American rapper Fatman Scoop died at the age of 53 after collapsing at a concert in Connecticut on Friday, his representative told the BBC.
He collapsed on stage midway through his set at Hamden’s downtown park.
Mayor Lauren Garrett posted on Facebook that the rapper was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
But his booking company MN2S confirmed his death in a statement to the BBC, saying the New Yorker’s “legacy will live on through his timeless music”.
A spokesman for the agency said: “Scoop is a beloved figure in the music industry and his work is enjoyed by countless fans around the world.”
“His iconic voice, infectious energy and great personality left an indelible mark on the industry.”
Scoop is considered an influential figure in the New York City hip-hop scene in the 1990s.
He has performed on popular songs such as Grammy Award-winning Missy Elliott’s “Lose Control” and Mariah Carey’s “It’s Like That.”
Scoop is also known for his hit song “Be Faithful”, which was originally released in 1999 but achieved international success after its re-release in 2003, topping the charts in Ireland and the UK.
In 2004, the rapper appeared in the British Channel 4 drama Chancers, which featured musicians mentoring aspiring British artists hoping to make it in the United States.
Fatman Scoop was also a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother 16: UK vs USA, which was held in the UK and aired in 2015.
His tour manager, DJ Pure Cold, posted on Instagram that he “gaffeed” after hearing the news of his friend’s death.
“You have taken me around the world and allowed me to perform with you on some of the biggest and greatest stages on the planet,” he wrote.
“The things you taught me truly made me who I am today.”
Fatman Scoop is scheduled to perform at the Memories Festival UK on September 7th. In a post on Instagram, the festival called the news of his death “shocking.”
“Not only was he one of our most beloved performers, he was a treasured member of the Memories family,” the festival said.
“His energy, talent and infectious spirit will be beyond words.”
