DJ Unk’s cause of death has been revealed following his shock death at age 43 on January 24.
On Sunday, TMZ confirmed that the Atlanta rapper, known for his tracks like Walk It Out and 2 Step, died from a heart attack.
His wife, Sherkita Long-Platt, told the outlet that he passed in his sleep ‘after suffering cardiac arrest.’
She also set the record straight that his death did not involve narcotics as she insisted her spouse ‘didn’t do drugs.’
A candlelight vigil is set to take place in his Atlanta neighborhood on Saturday, January 26.
Long-Platt first shared news of his death on Friday in a Facebook post, which read: ‘Please respect me and my family. I just lost my husband and my kids just lost their father. Our life will never be the same. I LOVE YOU ANTHONY FOREVER.’
The Atlanta-based artist, born Anthony Leonard Platt, gained fame in the mid-2000s with his contributions to Southern hip-hop, particularly within the ‘crunk’ music subgenre.
DJ Unk’s career reached a pinnacle with his 2006 breakout hit Walk It Out from his debut album Beatin’ Down Yo Block.
The song also sparked a viral dance craze.
Following the success of Walk It Out, DJ Unk released his second album, The 69 Boyz (2007), which featured the hit single 2 Step.
While it didn’t achieve the same mainstream success as his debut, it helped solidify DJ Unk’s place within the Southern hip-hop scene.
Fans quickly took to social media to share their condolences and heartfelt messages, with one tweeting, ‘A real Atlanta legend.. May he rest in peace.’
Another wrote, ‘Shout out to DJ Unk, who passed away today at 43. Dude may have been one of, if not the first, ATL artists to have a local indie nightclub hit take off and go mainstream platinum in the early blogging/social media era.’
Even the official Instagram account of Atlanta’s NFL team, the Falcons, paid tribute, posting, ‘Rest in Peace, DJ Unk.’
DJ Unk’s music became synonymous with the ‘snap music’ movement, a subgenre of Southern hip-hop known for its chill, rhythmic beats and the signature ‘snap’ sound.
Alongside other artists like D4L, Dem Franchize Boyz, and Lil Jon, DJ Unk helped bring this sound to the forefront of the hip-hop scene in the mid-2000s.
After his breakout success, particularly with the smash hit Walk It Out, DJ Unk’s mainstream presence started to fade.
While he kept making music and performing, none of his later singles hit the same level of success as his debut track.
Still, his impact on Southern hip-hop is undeniable, with his music shaping an entire era that dominated clubs and dance floors.
Even after the spotlight shifted, his contribution to the genre is still celebrated by fans and artists alike.
DJ Unk’s death comes just days after the heartbreaking news of Project Pat’s son, Patrick Houston Jr., being shot and killed in a Tennessee park last week at the age of just 21.
Houston, who was also the nephew of Three 6 Mafia co-founder Juicy J, tragically lost his life in Imogene Heights, Memphis on Friday, according to TMZ.
Memphis Police reported that the shooting occurred around 1:15 p.m. and that Houston Jr. was found dead at the scene by responding officers
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