It’s with great sadness that we announce that Gregory Shorter Jr. (a.k.a Ras G) has died, aged 39. The news came on Monday via Brainfeeder, a label he co-founded.

The announcement was met with tributes from all those in his orbit. 

“Ras_G has left the planet, far beyond the galaxy. Show us the way to the cosmos my friend. I will love you forever. Thank you for your time on earth,” said Flying Lotus. 

“So incredibly sad, [Ras G] was a true visionary and a weirdo in the greatest possible sense,” wrote Hudson Mohawke. 

A cause of death has not been confirmed, but Shorter’s health problems had been disclosed. Back in December, he announced via Instagram that he had been diagnosed with pneumonia, diabetes, hypothyroid, and heart failure, but said that he was “breathing and feeling better than ever.” 

Shorter, a pioneer of the LA beats scene who also performed as Ras G & The Afrikan Space Program, began releasing records through Poo-Bah Records, the label arm of his longtime employer. A prolific producer known for his psychedelic beats, he released 24 albums and mixtapes since his 2008 debut, often putting out a few each year. He shared his music on some of LA’s leading music institutions, including Leaving Records, Brainfeeder, Stones Throw, and Ghetto Sci-Fi Music.