply.”

Other albums released by MC Breed under Ichiban were compilation albums “The Mix Tape” (released September 2004) and “Chopped and Screwed” (released July 2002) featuring production by MC Breed, Ant Banks, Warren G, and Jazze Pha.

Though Breed had been taken off of life support and was stated to have been recovering after his kidney failure, he died November 22, 2008 reportedly in his sleep. The exact cause is however not yet known.