Blackalicious lyricist Gift of Gab dead at 50
On June 18, the death of celebrated California-based vocalist and lyricist Gift of Gab (born Timothy Jerome Parker, October 7, 1970) was announced in a statement. “Tim peacefully departed this earth to be with our ancestors … He is survived by two brothers, one sister, many nieces and nephews, countless friends, and fans across the globe,” noted a Quannum collective press release.
Gift of Gab, 2006 (Photo credit–Gohsuke Takama)
While the exact causes of Parker’s passing have not been provided to the media, the rapper had been suffering from kidney failure for a number of years and receiving dialysis. In January 2020, Parker received a transplant, which allowed the rapper to perform a final time before live venues were shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic. “[Parker had] been going through a lot physically for years and [we] hope there is some sort of peace for him now… Another sad loss…,” commented independent hip hop label Mello Music Group, with which Parker had been associated, on Twitter.