Dres Tha Beatnik, a beloved figure in Atlanta’s underground hip-hop scene and a respected cultural ambassador, has passed away at the age of 51.
According to AllHipHop, Dres died on Monday (June 9) following a lengthy battle with kidney disease, with his condition being deemed as “chronic” prior to his death.
News of the cultural ambassador’s passing was met with an outpouring of social media tributes from various figures within the Hip-Hop community, serving as a testament to Dres’ impact and influence.
“U are cornerstone of Atlanta, hip-hop and underground culture,” Killer Mike captioned his post.
“You will be mourned forever, loved and cherished always and celebrated in this realm and beyond! We have lost a hero @dresthabeatnik we have lost a leader and library of history in losing you. Forever my love and respect. Job well done and thank u curator of culture and leader.”
“Such an amazing dude, and was a huge part of our journey. I miss him already,” wrote Run the Jewels spinner Trackstar the DJ, while Goodie Mob member Big Gipp simply reacted by commenting “wow” on a post sharing news of D.R.E.S.’ death.
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A native of Philadelphia, D.R.E.S., which is an acronym for “Divine Real Essence of Sound,” first gained fame through his skills as a beatboxer, winning the Amateur World Beatbox Championships and working with fellow East Coast reps Rahzel and Scratch.
D.R.E.S. would eventually find a new home in Atlanta, helping to foster the city’s grassroots Hip-Hop community. He spearheaded local events such as the World Famous Mic Club at Club Apache and “Beats, Brews and Views,” making him a conduit that connected various artists and creatives in Atlanta and beyond.
Prior to his passing, D.R.E.S. appeared in good spirits despite his condition, keeping his followers and friends updated on his health in various social media posts.
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“Good Morning World!!!” he wrote in one Instagram post. “Well today is the day for Surgery #2. I’m kinda excited about it because of the benefits of it towards my overall health. Whatever or However it goes down please pray for me. Thanks In Advance.”
He would later share that his surgery was a success while thanking his supporters for their well-wishes. “Just looking forward to the next step and thanking all of you for your prayers and your positive thoughts, so give a call if you can,” he added in a subsequent post.
“Give me a shout out if you can I’ll see you guys soon. I got work to do these bills don’t pay themselves LOL.”
See D.R.E.S. Tha Beatnik‘s Instagram posts below.
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