Remembering Black Rob: 5 Facts About The Harlem Rapper
Hip hop lost a titan of a contributor when Harlem rapper Black Rob passed away at 51 on April 17, 2021.
Born Robert Ross, his stint in the music industry was a short but important one as he helped bring Bad Boy Records into prominence in the ‘90s. When his platinum-selling debut album, Life Story, was finally released for public consumption in 2000, he was arguably the hottest artist out, on the biggest label at that time.
The BET Hip Hop Awards pays homage to a culture that changed the world while highlighting the best in hip hop music. As this year’s celebration rolls around, there’s no better time than to recognize one of the genre’s most influential figures and the contributions you might not have even known he’s given.
In memory of the “Can I Live” rapper, here are five facts about his life and legacy.
Bad Boy's First Street Story
Diddy’s Bad Boy label in the ‘90s was all about flash, style, and things done big, which is why it was called the Shiny Suit Era. Black Rob, however, gave the pretty boys some street cred.
The Harlem rapper infused his own ghetto-narrative flavor on songs like “I Love You, Baby” from Diddy’s No Way Out, baring his husky baritone and all. He offers his raw emotional bars again over the title track to his own debut studio album Life Story, which opens detailing his hard life prior to fame.
Saved Bad Boy
After the murder of Biggie Smalls, Black Rob represented hope for the future of Bad Boy. His club smash, “Whoa!” was not only his highest-charting Billboard hit (#43), but the single that would bridge over the next generations of acts — something many didn’t think possible after the recent tragedy.
Joined the Bad Boy camp before The Notorious B.I.G
Not only was Black Rob Bad Boy’s only street artist, but he was also the founding member of one of the biggest record labels in history. In an interview with the late Combat Jack, Rob reveals that he joined the Bad Boy camp before The Notorious B.I.G.
Showed Love To DMX Before His Passing
The world was able to see Black Rob’s compassionate side after DMX’s passing on April 9, 2021.
He appeared on DJ Self’s Instagram expressing his well-wishes for the Yonkers legend, who his story mirrored. The heartfelt message was shared as he lay in a hospital bed of his own.
Kept Health Issues A Secret
Black Rob passed on April 17 from cardiac arrest. But the Harlem rapper kept his health a tightly kept secret.
Rob first publicly spoke on his health in 2015 on Sway in the Morning. There he revealed he’d been dealing with high blood pressure and a stroke, the first of four. Additionally, he said he had difficulty treating his kidneys during his 2006 incarceration because Bad Boy Entertainment removed his health insurance.
