As 2025 comes to an end, we wanted to take a moment to honor the legendary musicians we lost this year.
It’s been a tough year across the worlds of sports, fashion, and broader pop culture—but music, in particular, was hit especially hard.
Early in the year, the hip-hop world was left in shock by the passing of Irv Gotti, the mastermind behind Murder Inc., the label that helped define the sound of the early 2000s. From there, the losses continued—including cult Atlanta legend Young Scooter, groundbreaking innovator Sly Stone, and the incomparable Black music icon D’Angelo.
Each of these artists left an undeniable mark on the culture, and now is the time to give them their flowers. The following list includes singers, musicians, and other figures whose influence on music should not be forgotten.
Here are the musicians we lost in 2025.
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DJ Unk
November 28, 1981 — January 24, 2025 (43 years old)
There were three physical movements that defined Atlanta in the late 2000s: walking it out, snapping fingers, and doing the Crank Dat. DJ Unk helped popularize two of the three, earning him a lasting stamp as Southern royalty. He passed away in January after suffering a heart attack in his sleep.
Irv Gotti
June 26, 1970 — February 5, 2025 (54 years old)
The co-founder and face of Murder Inc., Irv Gotti, defined hip-hop and R&B in the early 2000s thanks to his hands in shaping the music of artists like Ja Rule, DMX, and Ashanti. He passed away from complications related to a stroke in February.
Chelsea Reject
April 8, 1993 – February 12, 2025 (31 years old)
Chelsea Reject was a rapper’s rapper, choosing to collaborate with Joey Bada$$’s Pro Era and performing with hip-hop legends like Mobb Deep. Initially a poet, a friend convinced her to rap. Throughout the 2010s, she’d prove herself to be a heavyweight who could hold her own with rap veterans. She passed away after a medical emergency in February.
Voletta Wallace
February 3, 1953 — February 21, 2025 (72 years old)
Voletta gave birth to Christopher George Latore Wallace, better known as the Notorious B.I.G., and carried forward his legacy through advocacy until her passing in February from natural causes.
Roberta Flack
February 10, 1937 — February 24, 2025 (88 years old)
Roberta Flack defined the Quiet Storm genre with a voice that Whitney Houston once said was one of the purest she’d ever heard. She passed away from cardiac arrest in February.
Angie Stone
December 18, 1961 — March 1, 2025 (63 years old)
Angie Stone began her career in hip-hop as a member of The Sequence, one of the first all-female rap groups, before emerging as a revolutionary voice in the neo-soul movement of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Though her life was tragically cut short in a car crash, her influence continues to echo through generations of R&B artists who followed.
G$ Lil Ronnie
October 28, 1989 — March 3, 2025 (30 years old)
G$ Lil Ronnie was ambushed on camera and killed alongside his 5-year-old daughter in March. While he had achieved success in music, the brutality of the attack has unfortunately become what he is most known for.
Roy Ayers
September 10, 1940 – March 4, 2025 (84 years old)
Roy Ayers achieved feats on the vibraphone that remain unmatched to this day. A central figure in the acid jazz era and later in the neo-soul movement, Ayers passed away in March after a long illness.
D’Wayne Wiggins
February 14, 1961 – March 7, 2025 (64 years old)
D’Wayne Wiggins founded Tony! Toni! Toné! in 1986 with half brother Raphael Saadiq and cousin Timothy Christian Riley. After contributing vocals to a slew of the group’s era-shaping ballads over the next decade, he’d go on to work with artists like Alicia Keys, Keyshia Cole, H.E.R., and Kehlani. He passed away from bladder cancer in March.
Sayso P
September 13, 1997—March 22, 2025 (27 years old)
Memphis rapper Sayso P captivated the masses with the gritty details oozing out of each one of his country-twinged bars. His shocking shooting death, which was caught on camera in March, ended a story that was just beginning.
