DJ Premier is humbled to discover that he served as inspiration for Rico Wade‘s production on Goodie Mob‘s timeless hit “Cell Therapy.”
Appearing on the Frequently Asked Questions podcast hosted by William “Fuzzy” West and Quincy Harris before his death, the Organized Noize producer discussed the impact that Jeru the Damaja‘s “Come Clean,” which was produced by Premo, had on him.
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“Jeru the Damaja, he had just came out too. Guess what that record did to me. That’s why I did ‘Cell Therapy,'” Wade said during the interview, much to the hosts’ surprise.
“I was in New York when that shit [came out], and I’m wanting n-ggas to love [OutKast‘s] ‘Player’s Ball.’ They loving ‘Come Clean.’ [Hums melody] Because that was so raw, I said, ‘Man, we gotta get deep into this New York thing.'”
Posting the clip on his Instagram page, Premier reacted to Wade’s revelation by writing: “WOWWWWW!!! To hear Rico Wade (R.I.P.) say that our record ‘COME CLEAN’ with @jeru_thedamaja and I influenced the creation of the timeless classic ‘CELL THERAPY’ by @goodiemob is such an honor. Salute Organized Noize/Dungeon Family.
“And to think ‘COME CLEAN’ was my demo for Guru (R.I.P.) to shop for a record deal […] RICO we Salute your legacy KING! Condolences to your family and Loved Ones!”
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He added in a comment on Fuzzy’s Instagram post: “Touched my soul to hear Rico say that. Continues to let me know I’ve been doing it right. Thanks @fuzzy Sleep Peacefully Rico Wade.”
Revisit both songs below.
Rico Wade died earlier this month at the age of 52. A spokesperson for his family revealed to The New York Times that heart failure was the cause of death.
The producer’s family confirmed his passing in a statement, saying: “We are deeply saddened by the sudden and unexpected passing of our son, father, husband, and brother Rico Wade. Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of a talented individual who touched the lives of so many. We ask that you respect the legacy of our loved one and our privacy at this time.”
The Dungeon Family also paid tribute to their fallen soldier, writing: “Rico was the cornerstone of Organized Noize and the Dungeon Family, and we will forever treasure his memory and the moments we shared, creating music as a united team.
“Our hearts weigh heavy with sorrow, and we kindly request privacy and empathy during this challenging period. Rico’s presence will always have a special spot in our hearts, and in the music we presented to the world.”
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Killer Mike, who collaborated with Wade last year on his Grammy-winning album Michael, added: “I deeply appreciate your acceptance into The Dungeon Family, mentorship, Friendship and Brotherhood. Idk where I would be without ya’ll.
“This is a part of the journey. You told me ‘It ain’t been hard throughout the journey, it’s been a Journey.’ The journey ain’t gonna be the Same Journey without U. Like U say tho Umma ‘Stay Down on it’……we all are. Love and Respect, Michael.”
