The independent artist, real name Donald Maurice Pears, was reportedly in his early forties.

No reason has been given for his death, but reports indicate Pears was battling kidney issues when he passed away in his sleep at his sister's home earlier this week (begs27Apr15), according to Billboard.com.

Pears released two albums in the 1990s and was featured on Three 6 Mafia's 2006 single Poppin' My Collar.

In 2010, he appeared in the documentary Number One with a Bullet, in which he discussed losing an eye after getting shot in the head twice.