Alice Tan Ridley
December 21, 1952 – March 25, 2025 (72 years old)
Alicia Tan Ridley spent 30 years busking in New York City, turning subway stations into intimate stages. The mother of actress Gabourey Sidibe, Ridley reached the semi-finals of America’s Got Talent and won $25,000 on the show 30 Seconds to Fame. She passed away in March.
Jemini the Gifted One
December 16, 1973 — March 27, 2025
Jemini the Gifted One was a respected yet relatively obscure rapper in the ‘90s known mainly for the single “Funk Soul Sensation.” He later linked with Danger Mouse and released the 2003 album Ghetto Pop Life. The LP was one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year, showcasing the exceptional lyrical intelligence that Jemini brought to every bar.
Young Scooter
March 28, 1986 – March 28, 2025 (39 years old)
In the dictionary next to the word “work,” you might as well see Young Scooter’s picture. Scooter—Future’s cousin—was a very good rapper in his own right. His biggest record was the drug-dealing anthem “Colombia,” which dropped in 2012. He passed away in March, on his birthday, after sustaining injuries while fleeing Atlanta police.
Bishop Brigante
May 11, 1978 — March 30, 2025 (46 years old)
Bishop Brigante was a battle rap legend and one of the cornerstones of Canada’s hip-hop scene. He passed away in March after a battle with cancer.
Paul Batiste
December 18, 1949 – April 25, 2025 (75 years old)
Part musician, part teacher, Paul Batiste’s artistry is engrained into New Orleans’ unique musical DNA. A songwriter and bandleader for the Batiste Brothers Band, his unforgettable work uplifted jazz traditions. He passed away from lung cancer in April.
LGP Qua
Sep 9, 1999 — May 11, 2025 (25 years old)
If you’re a hip-hop fan scrolling on social media, you’ve probably come across LGP Qua’s motivational raps. He was filmed standing on Philadelphia blocks, rapping to the camera like he’s speaking a TED Talk to an entire crowd. He was shot and killed in May.
Mark Greene
November 14, 1958 — May 20, 2025 (67 years old)
Mark Greene was the original lead singer of the legendary soul group The Moments. He was responsible for shaping the group’s early sound, which led to their 1968 breakout song “Not on the Outside” becoming a hit in the United States. Greene eventually went solo, releasing four albums. He was still touring in support of his group all the way up until his death of a brain tumor in May.
Brian Wilson
June 20, 1942 – June 11, 2025 (82 years old)
Everything about Brian Wilson, from his harmonies to his arrangements, made him a “musical genius” according to Elton John. A former co-founder of the Beach Boys, Wilson’s work was built out of complex harmonies and his signature falsetto. He passed away from respiratory arrest in June.
Robbie Pardlo
August 13, 1978 –—July 17, 2025 (46 years old)
In the early 2000s, R&B trio City High scored two inescapable hits—“What Would You Do” and “Caramel”—songs fans couldn’t get off their lips, out of their ears, or out of their heads. Robbie Pardlo, one of the voices of the group, passed away in July from complications related to heart failure.
Sly Stone
March 15, 1943 – June 9, 2025 (82 years old)
Sly and the Family Stone smoothly blended elements of jazz, rock, gospel and soul. Their fearless leader played a large part in their success, even if he disappeared from the world for years at a time. He passed away from complications related to COPD and other underlying health issues in June.
Young Noble
March 21, 1978 – July 4, 2025) ( (47 years old)
Young Noble was one of the better-known members of the Outlawz, the collective 2Pac helped put together. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in July.
Ozzy Osbourne
December 3, 1948 – July 22, 2025 (76 years old)
Without Ozzy Osbourne, would heavy metal music be what it is today? Osbourne was once the face of a genre before becoming the face of reality TV. That’s not easy. He died from a heart attack in July.
DJ Polo
April 5, 1961 – July 27th, 2024 (63 years old)
DJ Polo and Kool G Rap were one of the most influential pairings in history. Polo provided the soundtrack to G. Rap’s mafioso storytelling, which inspired a lot of what you hear people rap about today.
