New York rap veteran Grand Daddy I.U. has died; Pete Rock, Chuck D & more pay tribute
Veteran New York rapper and Juice Crew member Grand Daddy I.U. died on Tuesday (12/13) at age 54, AllHipHop and TMZ report. Cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Tributes have come in from friends, family, peers, and other in the hip hop community, including DJ Chuck Chillout, Chuck D, Pete Rock, R.A. the Rugged Man, Vinnie Paz, Roc Marciano, and more. Grand Daddy I.U. was also the father of neo-soul singer Yaya Bey, who posted multiple tributes to her Instagram stories.
Grand Daddy I.U. was signed by Biz Markie to Cold Chillin’ Records in 1989, and he released his debut album Smooth Assassin in 1990, which produced the hit singles “Something New” and “Sugar Free.” He released his sophomore album Lead Pipe in 1994, followed by the single “All About Money” in 1996, and he then took a ten-year break from rapping before returning in 2007 with Stick to the Script. He then released Self Made Man (2012), Shots Fired (2012), P.I.M.P. (Paper Is My Priority) (2015), and he took on a producer role for the 2020 project The Essence. His latest singles came out earlier this year. He also did ghostwriting for Biz Markie and Roxanne Shanté, production for Das EFX, Heltah Skeltah, KRS-One, Ice-T, and others, and he appeared on Big L’s “Da Graveyard” (alongside a young Jay-Z and others), as well as records by Diamond D, Large Professor, Positive K, and more.
Rest in peace, Grand Daddy I.U.
See tributes and watch some classic videos below…
GRAND DADDY IU YOU WERE A GREAT PERSON AND IM SAD RIGHT NOW. pic.twitter.com/UZw3LrABBq
— PETEROCK.COM (@PeteRock) December 13, 2022
#REstInBeats @GrandDaddyIU @hiphopgods #StrongIsland pic.twitter.com/G48YtNI6mN
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) December 13, 2022
Condolences to the friends and family of @GrandDaddyIU the “Smooth Assassin”. Juice crew member, MC, Producer and Hempstead, Long Island legend. Rest in Peace 🙏🏿🕊️ https://t.co/cNLYRJveWH pic.twitter.com/qbx5s3wTZD
— Tommy Boy Records (@TommyBoyRecords) December 13, 2022
REST IN PEACE
GRANDDADDY I.U.
MET HIM A FEW YEARS BACK WITH MY BROTHER @RealJoeFatal
DUDE WAS AN AMAZING MCEE & A GENTLEMAN. pic.twitter.com/DZb8o1RcUd— DANNY DIABLO (@DannyDiablo) December 13, 2022
My Brother "Grand Daddy I.U." passed, amazing Emcee and an Even more Amazing Human, Love you brother!!!
— E. Smitty Tokenizing The Industry!!! (@THEREALESMITTY) December 13, 2022
Salute Grand Daddy I.U. Forever. #PoPDuKe
— Freddie Foxxx (@BumpyKnuckles) December 13, 2022
damn, man. RIP Grand Daddy I.U. pic.twitter.com/N9egd1jBlh
— Pack Pistol Pazzy (سيف الله) (@vinnie_paz) December 13, 2022
Worst news ever.
REST IN PEACE to GRAND DADDY I.U. the legendary MC/ Lyricist / Ghost writer / producer. Hempstead, Long Island's own 💔 #SmoothAssassin— R.A. the Rugged Man (@RAtheRuggedMan) December 13, 2022
RIP THE GREAT #GRANDDADDYIU REST WELL KINGSHIP.
— GeneralSteele (@GeneralSteele) December 14, 2022
SWIPE LEFT⬅️⬅️⬅️⬅️ Rest In Peace To Grand Daddy I.U. From Hempstead L.I. Who Was A Part Of The Cold Chillin Records Family & Discovered By The Late Great Biz Markie & Cutmaster Cool-V. https://t.co/3RKlckQ143
— MISTER CEE (@djmistercee) December 13, 2022
RIP to Hempstead, Long Island's own Grand Daddy I.U., signed to Cold Chillin' in 1989 by his friend and fellow LI legend Biz Markie. Always loved this video. (And I also love how this is ripped straight from a VHS recording of @VideoMusicBox.) 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/0ladvERxag
— Dee Phunk (@DeePhunk) December 13, 2022