Legendary New York City DJ, Big Kap, has reportedly passed away. A staple in the city’s hip-hop community, Kap, born Keith Carter, was 45 at the time of his death on Wednesday (Feb. 3). Instrumental in the launching of the careers of acts such as the late great The Notorious B.I.G., Kap was a member of The Flip Squad, a collective that consisted of Funkmaster Flex, Mister Cee and host of East Coast rappers.

DJ Kap’s most notable project to date is his 1999 album The Tunnel with Funkmaster Flex. Featuring verses from Nas, Jay Z, Eminem, Dr. Dre, as well as posthumous contributions from B.I.G. and Tupac, The Tunnel moved nearly 100,000 units in its first week of release, debuting at No. 35 on the Billboard chart. Kap also gained viral fame over a decade later, when a video of The Notorious B.I.G. at the 1995 Summer Jam concert made its rounds online. Unfortunately for Kap, he felt the rapper’s wrath after slipping up on the turntables:


Rest in peace Big Kap and thank you for the wonderful memories you gave the community.

Source: Vibe.com