This one hurts, I Love Old School Music family. Legendary Whodini rap artist, John Fletcher, best known by his stage name, Ecstasy, has died at the young age of 56. Many of us Old Schoolers used to blast Whodini’s joints back in the day…back when Ectasy and his group members, Jalil Hutchins and DJ Drew Carter, a.k.a. Grandmaster Dee rapped on their hits, “Friends,” “Five Minutes of Funk,” “Big Mouth, and “Freaks Come Out at Night.” It is with great sadness that a major force behind those beautiful Old School memories has departed from this earth.
Word began spreading quickly across social media, after The Roots drummer, Questlove, broke the news about Ectasy’s passing with the following announcement online:
“One Love to Ecstasy of the Legendary #Whodini. This man was legendary and a pivotal member of one of the most legendary groups in hip hop. This is sad man.”
One Love to Ecstasy of the Legendary #Whodini. This man was legendary and a pivotal member of one of the most legendary groups in hip hop. This is sad man. https://t.co/ZRSqI7555F
— Questlove (@questlove) December 23, 2020
It’s unclear what exactly caused Ecstasy’s death, but many celebs have been flooding their timelines with heartfelt tributes to one of our hip hop legends, who paved the way for so many.
Tribe Called Quest rapper, Q-Tip, wrote:
“RIP to Ecstasy from Whodini. One of the most under appreciated voices in hip hop. Too many hits! Condolences to his fam.”
RIP to Ecstasy from https://t.co/MiqnKeBFeK of the most under appreciated voices in hip hop. Too many hits! Condolences to his fam ✨🙏🏾✨
— QTip (@QtipTheAbstract) December 23, 2020
So So Def mogul, Jermaine Dupri, got his start as a kid dancer in one of Whodini’s music videos for “The Freaks Come Out At Night.” So he took to Twitter to share behind the scenes footage of that sentimental memory and captioned it with this message:
“My God, this one hurts me so bad,I can’t even believe I’m posting this,Ex you know I love you 🙏🏾🙏🏾 thank you for every word, every conversation every good time, may your soul Rest In Power 🕊🕊🕊 #whodini q”
My God, this one hurts me so bad,I can’t even believe I’m posting this,Ex you know I love you 🙏🏾🙏🏾 thank you for every word,every conversation every good time,may your soul Rest In Power 🕊🕊🕊 #whodini q pic.twitter.com/6RGuOankWl
— Jermaine Dupri (@jermainedupri) December 23, 2020
Video Soul icon, Donnie Simpson, wrote:
“2020 just won’t let up. Legendary rap star Ecstasy from Whodini has died. No details yet on the cause.
He was a very important block in the building of Hip Hop and a very cool brother.
RIP my brother.Folded hands#onelove”
2020 just won’t let up. Legendary rap star Ecstasy from Whodini has died. No details yet on the cause.
He was a very important block in the building of Hip Hop and a very cool brother.
RIP my brother.🙏🏾#onelove pic.twitter.com/YVBeSn7Ywd
— Donnie Simpson (@DonnieSimpson) December 23, 2020
Couldn’t have summed that up any better Donnie…2020 just refuses to let up. May 2021 bring us all better light and energy.
Our sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of John “Ecstasy” Fletcher. May he rest in peace and power.
