David Axelrod, the composer and producer who’s been sampled in about a million hip-hop songs, has died, Billboard reports. He was 83.

Born in Los Angeles in 1933, Axelrod produced his first album in 1959, and four years later, he was hired as an A&R man and in-house producer for Capitol Records. He went to produce albums for artists like Cannonball Adderley, the Electric Prunes, and Lou Rawls, in addition to releasing several solo albums.

His work, which combined jazz, rock, and R&B while utilizing heavy beats and baroque orchestration, was rediscovered and embraced by the world of hip-hop in the ’90s. His compositions have been sampled by DJ Shadow, Wu-Tang Clan, De La Soul, Lil Wayne, DJ Premier, Cypress Hill, Madlib, and more, and the main sample in Dr. Dre’s iconic 2000 hit “The Next Episode” comes from David McCallum’s Axelrod-produced track “The Edge.”

Listen to some of his work and read some tributes from the music community below.

So sad to hear about the passing of musician/composer #DavidAxelrod. He was so immersed in creativity and so pure with his arrangements he WAS hip hop. And understood and appreciated hip hop culture (most cats would get guarded about time moving on & easily take the "NO!!!!!!!!" disposition if they aren't informed. David embraced and often reached out to producers and beatmakers for cool collabos) he appreciation for music and his ability to recognize musicianship is what I'll take from him. Rest in Melody.

A photo posted by Questlove Gomez (@questlove) on Feb 5, 2017 at 3:51pm PST

RIP David Axelrod! Died today 😔

A photo posted by Pete Rock (@realpeterock) on Feb 5, 2017 at 3:24pm PST

Producer and composer extraordinaire David Axelrod has passed. Listening to "Songs Of Experience" on repeat for the remainder of the day.

— DJ Shadow (@djshadow) February 6, 2017

I'll never forget meeting him for the first time in 1998. We asked him to do a remix for "Rabbit In Your Headlights" off the Unkle album.

— DJ Shadow (@djshadow) February 6, 2017

David could be incredibly intimidating, & he did not suffer fools…but if he liked & respected you, he was the most loyal friend on earth.

— DJ Shadow (@djshadow) February 6, 2017

So honored to have known you David, you are a bonafide hero to an entire generation of hip-hop kids and musical dreamers. Miss you Axe!!!

— DJ Shadow (@djshadow) February 6, 2017