Call him Mr. Freeze or Chuck Freeze, Charles Foushee was an essential part of the hip-hop movement in the late 70's and early 80's. Freeze was a member of the Jazzy Five, a hip-hop group that rose to dominance after recording "Jazzy Sensation (Bronx Version) alongside the legendary Afrika Bambaataa. For those of you too young to recognize Bambaataa's name, he is hip-hop royalty and one of the largest innovators in the culture.
According to the New York Daily News, Freeze was found "unconscious and unresponsive" on Sunday in his Hollis, Queens residence. Hollis, Queens is known as Holy Land in hip-hop. Run DMC, LL Cool J, Irv Gotti, and Ja Rule can all trace their roots back to the Queens, NY, neighboorhood.
The New York City Medical Examiner’s office affirmed that the official cause of death was heart disease and high blood pressure. Both health issues are deadly in the African American community. According to WebMD, "Blacks develop high blood pressure earlier in life -- and with much higher blood pressure levels -- than whites. Nearly 42% of black men and more than 45% of black women aged 20 and older have high blood pressure."
LL Cool J and others took to Twitter to pay their respects to the pioneer.
Rest in peace King.