UK hip-hop producer Mark B has died

The news appears to have been confirmed by DJ Food and other veterans of the UK hip-hop world.

Mark B was a hip-hop producer from South West London’s Kingston. He released a series of instrumental records in the 1990s and early 2000s and collaborated with Task Force and most famously Blade on vocal projects. Mark B and Blade’s The Unknown is considered a high water mark for UK hip-hop.

Mark B was less active in recent years, though he did upload a series of archive releases to his Bandcamp.

Stream The Unknown below.

RIP Mark B – Very sad news, did a bunch of covers for him in the 90s, always humble, even when KRS 1 freestyled over his beats on 279's show

— DJ Food (@djfood) January 1, 2016

Shocked and saddened to hear that legendary UK Hip-Hop pioneer Mark B has passed away. RIP. Your music will live on! https://t.co/YjZzVQ3NoF

— breakinbreadlondon (@breakinbreadLDN) January 1, 2016

RIP Mark B, the record king.

— THE HOLY GRAIL (@djmk) January 1, 2016