Today in Hip-Hop: R.I.P. KL of Screwball

On this day, March 28, in hip-hop history…

2008: KL, real name Kenny Lou, passed away on March 28, 2008 from an asthma attack. The words of DJ Premier upon his death still ring true today: “His hardcore delivery and raspy voice was well known in many circles...He is already up in ghetto heaven, so his music will live through all of us that love him.” Those touching words from Premo sum up how KL's peers and fans felt about his music; he will be missed.

Screwball is best known for their 2000 single “H-O-S-T-Y-L-E,” which originally appeared on Y2K The Album. The song was best known for it's sing-song chorus, which was both catchy and easy to remember. "H-o-s-t-y-l-e/Those them types that fuck wit me/H-o-s-t-y-l-e/Those them types that fuck wit me," they sung in unison.

KL, along with his cousin Blaq Poet, Solo and Hostyle, was the member of the group who had a distinctively aggressive rhyming style.

He shined on the group’s next single, produced by DJ Premier, called “F.A.Y.B.A.N. (Fuck You Bitch Ass Niggas).” The group also had other efforts including 2001’s Loyalty and 2004’s Screwed Up. They worked with other hip-hop producers such as Pete Rock, The Beatnuts and Marley Marl. Things came full circle, as KL started his career off by dropping singles produced by Marley Marl in the early 1990s.

For his fans, friends and family, we give a salute to KL. Rest in peace.

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