ATLANTA — Friends of Atlanta hip-hop pioneer Rico Wade are remembering his legacy on Tuesday, just days after his passing at the age of 52.
Curtis Daniel III co-owns Patchwerk Recording Studios in Atlanta. The studio has worked with hundreds of artists for nearly three decades. Daniel said even the largest studio in the state had to get its start somewhere.
"Our very first client was Organized Noize and Outkast," Daniel said. "That's literally what gave us our credibility. Then, we went from Outkast to Goodie Mob. When Rico [Wade] and them came with that first Outkast video and they had on the Braves jersey and the Kangol hats, riding in the Cadillacs in the streets, that was identifiable. That made me want to come here."
That credibility opened the door to Atlanta's hip-hop scene, to recording gold and platinum albums and music that put the South on the map.
Rico Wade played a big part in pioneering rap in Atlanta. He was a member of Organized Noize alongside Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown. He worked with Outkast, Goodie Mob and TLC. Wade also helped to found the Dungeon Family, a musical collective that includes artists like Killer Mike, Cee Lo Green and Wade's cousin, Future.
"These dudes look like us, said they were in the same places we were in," Daniel said. "You’d see them in the same restaurants. They were naming streets we were on. They were at the clubs we were in, so they seemed more accessible. Rico, he was a superhero, a foundational piece, a lot of things would not be if it wasn't for him."
Dee Dee Murray met Wade in the 90s. She was brought in to help Organized Noize and grow their status within the ranks of Atlanta hip-hop artists.
"Organized Noize needed some help organizing their noise, as I had 10 years in the industry," Murray said. "I did all the sample clearances, label copy, album coordination, administering the budgets for many of the albums that we all know and love today.”
Many know Murray from her appearances as Peaches on Outkast's first album. Murray said she met Wade when he was just 22 years old. She said he struck her as a young visionary who advocated for his artists.
“He was our mouthpiece. He was our salesperson," Murray said. "If you didn’t get it, Rico would explain it to you eloquently, and then by the time Rico finished explaining what he had to explain, then you’d get it. It would make sense to you. When you see all the artists have their publishing, they own their names, they can make their own money by making their own records. We saw how unselfish Rico was in the business as he was in his personal life.”
While Murray said she would miss Wade's smile and his laugh, Daniel said he'd miss the soul and high standard for excellence Wade brought to the studio.
"Where other people have beatmakers and they make music, Rico and them were making soul beats and soul music that you felt," Daniel said. "I think the biggest thing we’ll miss is his spirit, his optimism and his energy, and his willingness to extend the hand and pass down knowledge he learned from going through a lot.”
Funeral arrangements have not yet been set. Wade died Saturday at the age of 52.