UTFO hip hop artist and break dancer The Kangol Kid has died at the age of just 55 after battling stage four colon cancer.
His friend Van Silk confirmed the news to the outlet HipHopDX, texting them: 'RIP KANGOL KID. He passed at 3:02 a.m.'
Van Silk, who also has colon cancer, added: 'My prayers go out to my brother who fought a battle of colon cancer at Stage 4.'
Dearly departed: UTFO hip hop artist and break dancer The Kangol Kid has died at the age of just 55 after battling stage four colon cancer
He continued: 'Early on, we discussed our fight with this disease because my fight with colon cancer is stage 2.'
Van recalled: 'He told me it had spread in October. I encourage all to get your prostate and colon checked. May my brother Kangol Rest In Heaven.'
His widow Tajiri Swindell wrote on Instagram: 'We have been through so much together more than most would in 100 years…you were perfect to me , no matter what you made sure I knew you loved me and I will love you for the rest of my life.'
Kangol, whose real name was Shaun Fequiere, grew up in New York City in a Haitian family and became a star of old school hip hop.
Throwback: His stage name derives from his childhood nickname which he received because of his fondness for Kangol hats
His stage name derives from his childhood nickname which he received because of his fondness for Kangol hats.
Young Shaun realized he had talent when he sang an Andy Gibbs song at his Brooklyn's Catholic school talent show, he told AllHipHop.
He reflected that the talent show experience 'was the start for me. Outside of the house, Catholic school stage, gave me the platform to realize I’m okay at this, you know? I don’t suck at this thing called performing.'
In 1983 he helped found the hip hop and break dance group UTFO, an acronym that stood for Untouchable Force Organization.
As seen in 1988: In 1983 he helped found the hip hop and break dance group UTFO, an acronym that stood for Untouchable Force Organization
Their biggest hit single was the 1984 number Roxanne, Roxanne about trying to impress a 'stuck up' woman who remained distinctly indifferent.
Roxanne, Roxanne resulted in an unprecedented number of answer records and a beef so intense it became known as the Roxanne Wars.
Through the 1980s and early 1990s the group put out five studio albums but eventually broke up in the latter decade.
'I was always the business dude of the group. I understood promotion. I understood marketing,' Kangol reflected earlier this year.
