Attrell Cordes, best known as Prince Be of the ’90s hip-hop group P.M. Dawn, died Friday in New Jersey. He was 46.
Prince Be, who had long suffered from diabetes, died of renal kidney disease, according to People.
Attrell Cordes and his brother Jarrett (a.k.a. DJ Minutemix) formed P.M. Dawn in 1988.
Their song “Set Adrift on Memory Bliss” hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1991. It ranked No. 81 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop. Another P.M. Dawn song — “I Die Without You” — was featured on the “Boomerang” soundtrack.
“Prince Be Rest In Peace forever more, Pain from Diabetes can’t harm you anymore, My Heart is at Peace B-Cuz U suffered so long, Tell Grandma I said Hi & Stay Blisstatic & Strong,” Jarrett Cordes posted on the group’s Facebook page.
Attrell is survived by his wife, Mary, and three children.
Artists took to Twitter to pay their respects.
RIP #princebe #PMDawn pic.twitter.com/As6opbDEtN
— De La Soul (@WeAreDeLaSoul) June 18, 2016
1970-2016. Attrell Cordes aka Prince Be. This brother was a unique artist. #PMdawn was a major… https://t.co/n5VVTvYosC
— Lenny Kravitz (@LennyKravitz) June 18, 2016
So sad that 'Prince Be' Attrell Cordes from PM Dawn has passed! R.I.P.
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) June 18, 2016
"Is it my turn to wish you were lying here?" -one of the best opening lyrics ever.
RIP Prince Be.
Thx for expanding the sound of hip-hop.— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) June 18, 2016
Wow, Prince Be??? This year is crazy.
Gone too soon. RIP, good sir. You are a huge influence on me and so many.#RIPPrinceBe
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 18, 2016
Watch P.M. Dawn’s chart-topper below.