Matt Dike, Rap Producer & Co-Founder Of Delicious Vinyl, Dies At 55

Matt Dike, Rap Producer & Co-Founder Of Delicious Vinyl, Dies At 55

Matt Dike, co-founder of hip-hop record label Delicious Vinyl and a contributor to the Beastie Boys’ iconic album Paul’s Boutique, died Tuesday (3/13). He was 55 years old.

Growing up outside of New York City in the 1960s and ’70s, Dike rebelled against the rigidity of his parents’ Jehovah’s Witness values, immersing himself in NYC’s music scene and taking the role of DJ at parties. He soon moved to Los Angeles in 1980 to expand his DJ brand and caught the attention of Mike Ross, with whom he later founded Delicious Vinyl in 1987.

The duo co-produced three major 1980s rap songs: Tone-Loc’s “Wild Thing” and “Funky Cold Medina” and Young MC’s “Bust A Move.” Much of the Beastie Boys’ 1989 album Paul’s Boutique was recorded in Dike’s apartment. He brought a number of layering samples to the record.

According to the announcement on Delicious Vinyl’s site, Dike died “at home after a brief illness, with his brother Lane and sister Vikyana at his side.”

Questlove was among the artists and music industry peers who took to Twitter to pay respects to Dike. See some of the reaction below:

Dog. This is crazy. So upset I never got to meet up/chat w #MattDike. Proprietor of @deliciousvinyl records. Creator of some of the most timeless fratty party hip hop ever (“Wild Thing” “Funky Cold Medina””Bust A Move”). Signing some stellar artists that were out of the norm at the time: #BrandNewHeavies #MellowManAce #ThePharcyde) but man, imo his crowning achievement was as one of the producers for one of THE greatest timeless hip hop albums ever #PaulsBoutique. It simply gets better with time (will be 30 years old in 2 years) it took 10 years to go double platinum and was considered a flop at the time of its release. But EVERY creative agrees that this album was not only @beastieboysofficial finest hour —but one of hip hop’s finest hours as well. It was my dream to nerd out and ask him (& the dust brothers too) about how they defied the laws of sampling gravity & made some of the most groundbreaking work ever. Rest In Beats.

A post shared by Questlove Gomez (@questlove) on

This article originally appeared on Billboard.

more from News