Rapper Bo$$, whose real name was Lichelle Marie Laws, has died at the age of 54.
Rapper Bun B announced the news on social media on Monday evening. “Rest in peace to my big sister Lichelle Laws, aka Boss. One of the best female MCs and a dear friend,” he wrote, sharing a photo of the singer.
Her cause of death has not yet been announced.
It is believed she died due to complications from kidney disease, which she was first diagnosed with in 2011.
In 2017, a GoFundMe account was set up in her name after she suffered a stroke and a seizure. It was also believed she needed a new kidney.
She rose to fame for being the first female rapper signed to Def Jam by Russell Simmons.
Rapper Bo$$ – whose real name was Lichelle Marie Laws – has died at the age of 54. Seen in 1992 in New York
Rapper Bun B announced the news on social media on Monday evening. “Rest in peace to my big sister Lichelle Laws, aka Boss. One of the best female MCs and a dear friend,” he wrote, sharing a photo of the singer. Seen in 1992
In 1993 she released her first studio album, Born Gangstaz.
It reached number three on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in 1993.
It turned out to be her only studio album during her career.
Her biggest hit was Deeper.
She was also associated with the labels Sony Music Entertainment, Columbia Records and 8055 Records.
Jermaine Dupri, Jadakiss, 9th Wonder, Ed Lover and others paid tribute to the star on Instagram.
Bo$$ was born and raised in Detroit, but moved to Los Angeles after high school for her career.
One of DJ Quik’s team members discovered her during a performance.
She rose to fame for being the first female rapper signed to Def Jam by Russell Simmons. Seen in LA in February
In 1994, Laws was interviewed by a reporter for The Wall Street Journal.
The newspaper revealed that she grew up in a middle-class neighborhood on Detroit’s West Side.
She also studied ballet and piano and attended private Catholic school where she was a cheerleader.
And she studied business administration for two years at Oakland University.
Yet her music was full of vulgarity and aggression.
But Def Jef said there was irony in that.
However, BO$$ faced a rougher life when she moved to the south side of Los Angeles in 1990.
They saw abandoned hotels, feudal gangs, commerce and crowds, it was said.
It was also suggested that she even sold drugs.