Veteran emcee/producer that worked with Lord Finesse and M.O.P. passed away. The former Atlantic Records artist was a Virginia Hip Hop pioneer.
It has been announced that Kleph Dollaz (a/k/a Darrel Durand) of former Atlantic Records Hip Hop group Ill Biskits has died this morning (August 28) from a reported heart attack. Virginia's DJ Rerok, a longtime friend and peer to Kleph, confirmed the death to HipHopDX. He called Kleph, "a big part of the Virginia Hip Hop community."
In 1996, Ill Biskits (sometimes credited as Ill Biscuits) recorded Chronicle Of Two Losers on Atlantic, including production from D.I.T.C.'s Buckwild and Lord Finesse. Promotional copies circulated, though the album never formerly released. The pair (also including Deeda) hailed from Petersburg, Virginia.
Kleph later produced for Talib Kweli, M.O.P., Sadat X and Sean Price, among others. Last year he released Square In The Circle via his Bandcamp page. The album featured popular VA battle emcee Lonnie B.
Rap peers including Skillz, Ski Beatz and Nottz all acknowledged Kleph's passing.
Kool Keith: I wore a straw hat with a feather to the last Source Awards. When I got to Madison Square Garden everybody was looking at me. When I got back home I seen everybody and their mother in their video wearing a fuckinג straw hat with a feather in it.
Tim Dog: גWhat Kool Keith gonna wear? Iגm gonna do that shit in my video. Iגm gonna wear that shit really quick. Whatגs Tim Dog gonna wear?ג
