Credit: MorgueFile

Founding member of Three 6 Mafia, Koopsta Knicca, has died following a stroke at the age of 40, the Commercial Appeal reports.

Three 6 Mafia’s DJ Paul to the Commercial Appeal stated:

“Everyone who knew Koop knew he was very funny and the coolest guy ever. He will be missed. We made classics together that’ll live on.”

Born Robert Cooper Phillips, or Koopsta Knicca, joined Three 6 Mafia in the early 90s and left in 2000. His first solo album, Da Devil’s Playground: Underground Solo, was released in 1999, followed by many more solo projects and collaborations.

In the many recent years, he reunited with his former Three 6 Mafia members. In his statement to the Commercial Appeal, DJ Paul claimed that he and Koopsta Knicca had been working on Devil’s Playground 2, according to Pitchfork. 

Rest In Peace Koopsta Knicca!