On March 28, 1999, we lost Freaky Tah of the legendary Queens group, the Lost Boyz. To compound that loss, each year on this day, fellow group member, Mr. Cheeks, celebrates his own born day and then mourns the loss of his friend. Yes, Freaky Tah was shot and killed on Mr. Cheeks' birthday and it was done after he left Mr. Cheek's birthday party in Queens. The Vibe article above retells the story in great detail. Being born and raised in Queens, I followed the career of the Lost Boyz very closely - they were one of a few crews that successfully brought the underground to the mainstream in the way Naughty By Nature did earlier in their careers. The Lost Boyz had "Renee," "Lifestylez of the Rich & Shameles," "Get Up," "Music Makes Me High," "Jeeps, Lex Coups, Bimaz & Benz" ... all first verse, I haven't even gotten to their second album! Sure, some of the album versions were slightly different than the single versions we loved, but for me, that just meant I had to go out and buy the 12" releases or soundtracks, too! It's a humbling day and a reminder of the cycle of life. So, with that said - Rest in Peace to Freaky Tah; Happy Born Day to Mr. Cheeks, and a salute to DJ Spigg Nice and Pretty Lou, who were also impacted by all these somber events.
