Black the Ripper, UK Rapper & Founder of Dank of England, Dead at 32

UK Grime legend Dean West, known by many as Black the Ripper, was found dead in the Caribbean country of Mosterrat on April 6. According to sources, he was found dead in the vacation home he was staying in. He was 32 years of age.

We at Loud News Net send our condolences and our love to the British hip-hop community during this time. Hip Hop is global and we can’t ever forget those putting it down across the pond.

Dank of England (D.O.E) and Black the Ripper

Dank of England (D.O.E. ), his own company, was launched in 2015. Dank of  England is an independent record label that produces clothing as well as smoking accessories. The label is a reboot of his former independent label, Black  Magic Entertainment. With co-founder and partner; Screechtree, the pair have been running pop-up shops since 2017.

All the way back to 2007, Black was well known for his mixtapes such as Afro Samurai and Holla Black. Those who know his music are aware of his passion for Cannabis. He has released many weed-based albums including High-End Weed Music, 420 Mixtape, Motivated Stoner, and In Dank We Trust.

Black the Ripper had also become a leading activist for legal marijuana in the UK in recent years. In 2015, he founded the Dank of England which is a hybrid of independent record labels, marijuana merchandise, street gear, and cannabis activism. (This is in addition to being a dope play on words of the Bank of England).

Dank of England, Dean West was an active supporter of cannabis legalization

Black was well known for public displays for legalization. Back in 2016, he and friends fish-bowled the London Eye to the utter dismay of tourists. He was also not afraid to show up in front of Scotland Yard holding a pair of cannabis plants.

However, Black the Ripper was not just a wild activist. He was well aware of the range of benefits legal marijuana can have on society. In a 2018 Cambs Times interview he said:

“Cannabis has medicinal and economic benefits. Alcohol might be legal but people can die, their health is messed up big time on alcohol. Today we had a whole afternoon of people outside the shop no troubles at all. Had they been drunk it is likely there would have been fighting, people being sick, arguments. It would have been bad. But you don’t get that with weed smokers.”

Black the Ripper, Cause of Death confirmed by family

The family of black the ripper confirmed the cause of his tragic death. False news regarding his death was roaming around but after an autopsy, the real reason was discovered.

“Our beloved son Dean died from a sudden heart attack,” they wrote.

“The family would like to thank you for your patience at this tragic time. We appreciate your support and hopefully, we can start to find some closure in time.”

Sadly both the hip hop world and cannabis world lost a visionary this week. His death is still being investigated. Let’s hope his friends and family get closure soon. To all Black the Rippers fans and family we send our love. Stay up.