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The hip-hop community took to Twitter on Saturday night (Feb. 11) to express shock and disbelief over the death of Whitney Houston. The legendary singer died Saturday afternoon, Houston’s publicist, Kristen Foster, confirmed to The Associated Press. Houston was 48. She died Saturday afternoon after 25 minutes of resuscitation attempts.

CNN originally reporting that singer Ray J found her dead at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California, only later to retract that information due to Ray J's publicist denying the report. Although, the cause of her death isn’t known, Houston had a noted, public struggle with drugs and alcohol. Detectives are investigating the cause of her death.

Hip-hop poured its heart out over the huge loss.

“Deeply saddened by the death of Whitney Houston…may she rest in peace,” hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons tweeted out to the masses on Saturday night. "Whitney Houston was one of the greatest singers this world has ever heard.

“Dammmm RIP Whitney Houston,” Mack Maine tweeted. “One of the greatest to ever do it…wowwwww.”

Added Ludacris: “R.I.P. WHITNEY HOUSTON. ONE OF THE PUREST SOULS I'VE EVER MET IN MY LIFE.”

Drake and Soulja Boy simply tweeted, “R.I.P.”

The shock over Houston’s death will likely continue through the weekend. The acclaimed, but troubled singer and actor sold more than 170 million albums, singles and videos world wide and her album Whitney was the first female LP to ever debut at No. 1 on the Billboard chart. She recorded seven straight No. 1's on the Billboard charts during the 1980s. Houston also won six Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards and two Emmy Awards.

Houston was set to make mentor's Clive Davis' dinner and pre-Grammy party on Saturday night. Davis since cancelled the event.

Houston is survived by her daughter Bobbi Kristina, which whom she had with singer Bobby Brown. She was married to Brown from 1992-2007. —Mark Lelinwalla

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