Atlanta rapper DJ Unk, known officially as Anthony Leonard Platt, died at age 42 last Friday. His wife confirmed the death on social media. The artiste is best known for his 2006 hits Walk It Out and 2 Step.
“Please respect me and my family. I just lost my husband, and my kids just lost their father. Our life will never be the same. I love you Anthony forever,” the wife Sherkita Long-Platt wrote. A cause of death was not reported at the time.
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Ms. Long-Platt spoke to some media outlets on Sunday, indicating that the death had nothing to do with drug-related complications, as speculated.
She noted that her late husband did not do drugs and died in his sleep from a heart attack.
The musician and DJ is said to have had a history of heart attacks, suffering one in 2009 after releasing his second studio album, 2econd Season.
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Sources said he attributed the heart attack, at the time, to “not exercising and not eating right.” He is known to have begun his career as a teenager in Atlanta in 1998.
Records indicate he was part of the Southern Style DJs crew before signing with Big Oomp Records, where he broke out as a solo artist.
On Friday, some friends and family paid tribute to him on social media. His record label wrote: “It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that we announce the passing of a true ATL legend, Anthony Platt, better known as “DJ Unk.
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“DJ Unk was not just a legendary DJ, rapper, and producer, but a true cornerstone of our label, and the imprint that he left globally will be cherished forever.”
“Hit songs such as Walk It Out and 2 Step have left an indelible mark on the industry, and his legacy will continue to inspire artists, DJs, and fans alike for years to come. His energy, creativity, and commitment to the craft will never be forgotten,” the label said on Instagram.
Apart from Walk It Out his hit 2 Step reportedly reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100.