5th Ward Weebie, a pioneer of New Orleans Bounce, has died.
The news was confirmed by Weebie’s close friend, P Town Moe, who spoke to local news. According to reports, he passed away from complications after suffering a heart attack.
“First his kidneys went, and they had him on a machine to get his kidneys back working, then his lungs went the next day,” P Town Moe told 4WWL. “I don’t know why God wanted him at this time, but my brother gone.”
“I’m at a loss for words,” said DJ Bird, a close friend, and collaborator. “He was a joker. He was a good dude… This is a sad day in New Orleans.”
NOLA Mayor LaToya Cantrell hopped onto Instagram to release a statement about Weebie’s passing:
“It broke my heart to learn that Jerome Cosey—our 5th Ward Weebie—has passed. Let me find out you didn’t know who he was. He was an iconic personality, a New Orleans legend, and a beloved friend. He was the Bounce King, who showed us how to move, how to love, and how to bring passion and humanity to everything we do,” Cantrell wrote.
“New Orleans has lost a cornerstone of our culture. Our City will not be the same without his voice and his spirit. May he rest in God’s perfect peace.”
5th Ward Weebie came to prominence in the 90s as Bounce music became popular in New Orleans. He has collaborated with some of the industry greats, including Mystikal, Snoop Dogg and Master P.