Credit: Hip Hop Hero / YouTube Still

Gene ‘Groove’ Allen has passed away at the age of 62. The rapper, who was a member of the hip-hop group Groove B Chill, reportedly died suddenly at his home in Maryland on February 12th.

According to TMZ, Allen’s death was the result of a medical emergency and a shock to his family, although no foul play is suspected. Allen is a hip-hop pioneer who was raised in Long Island, New York and began his music career in the ’80s with The Uptown Crew.

He made a name for himself as a member of Groove B Chill alongside Eric B and Daryl Mitchell, best known for their song ‘Hip Hop Music’. The track, along with ‘There It Is’, appeared on their only album, Starting from Zero, released in 1990.

The group appeared in the classic 1990 film House Party and its sequel starring Martin Lawrence the following year. In 1993, Allen starred as a club announcer in Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got to Do with It? biopic.

Following his death, Eric B paid tribute to Gene on Instagram. “Got a call from my brother chill that his brother groove passed away,” he wrote. “Dam rest in peace brother groove we will continue to celebrate your life let the house party continue on thanks for the great music and movie moments.”

In the comments, DJ Premier wrote, “My condolences. Loved their music on Uptown and his character in House Party as the drunk.” Others, including The Roots’ Questlove, also paid tribute to Allen by sharing some prayer emojis.

Allen shared his final Instagram post just last week, posting a video of himself rapping. Fans took to the comments to pay tribute to him, with one person writing, “RIP to one of hip-hop’s most underrated harmonisers. The precursor to Nate Dogg.”

Another said, “What happened to GROOVE? My best friend and mentor. I heard the news and im broken. RIP to a legend who inspired me to keep going for mine!” Additionally, a separate admirer wrote, “RIP, you were a part of my childhood when I shouldn’t have been watching House Party. Prays to the fam!”