A representative confirmed to New Orleans' CBS-affiliate on Thursday that Bounce music pioneer, 5th Ward Weebie, has died at the age of 42.
New Orleans rapper P Town Moe said that Weebie—whose real name is Jerome Cosey—died from complications after suffering a heart attack.
"First his kidneys went and they had him on a machine to get his kidneys back working, then his lungs went the next day," P Town Moe said. "I don’t know why God wanted him at this time, but my brother gone."
5th Ward Weebie started to gain popularity in the 1990s. The New Orleans native is known for helping pioneer the city's bounce music sound. He was a producer, rapper, and actor known for his work with the Partnerz n' Crime and Kane & Abel. Weebie has also worked on songs with Mystikal and Master P.
Weebie's passing has deeply affected the city, leading Mayor LaToya Cantrell to address his passing. "It broke my heart to learn that Jerome Cosey—our 5th Ward Weebie—has passed. Let me find out you didn't know who he was. He was an iconic personality, a New Orleans legend, and a beloved friend. He was the Bounce King, who showed us how to move, how to love, and how to bring passion and humanity to everything we do," Mayor Cantrell wrote. "New Orleans has lost a cornerstone of our culture. Our City will not be the same without his voice and his spirit. May he rest in God’s perfect peace."
Fans also took to social media to pay their respects to 5th Ward Weebie.
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