Apache Dies – Today in Hip-Hop

On this day, Jan. 22, in hip-hop history…

2010: Anthony Peaks, better known by his stage name, Apache, died of undisclosed causes on Jan. 22, 2010. Apache was a key member of New York and Northern Jersey's artists collective, Flavor Unit, and best known for his 1993 single, "Gangsta Bitch."

Apache was a founding member of the Flavor Unit when they rose to fame back in the late-1980s. As the crew's frontman, Apache helped foster the careers of big names like Queen Latifah and Naughty by Nature, but soon broke off on his own.

His controversial single, "Gangsta Bitch" was co-produced by Q-Tip and A Tribe Called Quest, and depicted the New Jersey MC on the lookout for a "strapped but lovable" girl. "Gangsta Bitch" peaked at number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is considered the rapper's biggest commercial success.

Unfortunately, the MC's life came to abrupt end on Friday, Jan. 22, 2010, when he was found dead in his home by his brother. He was 45 years old.

"Apache was one of the chief architects of the Flavor Unit,” Naughty by Nature's Vin Rock told MTV News when word first broke. “Mark the 45 King held down all the DJing and production. Apache was one of the founding members with Lord Alibaski, Lakim Shabazz, his brother, Latee. They were the premier Flavor Unit MCs."

Speaking to Apache's character, Vin called him the "comedian" of the group, "some of our best times was with Apache just clowning.”

RIP Apache.

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