Cyrus Langhorne
New York rapper 50 Cent is extending his hand. The hip-hop veteran has reacted to the shocking passing of Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell and expressed concern about the late music executive's protégé Diddy.
50’s Concern
Fif went to Instagram Saturday morning to show his concern. 50 also took a moment to remember the life of late music biz friend Chris Lighty.
“diddy probably hit again andre was his man.” -50 Cent’s Instagram
R.I.P. Harrell
According to reports, the news started to spread last night courtesy of producer DJ D-Nice. Media outlets have since confirmed the tragic news.
Andre Harrell, a veteran music executive best known as the founder of Uptown Records, where Sean “Puffy” Combs got his start in the business, who later went on to head Motown Records, has died. He was 59. The cause of death is as yet unclear. DJ D-Nice revealed the sad news while spinning on Instagram Live for his popular Club Quarantine series Friday night (May 8). Variety has yet to receive official word though sources have confirmed Harrell’s passing. (Variety)
Wait, There’s More
Over the past few hours, various music stars have come forward to react. Everyone from Mariah Carey to Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons have paid respect to Andre’s legacy.
“I am deeply saddend by the loss of my good friend @andreharrell – Andre has been a blessing to so many, including myself. It is with a heavy heart that I post this photo of us a few years ago. A truly gifted and brilliant impressario of the highest calibre. Andre, you will be missed. Love and blessings to Gianni and your family.” -LA Reid’s Instagram
Before You Go
Andre is most known for helping put on various music pioneers throughout the 80’s and 90’s. Harrell is also responsible for putting music icon Diddy into the biz.
Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs, later to be known as Diddy, started off as Uptown as an intern of Harrell’s, and eventually worked there full-time as a talent director, where he helped develop ’90s R&B megastars like Mary J. Blige and Jodeci, even producing the popular “Hip-Hop Remix” of the latter’s 1992 hit “Come and Talk to Me.” (Harrell fired him from Uptown in 1993, leading to Combs starting the epochal Bad Boy label with friend The Notorious B.I.G. as his marquee artist, but the relationship remained amicable: “I knew it was time for him to grow,” he explained to the Wall Street Journal in 2014.) (Billboard)
