Atlanta-based DJ and producer Christian Nilan — better known as Speakerfoxxx — has passed away at 35. Her manager Xen Lang confirmed the news to HipHopDX on Sunday (December 23).
“I can say that she has indeed passed,” Lang said in a statement to DX. “No one was more passionate about their craft, culture and city. It was a pleasure to know her, learn from her and work with her.”
While the cause of death has yet to be released, several Reddit users have suggested her battle with substance abuse is to blame. On August 30, Nilan tweeted that she was in rehab.
“hi from rehab,” she wrote. “new music currently being written so stayed tuned.”
Over the years, Speakerfoxxx served as a touring DJ for artists such as Yelawolf, Rittz and Three 6 Mafia’s Gangsta Boo. In 2011, she released her inaugural mixtape Dopeboy Anthems, which garnered her significant notoriety. She would eventually earn the title “Queen of ATL.”
Many of her fans and peers in the Atlanta DJ community and beyond took to social media to express their condolences, including DJ Z-Trip, DJ Green Lantern, Just Blaze and Ferrari Shepard.
Check out the reactions below.
Never heard of her but rip
Im waiting for lil xan to appear claiming she was his favorite dj in the whole world
I had just woken up and thought it said “hip hop mourns death of DJ Premier” for a split second. My heart almost went to my throat. But still, may she rest peacefully. Day after Christmas too? Sad.
Uh.. I live in Atlanta and never heard of her. Never been to a spot she was spinning at. She was a gimmick who deserved to live a full life of being a fake DJ that is truly non hip hop
Boy shut up. She’s probably been djing longer than you’ve been old enough to order alcohol.
Nah bruh. She was the truth. She was a sweetheart, and a beast on them tables. Vinyl or digital. I’m 31, and I guess I started going out in 2008- she been spinning JAMS since then.. she had such a knowledge of GOOD music. She put it down. RIP.
Looks like she can Nosh a good willy