American rapper, 5th Ward Weebie has died at the age of 42.
Jerome Cosey popularly known as 5th Ward Weebie, died on Thursday, January, 9, according to his publicist, who said the rapper had a “heart attack which turned into emergency heart surgery and ultimately heart failure.”
He’d been hospitalized recently after a surgery to repair a ruptured artery, and died as result of complications from the procedure, local media reported.
The New Orleans native helped shape the local rap genre with songs such as “Let Me Find Out” and “F**k Katina.”
He also worked with various artists to make bounce music mainstream. He appeared on Drake‘s song “Nice for What” and collaborated with rapper Lil Wayne on “Bend it Ova.”
His close friend and rapper, P Town Moe, took to Instagram to explain the series of health issues the New Orleans rapper dealt with in his last days.
‘First, his kidneys went and they had him on a machine to get his kidneys back working. Then his lungs went the next day,’ he said. ‘I don’t know why God wanted him at this time … but my brother gone, my brother gone.’
Tributes Pour in for 5th Ward Weebie
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell also took to social media with a tribute to the artiste, an icon in The Big Easy.
‘It broke my heart to learn that Jerome Cosey – our 5th Ward Weebie – has passed,’ Cantrell said. ‘Let me find out you didn’t know who he was … He was an iconic personality, a New Orleans legend, and a beloved friend.
‘New Orleans has lost a cornerstone of our culture,’ she said. ‘Our City will not be the same without his voice and his spirit. May he rest in God’s perfect peace.’
His publicist. Jonathan Thomas, said the rapper’s love for New Orleans was unmatched.
“Jerome Cosey was and is a staple in New Orleans culture,” Thomas said. “His passion for the city was exemplified on the biggest platforms.”
Watch 5th Ward Weebie’s Let Me Find Out below.
