The Legendary James Mtume (‘Juicy Fruit’) Has Died – He was 76

 
James Mtume                                                                                                                                                      

We’ve just learned that music legend James Mtume has passed. He was 76. The news was confirmed by, Lisa Lucas, the daughter of Mtume’s late musical partner, Reggie Lucas
“So much loss. So much grief. Rest in power to Uncle Mtume. My late father’s partner in crime, the co-creator of the songs of my life (and about my birth!),” wrote Lisa Lucas on Twitter. “He was an essential part of the life of the man who made me, therefore me too. Gone now. He will be dearly, eternally missed.”
Mtume’s 76th birthday was observed on January 3rd. So far, as of this posting, a cause of death has not been made public.
James Mtume, better known simply as Mtume, was comfortable in multiple genres including alternative jazz, R&B, hip hop and film scoring. He also used his artistry as a bridge between politics, culture and art.

Here’s more via The Daily News

His death Sunday came as a shock to the music world. No cause of death was given.

“A lot of folks didn’t know that Mtume was so political and savvy in so many different areas,” Fatiyn Muhammad, host and executive producer of the WBLS radio show “Open Line,” told the Daily News Sunday. “I felt like the air got sucked out the room. Mtume was a special individual.”

He was remembered for 1983′s “Juicy Fruit,” sampled by The Notorious B.I.G. for his first official single, “Juicy” in 1994. In 2018 he returned to Philadelphia, his hometown, to help celebrate the song’s 35th anniversary.