“It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear brother, Timothy J.
A representative for Blackalicious confirmed to Rolling Stone that Parker died of natural causes.
One of the greatest to ever do it,” Blackalicious DJ and Parker’s longtime friend and bandmate Xavier “Chief Xcel” Mosley said in a statement.
After a series of EPs in the mid-Nineties — culminating with 1999’s A2G, featuring the duo’s most enduring and awe-inspiring track, “Alphabet Aerobics” — Blackalicious released their acclaimed debut album in 1999, Nia.
Gift of Gab also released a trio of solo albums, most recently 2012’s The Next Logical Progression, and LPs with the Bay Area supergroups Quannum MCs and the Mighty Underdogs.
At the time of his death, Parker left behind over 100 tracks for future Blackalicious releases.
Blackalicious’ and Parker’s longtime manager Brian Ross added in a statement, “He was one of the most positive human beings I have ever known and always looking toward the future.