New Orleans Bounce Legend 5th Ward Weebie Has Died

According to multiple sources, bounce rapper and New Orleans icon 5th Ward Weebie has passed away.

The New Orleans Bounce rapper fell ill a few days ago and was in the hospital hoping to improve but according to our contacts close to the situation Weebie, born Jerome Cosey, passed away earlier today.

Less than a week ago Weebie was posting videos on Instagram, dancing and in good spirits.

Details are still slim, but we will work to get you more information when we confirm it with his management. New Orleans artist and close friend to 5th Ward Weebie, P Town Moe did take to Instagram to comment on the passing of his close friend and brother.

Weebie leaves behind a legacy that includes over 20 years of music and New Orleans Bounce classics. According to AllMusic.com

An artist at the heart of New Orleans' Bounce movement, rapper 5th Ward Weebie is also known as the Bounce King and earned that title by combining old-school beats with modern rhymes. Born Jerome Cosey, Weebie launched his career in Bounce around 1997 as a backup dancer for Cheeky Blakk. Two years later he launched his rap career with the 1999 Mobo Records album Show the World, then a year later he landed on Kane & Abel's hit "Shake It Like a Dog." In 2001 he signed with Kane & Abel's imprint Most Wanted Empire and released his sophomore effort, Ghetto Platinum, but the label's name was sadly prophetic, and as MWE's CEOs were brought down on charges of laundering drug money, Weebie was left without a label. It didn't take long to find a new home as Take It to the Hole, his third album and second of the year, landed in 2001 on South Coast Music. In 2002 he joined the legendary Master P on his single "Rock It," while 2006 saw him launch his Bounce King Status series of mixtapes. In 2012 he joined DJ Blaqbiggyblaq on his Blaqbiggyblaq, Vol. 20 mixtape, which spawned the hit "Let Me Find Out." The track was released as a single in 2013.

Beyond having an incredible talent for creating infectious rhythms with his signature call-and-response sound, Weebie also had a huge personality that shined on records like his hit single, "Let Me Find Out."

Throughout his career, Weebie was unapologetically New Orleans when it came to his music style. One of his first big looks in the music industry was his feature on Master P's single "Rock It."

His sound is at the core of one of Drake's most popular records to date, "Nice For What" but Weebie has been at the center of dance classics long before NOLA bounce became a sought after sound on a major label level.

He opened up about the New Orleans Bounce and its influence on music worldwide in the interviews below.

A few more popular classics with Weebie's one-of-a-kind touch include the Kane & Abel anthem "Shake It Like A Dog" where Weebie provided an unforgettable hook that moves the entire record.

Weebie released a lengthy discography of singles and mixtape classics in addition to being featured heavily on numerous other records and regional club bangers that crossed over seamlessly between pop and urban audiences.

5th Ward Weebie was a friend—not just to me, but to the entire Hot 107.9 team and our hearts go out to his family and loved ones at this difficult time.

We will miss him and will make sure he always lives on via our airwaves through the music he left us.

#RIP to a legend, The Bounce King, 5th Ward Weebie.