John “Ecstasy” Fletcher, co-founder of the rap group Whodini, died Dec. 23. He was 56 years old.
Fletcher founded New York City-based Whodini in 1982 alongside deejay Drew Carter, better known as Grandmaster Dee, and rapper Jalil Hutchins.
Fletcher’s death was confirmed by Grandmaster Dee Wednesday afternoon, but no cause of death was identified.
Whodini’s music spread from their home borough of Brooklyn around the globe, and the group got its start with early hits like “Magic’s Wand,” “Freaks Come Out at Night,” and “Five Minutes of Funk.” The group gained notoriety for Grandmaster Dee’s habit of mixing synthesizers and funk sounds with traditional hip-hop beats.