Not to be confused with Sean Rice or Sean Price Williams.
Sean Price
Birth nameSean Duval Price
AliasRuck, P
Birth dateMarch 17, 1972
Birth placeNew York City, U.S.
Death dateAugust 8, 2015 (aged 43)
Death placeNew York City, U.S.
GenreHip-hop
Occupation
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active1992–2015
LabelDuck Down

Sean Duval Price (March 17, 1972 – August 8, 2015)[1] was an American rapper and member of the hip-hop collective Boot Camp Clik.[2] He was one half of the duo Heltah Skeltah, performing under the name Ruck, along with partner Rock.

Early life and education

Growing up in the borough of Brooklyn, Price was a member of the Decepticons in high school.[3]

Career

A member of the underground hip-hop collective Boot Camp Clik, Price first appeared on Smif-N-Wessun's 1995 album Dah Shinin'. He would soon resurface in 1996 as one half of the critically acclaimed Brooklyn duo Heltah Skeltah, who released their debut album Nocturnal on Duck Down Records that year. Heltah Skeltah would go on to release two more albums: 1998's Magnum Force and 2008's D.I.R.T..

In the 2000s, Price established himself as a strong force in the underground hip-hop community. He was featured on Grand Theft Auto 3's GAME FM radio station in 2001. In 2005, Price released his first solo album Monkey Barz, to critical acclaim. He followed this in 2007 with Jesus Price Supastar and Mic Tyson in 2012.

Price was interviewed on the online series Grand Angel TV in 2008[4] and 2010,[5] with Paid Dues performance footage alongside Boot Camp Clik and Dru Ha, respectively.

In 2011, Price was a judge on the Ultimate MC TV show alongside Royce da 5'9", Organik, Planet Asia, and Pharoahe Monch.[6] Also in 2011, he formed the group Random Axe with Guilty Simpson and producer Black Milk.

He had a planned collaborative album with rapper Ill Bill in the works, called The Pill.[7] Songs in the Key of Price, a mixtape recorded before Price's death, was released posthumously on August 21, 2015. The posthumous release of his fourth studio album, Imperius Rex, followed in August 2017.[8]

Other posthumous releases include Price's verse on fellow rapper Bruse Wane's 2016 song "Venom",[9][10] which also featured Big Pun's son Chris Rivers. Dj Premier posted "Venom" on his website Premier Wuz Here, and acknowledged Price's guest appearance as "likely his last guest verse".[11] The song was declared "an instant classic" by HIPHOPDX.[12]

Death

On August 8, 2015, Price died at the age of 43.[13][14] A statement from his label confirmed his death, while adding that he died in his sleep. "It is with beyond a heavy heart that Duck Down Music is sadly confirming that Sean Price passed away early this morning in his Brooklyn apartment, Saturday, August 8th, 2015," read the statement. "The cause of death is currently unknown, but it was reported that he died in his sleep. He's survived by his three children."[15]

Personal life

Price was a cousin of Roc-A-Fella Records rapper Memphis Bleek[16] and actor Michael K. Williams.[17] He was also close friends with actor Ryan Phillippe.[18]

Price lived in Brownsville, Brooklyn.[19] He was a Muslim, having converted in 2009.[20]

Discography

Main article: Sean Price discography

Studio albums

References

  1. ^ "Ape Food". ACE Repertory - ASCAP. Archived 2024-01-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  2. ^ "Sean Price biography". allmusic. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  3. ^ "Memory Lane: Sean Price Takes Us Back to School". 22 October 2012.
  4. ^ "GRAND ANGEL TV 3 – Paid Dues 2008/ Sean Price Interview". YouTube. 3 April 2008. Archived 2021-12-22 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ^ "Grand Angel TV #13: Sean Price Interview & Performances". YouTube. 3 October 2010. Archived 2021-12-22 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ ""Ultimate MC". Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2012-05-21.
  7. ^ HipHopDX (28 June 2011). "Sean Price Talks Random Axe And New Album With Ill Bill". HipHopDX. Archived July 3, 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ^ Fresh, Mikey (August 9, 2017). "Stream Sean Price's Posthumous 'Imperius Rex' Album". Vibe
  9. ^ Shirley, Ju (2016-08-16). "DXclusive: Bruse Wane Drops "Venom" f. Sean Price & Chris Rivers". HipHopDX. Archived September 22, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  10. ^ Rao, Sameer (November 24, 2015). "Listen to Some of Sean Price’s Last Verses on ‘Venom’"
  11. ^ "BRUSE WANE FEAT. SEAN PRICE & CHRIS RIVERS - VENOM [VIDEO]". Premier Wuz Here. 2016-08-17. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  12. ^ Shirley, Ju (2016-10-15). "Bruse Wane & Chris Rivers Perform "Venom" Live In Brooklyn". HipHopDX. Archived May 20, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-12-28.
  13. ^ Kreps, Daniel (August 8, 2015). "Sean Price, Veteran Rapper and Boot Camp Clik Member, Dead at 43". Rolling Stone
  14. ^ Caramanica, Jon (August 9, 2015). "Sean Price, Rapper With Deep Brooklyn Roots, Dies at 43". New York Times
  15. ^ "Sean Price, Of Heltah Skeltah, Dead At 43". BallerStatus.com. August 8, 2015. Archived from the original on August 9, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  16. ^ Ahmed, Insanul (25 February 2011). "Quote of The Day: Sean Price and Memphis Bleek Are Cousins". Complex.com. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  17. ^ Williams, Michael K (18 September 2020). "Michael K. Williams Breaks Down His Career, from 'The Wire' to 'Lovecraft Country'". Vanity Fair. Archived 2021-12-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  18. ^ Steiner, B.J. (2 January 2014). "Sean Price: Rap Game Incredible Hulk". Vice.com. Vice Media LLC. Archived 22 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  19. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (June 22, 2011). "Sean Price Names His Top Five Favorite Brooklyn Rappers". HipHopDX. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  20. ^ Price, Sean (29 October 2012). "Sean Price Interviews Scarface: They Discuss Religion, Emceeing & Ultimate Rap Collaborations". HipHopDX. Retrieved 22 December 2018.