Screwball rapper Hostyle has died at the age of 47. According to a tweet from R.A. The Rugged Man, fellow Screwball member Blaq Poet confirmed the news on Sunday (January 19).

“DAMN… the worst news ever,” he wrote. “I just found out my people HOSTYLE from SCREWBALL passed away. I just got off the phone with Blaq poet, he confirmed. Screwball brought the Legendary, Street anthems. Legendary shit. That was my man. REST IN PEACE my bro.. This is crazy.”

Screwball’s official Instagram page also noted Hostyle’s passing on Monday (January 20).

“Deeply sadded to annouce the passing of our brother HOSTYLE,” the post read. “Thank u to everyone who has reached out.”

Hostyle, born Frederick Ivey, was a founding member of the Queens Hip Hop group. The members of the collective — Hostyle, Blaq Poet, Solo and K — released three albums during the course of their career, beginning with 2000’s Y2K: The Album, which featured production from DJ Premier, Marley Marl, Godfather Don and Pete Rock and the singles “Who Shot Rudy?” and “H-O-S-T-Y-L-E.”

Loyalty arrived in 2001 and their last project, Screwed Up, was released in July 2004. That same year, Hostyle released a solo project called One Eyed Maniac featuring Marley Marl, R.A. The Rugged Man and Big Noyd.

He later appeared on DJ Muggs’s 2000 Soul Assassins II, Infamous Mobb’s 2002 Special Edition and Cormega’s 2007 album Who Am I?.

Tragedy struck in 2008 when KL, Blaq Poet’s cousin, died of an asthma attack.

As of press time, no cause of death has been revealed. GroovyTracks sends our condolences to his friends, family and all who loved him.

40