Three 6 Mafia’s Koopsta Knicca Has Died At 40

Koopsta Knicca, a founding member of hip hop group Three 6 Mafia, died on Friday morning of complications following a recent stroke.

The Memphis native was born as Robert Phillips in 1975 and helped found Three 6 Mafia in 1991, along with DJ Paul, Lord Infamous, Juicy J, Crunchy Black and Gangsta Boo. Phillips remained in the group until 2000, when he decided to pursue a solo music career. Some other reasons he left the group were incarceration, which left him unable to be at shows or video shoots, and a breach in his contract with Sony. According to SPIN, he did take part in the newer version of Three 6 Mafia, known as Da Mafia 6ix, which was formed in 2013.

From 1991 to 2000, Three 6 Mafia released four studio albums, and Koopsta Knicca released his own solo debut album, Da Devil’s Playground: Underground Solo, in 1999. He followed up that album with eight others in a solo career that spanned from 1999 until 2013. He appeared on Da Mafia 6ix albums in 2013 and 2015.

Last weekend, Phillips suffered a stroke, which left him unconscious and on life support. About a week later, he has passed away at the age of 40 due to complications from the stroke. In a statement to Memphis newspaper The Commercial Appeal, high school friend and longtime musical collaborator DJ Paul said, “Everyone who knew Koop knew he was very funny and the coolest guy ever. He will be missed. We made classics together that’ll live on.”