2 Live Crew’s Fresh Kid Ice Dead at 53

Fresh Kid Ice, who made his name as a founding member of 2 Live Crew, has passed away Thursday (July 13) at the age of 53. According to TMZ, the Chinamen Records founder died in a Miami hospital at 7:50 a.m. EST. They say his death is a result of a "medical condition."

Fresh Kid, born name Chris Wong Won, had served in the U.S. Air Force for four years before joining DJ Mr. Mixx and Amazing Vee to form the first iteration of 2 Live Crew in 1984. The group became whole when they signed to Luther Campbell's record label and had him join the group a time later.

Fresh Kid and his 2 Live Crew made a lot of noise in their day, and most of it was controversial. Known for their raunchy lyrics, the clique—specifically, members Fresh Kid and Campbell—was once arrested for obsecenity after one of their Florida shows got a bit too raunchy for authorities' liking.

The group went to trial and defended their music and their performance as an exercise of free speech. In what could be considered a big time victory for hip-hop, they ultimately won the case.

Campbell was one of the first people to send his support to Fresh Kid and his family following the rapper's death. "My Condolence goes out to the family Chris Wong Wong Fresh Kid Ice of the 2 Live Crew who just passed away people we lost a legend," he wrote on Twitter.

XXL would like also like to send out our thoughts to all of Fresh Kid's family and loved ones.

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