Sad news to report today ILOSM family. The charismatic, self-proclaimed “first lady of Death Row Records,” Jewell Caples (commonly known as R&B artist, Jewell), has died at just 53 years old. Jewell is known for working with 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre during her stint on Death Row Records. An official cause of death has yet to be confirmed. The news of Jewell’s death began to spread after former head of Death Row security, Reggie White Jr., and Death Row Records artist/producer, Daz Dillinger, announced her passing. According to Reggie, Jewell died Friday morning (May 6, 2022) at 5 a.m..

 

 

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A post shared by Dazzel Dillinger (@dazdillinger)

Jewell’s passing comes just two months after her announcement that she’d been hospitalized and was found to have eight pounds of fluid in her heart, lungs, and legs. She was re-hospitalized on March 16 and eventually released on March 21 after receiving treatment. At that time, she shared an update on her health, via Instagram, with the following photo and caption:

“Attention All Non Believers … I was Hospitalized on March 2,2022
Released on a March 5,2022 went home,8lbs of fluid on my heart, lungs, and legs! Went back to hospital March 16th until Today March 21,2022. I Almost Died! Was supposed to be Airlifted to another facility. GOD reverse my symptoms extended me some GRACE! And gave me more time with my Family and Friends! Thank you JESUS for saving my life again! 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽 GOD IS REAL!”

 

 

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Jewell – a Chicago native – is widely known for her beautiful voice, which was heard on various Death Row Records tracks throughout the ’90s. She appeared on epic albums, including Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic”; Snoop Dogg’s “Doggystyle”; and 2Pac’s “All Eyez On Me.” Her biggest solo hit of her career, was her cover of Shirley Brown’s classic, “Woman to Woman,” which peaked at No. 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart. Additionally, Jewell was also featured on the “Deep Cover” and “Above the Rim” film soundtracks.

In recent years, Jewell re-emerged…becoming somewhat of an interview sensation to both younger and maturer fans alike, with her very entertaining interviews. During a recent “Art Of Dialogue” interview, Jewell expressed how she never truly felt like she’d received her just-due as an artist, and she partly believed it was because of her physical appearance at that time.

“I was never seen, but my voice was heard,” Jewell stated. “I was a juicy girl, and they wanted a slim-jim. So you never really saw me in any videos.”

She apparently only began receiving attention after she served three months for an attempted murder charge…during that time, she said she’d lost weight. “I was a skinny girl when I came out [of jail], so they put me in the ‘What Would You Do?’ video,” Jewell added, “I was never upset with the process, but I was mad that my album really never came out.”

Jewell Caples was a phenomenal singer and a mother. She will be forever missed.