The warning signs were there on Friday (December 17). Several friends of Hip Hop pioneer Kangol Kid were posting prayers for the U.T.F.O. legend on social media, raising a red flag for anyone not in his inner circle. Hours later, the news broke Kangol Kid had indeed passed on, bringing his valiant fight with Stage 4 colon cancer to a tragic end.

Speaking to HipHopDX, veteran New York City promoter Van Silk — who’s currently undergoing treatment for the same type of cancer— initially thought it might’ve just been a rumor, but he was ultimately able to confirm Kangol’s death.

“I’m hearing Kangol passed,” he wrote via text Saturday morning (December 18). “I was on with Mix Master Ice last night. Trying to find out.” He returned just 20 minutes later with, “RIP KANGOL KID. He passed at 3:02 a.m. My prayers go out to my brother who fought a battle of colon cancer at Stage 4.

“Early on, we discussed our fight with this disease because my fight with colon cancer is stage 2. He told me it had spread in October. I encourage all to get your prostate and colon checked. May my brother Kangol Rest In Heaven.”

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