Whodini rapper Ecstasy dead: John Fletcher dies aged 56
Whodini rapper Ecstasy dead. (Courtesy)
Whodini rapper Ecstasy - real name John Fletcher - has died. Friends and fans flooded tributes for the late star on social media on Wednesday. The cause of his death has been shrouded in mystery and yet to be made public. He shot to fame as part of the band Whodini in 1964.
The band was a three-piece starring Esctasy, Drew Grandmaster Dee Carter and Jalil Hutchins. They cemented their status on the hip hop scene. Their hit songs garnering attention were The Haunted House of Rock, Friends, Freaks Come Out at Night.
Whodini s John Ecstasy Fletcher Passes Away at Age 56
Dec 23, 2020 3:41 PM
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Staff Writer
John Ecstasy Fletcher from the pioneering rap group Whodini has reportedly passed away at the age of 56.
Ecstasy formed Whodini with Jalil Hutchins in 1982, before DJ Grandmaster Dee joined the group in 1986. The group recorded classic hits, such as Friends, Freaks Come Out at Night, and The Haunted House of Rock. The group was most recently honored, in 2018, at the third annual Black Music Honors where they received the Hip Hop Icon Award.
Jermaine Dupri, who started his career as a dancer for the group, offered his condolences after the news broke.
John ‘Ecstasy’ Fletcher, Founding Member of Seminal Rap Group Whodini, Dies at 56
Fletcher co-founded Brooklyn group behind “Freaks Come Out at Night” in 1982Samson Amore | December 23, 2020 @ 3:33 PM Last Updated: December 23, 2020 @ 3:50 PM
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John “Ecstasy” Fletcher, co-founder of the rap group Whodini, died Dec. 23. He was 56 years old.
Fletcher founded New York City-based Whodini in 1982 alongside deejay Drew Carter, better known as Grandmaster Dee, and rapper Jalil Hutchins.
Fletcher’s death was confirmed by Grandmaster Dee Wednesday afternoon, but no cause of death was identified.
Whodini’s music spread from their home borough of Brooklyn around the globe, and the group got its start with early hits like “Magic’s Wand,” “Freaks Come Out at Night,” and “Five Minutes of Funk.” The group gained notoriety for Grandmaster Dee’s habit of mixing synthesizers and funk sounds with traditional hip-hop beats.
John Ecstasy Fletcher of hip-hop group Whodini has died aged 56
The cause of death is still unknown
It was announced by Roots drummer Questlove on Instagram as Fletcher s friends and fellow rappers paid tribute
Ice Cube and Public Enemy were among the others mourning Fletcher
Fletcher founded the legendary NYC group in 1982 with Jalil Hutchins
They were joined by DJ Grandmaster Dee in 1986 and won national acclaim
The group was regarded as an integral part of the early 1980s NYC hip hop scene and was the first to perform with b-boy dancers
Whodini is also credited with helping to create the New Jack Swing genre