DJ Unk’s cause of death has been revealed.
The Atlanta rapper, best known for his 2006 hits ‘Walk It Out’ and ‘2 Step’, died at the age of 42 last Friday (January 24) as confirmed by his wife Sherkita Long-Platt on social media.
She wrote at the time, not sharing a cause of death: “Please respect me and my family. I just lost my husband and my kids just lost their father. Our life will never be the same. I LOVE YOU ANTHONY FOREVER.”
On Sunday (January 26), Long-Platt spoke to TMZ to clear up speculation that he had died from drug-related complications. She told the publication that he did not do drugs and died in his sleep from a heart attack.
DJ Unk (Anthony Platt) on September 17, 2006 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Julia Beverly/Getty Images)
The artist, real name Anthony Leonard Platt, has had a history of heart attacks, suffering one in 2009 after releasing his second studio album ‘2econd Season’. At the time, he attributed the heart attack to “not exercising and not eating right”. His output reduced after the health scare, although he did release the album ‘Fresh Off Dem Papers’ in 2017.
DJ Unk began his career as a teenager in Atlanta in 1998 as part of the Southern Style DJs crew, before signing with Big Oomp Records where he broke out as a solo artist.
Considered a key figure in snap music, a subgenre of crunk, he scored major hits in 2006 with ‘Walk It Out’ and ‘2 Step’, the former reaching the Top Ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and spawning a remix featuring André 3000. Both songs were included on Unk’s debut album ‘Beat’n Down Yo Block!’ in the same year, which included features from the likes of Baby Dand Jazze Pha.
A representative from Big Oomp Records has paid tribute to Unk: “It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that we announce the passing of a true ATL legend, Anthony Platt better known as ‘DJ Unk’.”
“DJ Unk was not just a legendary DJ, rapper and producer, but a true cornerstone of our label and the imprint that he left globally will be cherished forever.”
Unk’s final major appearance was at the 2023 BET Awards, where he performed ‘Walk It Out’ as part of a medley that also included Soulja Boy and F.L.Y.
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