Fat Joe Associate, Mike Beck, Murdered

Brooklyn-bred rapper Mike Beck—a member of Fat Joe's K.A.R. (Kill All Rats) crew—was shot dead over the weekend.

As of press time the exact details are unknown, but ballerstatus.com reports that Beck fell victim to a botched robbery attempt in his hometown late Friday night (October 30).

Several rappers have sent their condolences to the fallen MC over Twitter. N.O.R.E. was the first to confirm Beck's passing, typing, “Rest in peace he was a real dude mike [beck] I did records for him n he ate in my crib n drank 2 fucked up my weekend r I p.”

Joey Crack, simply posted, “R.I.P. Mike Beck” at about an hour and a half after Noreaga at 9 a.m. last Saturday.

Beck was born and raised in the rough East New York section of BK. Growing up in a hostile home, with two parents addicted to drugs, the rapper turned to a life of crime at an early age, landing himself in jail for five years.

Upon his return home he started his career as a rapper. Since then he has appeared on albums by Fat Joe, Onyx and the official Kay Slay Greg Street album The Champions: North Meets South. Beck is scheduled to appear on Joe Crack and Pistol Pete Present K.A.R., slated for a January 2010 release on E1 Music. —Max G