Just days after the passing of Above the Law alum KMG, Hip Hop has suffered yet another tragic loss. Earlier today, Free-Press-Release announced that Universal Zulu Nation member and Cosmic Force emcee James “Ice-Ice” Parker passed away.

Although the details of his passing are unclear, it appears that MC Ice-Ice passed away sometime early this week from reasons unknown. The Bronx-born Hip Hop pioneer was a founding member of the Cosmic Force, an affiliate of the Universal Zulu Nation famous for the song “Zulu Nation Throwdown” with Afrika Bambaataa.

Writer and MC Eva Marie King penned an obituary for Parker today on Free-Press-Release, praising his skill an emcee and his trailblazing career in Hip Hop. 

Since I received the sad news on the passing of our brother Ice-Ice I have been fondly thinking of the lyric, “throw down some ice for the nicest MC.” As we celebrate the life of our brother James “Ice-Ice” Parker, let us remember that the Cosmic Force are international treasures and at the forefront of MCing in Hip Hop. I never met Ice-Ice, but as a preteen his name was definitely one that “rang bells” in Bronx River Houses…my sincere condolences are extended to Ice-Ice’s family and friends. Ice-Ice is forever a Legendary and Pioneer MC and his rhymes will live on forever in classic songs like “Zulu Nation Throwdown”

To my Big Brother Ice-Ice, I will always write about you and teach the young mentees in my youth organization of your enormous contribution to Black, music and world history.

Hip Hop icon Kool DJ Red Alert confirmed the passing of Ice-Ice on his Facebook page this past Monday, sending his condolences to Parker’s family and members of his Throggs Neck community.

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