R.I.P. to Hip-Hop MC Baatin of Slum Village

2009 just seems to be a VERY bad year in regards to great and positive people passing away on the Black Entertainment, Cultural & Music Ends...this was NOT the news one expected or wanted to hear this past weekend.

In my personal opinion, Slum Village's "Fantastic Vol. 2" album (1st released on the now defunct Goodvibe Records label) is a modern day independent Hip-Hop classic...constantly rocked it HARD as a part of my personal soundtrack during my last year or so of college over at Rutgers.

Sincere Prayers and Condolences to Titus "Baatin" Glover's family, friends, fans & the people od Detriot from the BlackRadioIsBack.com and FuseBox Radio Broadcast crew.

Slum Village rapper Baatin dead at 35
Detroit native, known for spiritual lyrics, had recently returned to group

By BRIAN McCOLLUM
Free Press Pop Music Writer

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misidentified the gallery where the public remembrance for Titus (Baatin) Glover was scheduled to be held. This report is correct.

Titus (Baatin) Glover, the Detroit rapper who co-founded the much-acclaimed Slum Village, has died.

The circumstances of his death remain unknown, associates said this afternoon. Baatin's body was found this morning in the 14000 block of Anglin Street, said family friend Ty Townson, who was at the scene as Baatin's body was taken to the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office.

Glover's mother, Alberta Glover, said she didn't know anything about how her son died. She said she's waiting for the medical examiner to tell the family something either Sunday or Monday.

Funeral arrangements are not yet set. Friends and family members will gather for a public remembrance at 8 p.m. Sunday at 5 E Gallery, 2125 Michigan Avenue in Detroit.

Baatin, who turned 35 in March, left Slum Village in 2002, later telling the Free Press he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. He continued to record and play occasional solo dates before returning to the Slum fold for the group's upcoming album, "Villa Manifesto," due Sept. 22.

He was with the group for its gig at June's Rock the Bells Tour stop at DTE Energy Music Theatre, and last week performed in a video shoot for Slum's new single, "Cloud 9."

"This is just very shocking," said friend Biba Adams. "We were all hoping this would be the return of the original group."

"Baatin will be missed," Slum Village's T3 told the Free Press in a statement. "I'm glad we got a chance to work together before he passed. We lost another Slum soldier, a dear friend and a brother. He touched many lives."

Word of Baatin's passing circulated quickly this afternoon in music circles both locally and nationally, where Slum Village has long been an exalted name in underground hip-hop.

Fellow group founder James (J. Dilla) Yancey, Baatin's Pershing High School classmate, passed away in 2006.

"Deepest sympathy to the family, friends and fans of Slum Village on the passing of Baatin," said J. Dilla's mother, Maureen Yancey, in a statement. "We loved him and his kind heart and spirit will forever be in our hearts."

Slum Village emerged in the late 1990s amid major street buzz, attracting fans of organic hip-hop and supported by acts such as A Tribe Called Quest. The group's 2000 national debut, "Fantastic Vol. 2" landed on critics' best-of lists and set the stage for Slum's highest-profile commercial release, "Trinity," two years later.

"He was a very spiritual brother," said Detroiter Khalid el-Hakim, founder of the Black History 101 Mobile Museum. "He brought a spirituality to Detroit hip-hop that you didn't see with other artists. That's what he was known for."

Baatin is survived by his son, Michael Majesty Ellis, 9; his daughter, Aura Grace Glover, 1; his parents Howard and Alberta Glover; and his sister, Eleanor Glover, two brothers, Richard Riggins and Wendell Scott, all of Detroit.

Staff writer Cecil Angel contributed to this report.

Source: Detriot Free Press

Baatin Official MySpace Page
Slum Village Official MySpace Page

Baatin of Slum Village Interview (2000)

Just in case folks aren't familiar w/ the grooves and vibe of Slum Village's music, here's a dope mixtape I found on the 'net called "Slum Village Mixtape - Remember the Classics" (props to the folks at Haap Mag) that's a good introduction:

Download Link #1
Download Link #2 (Backup Link)

Tracklisting:

1. Intro
2. Cloud 9 featuring Marsha Ambrosius
3. Insane
4. Things We Do
5. Get Live
6. Interlude
7. The Reunion
8. Thelonius featuring Common
9. Conant Gardens
10. Climax
11. Tainted featuring Dwele
12. Get This Money
13. Interlude
14. Keep Holding On
15. Fall In Love
16. Raise It Up
17. J Dilla Tribute
18. Interlude
19. Love You Hate
20. 2U4U
21. Trinity
22. EZ Up
23. Selfish featuring Kanye West & John Legend
24. Dirty featuring Dirt McGirt

Video #1: Slum Village feat. Dwele - Tainted (personal favorite Slum Village video)


Video #2: Slum Village - I Don't Know (personal all time favorite Slum Village song)


Video #3: Slum Village - Players (personal Top 3 of favorite Slum Village songs)


Video #4: DJ Houseshoe's Baatin Tribute DJ Set


Video #5: Baatin - Marvelous (Produced by Black Milk)


Video #6: Baatin Speaks about Slum Village Reunion in 2008 (Live TMG Blog)


Video #7: Slum Village (Baatin, Elzhi & T3) 1,2 Rock The Bells Tour Chicago (6/27/09)