I aint Cube and I'm havin a f*cked up day

November 23, 2008 9:24 AM

Eric 'MC' Breed, a well known rap artist popular in the 90's, died yesterday at the age of 36.

Back in September he collapsed from kidney failure, was on life support for a time and was told he needed a kidney transplant. In what is likely his last interview, he talks extensively about his kidney failure and hospitalization, going on to say he had been released from the hospital with a clean bill of health. He was found at a friends house in Ypsilanti, according to Darryl Morris, Breed's manager. He had 3 daughters and a son.

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posted by cashman (17 comments total)

While MC Breed was not under 30, here's a list of others who died too young.
posted by gman at 9:30 AM on November 23, 2008

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too young.
posted by sunshinesky at 9:30 AM on November 23, 2008

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posted by Marisa Stole the Precious Thing at 9:35 AM on November 23, 2008

Probably his biggest hit: 'Ain't No Future in Yo Frontin'.'
posted by box at 9:36 AM on November 23, 2008

Uh, as seen in the first link. Oops.
posted by box at 9:37 AM on November 23, 2008

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posted by sveskemus at 9:49 AM on November 23, 2008

Too sad. My ladyfriend used to tend bar in downtown Detroit and one night, a few years back, Breed came into the bar, marched right up to the jukebox and "suggested" to the patron standing there that he play an MC Breed song. It could've been seen as pathetic or domineering or whatever, but after he sat down and ordered a Jack-and-coke and started striking up conversations with a few folks around me, I realized it's just how he had made it as relatively far as he did: ceaseless self-promotion and hustle, backed up with talent. No faux modesty (which I know is itself pretty antithetical to the whole "dozens" history behind hip-hop), just: "Here's my track, I think it fucking rules, you should play it, bro." Too soon.

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posted by joe lisboa at 10:06 AM on November 23, 2008 [1 favorite]

Thirty-six is awfully young to die of kidney disease, poor man. "Insult" to the kidneys, I wonder what that was?

I didn't see much in the videos (as you know, I'm really not a fan) but the backing tracks were OK and he seemed sweet and cheerful. Very sad.

But my actual question for you is the following. My father pointed out to me when I was young that pop music seems to run in 20-30 year cycles - he predicted that rock music would be overtaken by something else and he was right.

So what's the next big thing? What's going to replace hip-hop? I was hoping it'd be the electronica movement, which had some currency in Europe, but it never seemed to really catch on in the US.

Let us strongly hope that the South Korean pop music that dominates much of Asia won't appear here at least.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 10:55 AM on November 23, 2008

No! Agh, that sucks. One of my favourites. Dang.

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posted by batmonkey at 11:12 AM on November 23, 2008

How do you get Kidney Disease that young? I hope I'm not being insensitive, I'm just really curious. It seems so improbaple and tragic.
posted by The Whelk at 11:38 AM on November 23, 2008

Probably his biggest hit: 'Ain't No Future in Yo Frontin' .'

"I'm the E-Double"

Sorry, there is only one E-Double, and I'm pretty sure it isn't him.
posted by rxrfrx at 12:05 PM on November 23, 2008

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Hope his 4 kids are coping alright. 36 is most definitely too young.
posted by p3t3 at 2:41 PM on November 23, 2008

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posted by Bobby Bittman at 3:57 PM on November 23, 2008

Everyone always wanted more for MC Breed.

But he got what gave.

RIP

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posted by humannaire at 4:35 PM on November 23, 2008

I remember watching "Jukebox---The box that rocks", and seeing this video again and again.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been thinking of these lyrics over and over again:

Never change my ways for the world or the government
If I was the president, then I would state facts
You leave it up to me, I paint the white house black
It ain't no future in your frontin

He was ahead of his time.
posted by hal_c_on at 5:58 PM on November 23, 2008 [1 favorite]

From HipHopDX, Detroit rap community speaks on Breed's passing:

'Boss, famed for being the Detroit native who would go on to be the flagship artist of Russell Simmons' Def Jam West label, spoke about her longtime friend and peer. "Breed was not only a pioneer of Detroit Hip Hop, but of Hip Hop as a whole. Having suffered with kidney failure myself, it is important that we as entertainers, take care of our health and promote organ donation and our communities. Breed will be greatly missed."'
posted by cashman at 4:29 AM on November 24, 2008

Breed is survived by three daughters and two sons; his parents; two brothers; and a sister.
posted by cashman at 12:08 PM on November 24, 2008