Hours after the sad news of Craig Mack's death came to light on Tuesday, it was revealed that another influential figure in hip-hop has passed away. Matt Dike has died at the age of 55.
Dike co-founded hip-hop label Delicious Vinyl with Michael Ross in 1987, paving the way for a series of massive Dike-produced hits including Tone-Loc’s "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina," as well as Young MC’s "Bust a Move."
Matt Dike was also influential in the creation of the Beastie Boys' classic 1989 sophomore album, Paul's Boutique. Much of the project was recorded in Dike's apartment, where he contributed to the album's production with his layered sampling approach. "The album was a complete and utter failure at the time,” Dike said in 2014. “It didn’t sell shit! But it got mind-blowing reviews, which I think is better for me in the long run."
A press release from Delicious Vinyl reveals that Dike passed away at his home with his brother and sister at his side after a brief illness.
As the news spread on Tuesday, members of the music community shared messages about Dike's legacy. Questlove wrote on Instagram, "It was my dream to nerd out and ask him (and the dust brothers too) about how they defied the laws of sampling gravity and made some of the most groundbreaking work ever. Rest In Beats." See his full post and other reactions below.
