Double K death: Chuck D and Questlove lead tributes after rapper ‘dies in his sleep’ aged 43

Rapper Double K has died aged 43, according to reports.

One half of Los Angeles hip-hop duo People Under the Stairs, Double K – born Michael Turner – died at home on Saturday 30 January, according to the Los Angeles County Medical-Examiner Coroner.

DJ Mark Luv, a friend, claimed he died in his sleep. An official cause of death has not been disclosed.

Double K formed People Under the Stairs with Thes One (Christopher Portugal) in 1997. Their debut album, The Next Step, was released in 1998.

The duo continued to release records and tour for 22 years, including with Mac Miller, who brought them out as his opening act in 2011.

Their 12th and final album, Sincerely, The P, was released in 2019 before their disbandment.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times that year about their legacy, Double K reflected on how he was “surrounded by negativity” while he was growing up, “the things going on in the streets, the stuff that I thought I wanted to be a part of.”

“I decided that this was more important. I just holed up in my room, listening to music, and then I met this dude and I had somebody else to listen to music with,” he said, referring to to Thes One.

Questlove was among the artists to pay tribute to Double K, writing on Instagram: “Man. We’ve done so many shows with #PUTS I remember teasing @blowMTVapps aka DOUBLE K first time I met him for wasting that Sade sample on the “Slow Bullet” interlude on the Next Step lp”.

He continued: “Such a good dude. Celebrate his legacy and blast People Under The Stairs– keepers of the torch. Rest In Beats Double K. Very apropos for him to cut up #CatchAGroove on the original 12inch pressings. Thank you for your service.”

Public Enemy’s Chuck D tweeted: “Double K a great young man, dedicated to the craft. Gone too soon. His aunt happened to be a good friend of mine and he comes from good folk.”

Chuck D receives a shoutout on the 2002 People Under the Stairs track “Acid Raindrops”.

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