Howie Tee
February 2, 1964 – August 2, 2025 (61 years old)
Producer Howie Tee’s beats helped set the tone for hip-hop in the 1980s, thanks to collabs with legends like Special Ed, Chubb Rock, and The Real Roxanne. He passed away in August.
Eddie Palmieri
December 15, 1936 – August 6, 2025) (88 years old)
Puerto Rican legend Eddie Palmieri founded La Perfecta, La Perfecta II, and Harlem River Drive. He was known for his experimental live performances and for blending Cuban rhythms with jazz. He passed away in August after a prolonged illness
T-Hood
March 17, 1992 — August 8, 2025 (33 years old)
Straight out of Atlanta’s underground, T-Hood’s charisma and smooth-talking threats made him a favorite for many out of the city. He was shot and killed in self-defense by reality star Rasheeda’s son, Ky Frost.
Wam SpinThaBin
January 28, 2000 — August 28, 2025 (25 years old)
First finding success in 2021 with Kodak Black’s Sniper Gang, Wam SpinThaBin was beloved for his pristine storytelling and his ability to create vivid imagery of life on the streets. Tragically, he was shot and killed in August.
Ken Parker
August 25, 1952 – October 5, 2025 (73 years old)
Guitar design will never be the same, thanks to Ken Parker. He created the Parker Fly guitar and is considered to be one of the most innovative instrument designers of all time. Parker passed away from cancer in October.
D’Angelo
February 11, 1974 – October 14, 2025 (51 years old)
D’Angelo will forever be synonymous with Black music, reinventing soul with a mystique and mastery that remains unmatched. He will be remembered for his nuanced exploration of Black masculinity and for embracing vulnerability as a form of strength.
Posta Boy
September 11, 1981 — October 26, 2025 ( (43 years old)
Back in the day, winning BET’s 106 & Park “Freestyle Friday” was no small feat. Harlem rapper Posta Boy did it seven times. That accomplishment, along with his mixtape favorite “Jurassic Harlem” marked the height of his career. The battle rapper passed away after a years-long battle with cancer.
Omen
August 21, 1976 – September 13, 2025
Omen’s strength as a producer was his versatility. He made songs for Drake, Ludacris, and Lil Wayne, but he also was able to create sounds for artists like Usher and Béyonce. He passed away in 2025.
P.E.A.C.E.
June 15, 1974 – October 24, 2025 (51 years old)
P.E.A.C.E. was a pioneering West Coast rapper in the group Freestyle Fellowship. At a time when gangsta rap was at the forefront of hip-hop, his group chose to release a more jazz-influenced, alternative style with Afrocentric themes and a poetic throughline. His cause of death is unknown.
Young Bleed
June 6, 1974 – November 1, 2025 (51 years old)
Young Bleed wasn’t the most well known member of No Limit. But he did release one of the label’s best albums: My Balls and My Word, which featured the iconic single “How Ya Do That.” He passed away after a sudden brain aneurysm in November.
Maxon Margiela
June 16, 2004 – November 16, 2025 (21 years old)
Maxon Margiela blew up faster than anyone could realize. His debut project, #healthy, dropped last November and he signed to Columbia Records earlier this year. Known for being level-headed despite his blossoming fame, his sudden death to suicide in November shocked his fanbase who was excited to see him grow.
Jimmy Cliff
July 30, 1944 – November 24, 2025 (81 years old)
Jimmy Cliff had hits like “Wonderful World” and “You Can Get It If You Really Want,” which turned him into a global phenomenon and helped bring reggae to the world stage. He passed away in November due to complications from pneumonia.
POORSTACY
March 15, 1999 – December 1, 2025 (26 years old)
Blending elements of hip-hop, heavy metal, and punk rock, POORSTACY built a cult following emerging from the Florida rap scene. Tragically, POORSTACY died by suicide earlier this month.
Carl Carlton
May 21, 1952 – December 13, 2025 (73 years old)
Carl Carlton was best known for timeless records like “She’s a Bad Mamma Jamma (She’s Built, She’s Stacked)” and his chart-topping cover of “Everlasting Love.”
