Underground Rapper Camu Tao of The Weathermen and label mate to Aesop Rock has died after a nearly two-year battle with Lung Cancer.
The Columbus, Ohio native born Tero Smith, was less than two weeks away from his 31st birthday. He reportedly passed in his hometown. Camu Tao first blasted on to the underground hip hop scene as part of the crew MHz. He recorded with such labels as ABB Records and High & Mighty’s imprint label Eastern Conference. The talented rapper/producer’s last recording home was Def Jux as part of The Weathermen which includes Aesop Rock, EL-P, Cage and Breeze Brewin. RapInterview.com sends our condolences to family, loved ones and peers of the late, Camu Tao.
El-P: ” We, his friends and family, have truly had our collective hearts broken by his passing. Not only because of the loss of our friend, but because of the loss of his contribution to those who never knew what we knew about his talent and his potential. He was the secret that no one wanted to keep, and we always knew that one day his vision and his heart could change music forever the way he changed all of our lives. His departure from us all one month away from his 31st birthday is nothing less than a tragedy…nothing less than a crime. He was a gift to us all, and he is irreplaceable. Rest in peace, Mu. We will love you forever. May god bless you and your family.”
Aesop Rock: “He was a brother to me. This is all beyond devastating. Please keep him in your thoughts.”
Tame One: “A Good Friend.. A Great Person.. A Great Producer. Cancer Claimed Him. Tameoner Misses him. ..Shit Iz Ill.. Taken Away Too Fukn Soon.”
Akrobatik: “I had the honor of being on the road with Camu in ‘05 during the Def Jux Presents Vol. 2 tour, and immediately got along with dude. He was just such a genuinely good guy. Always had everyone crackin’ up and in good spirits. He was a strong brother, both physically and spiritually, and his talents were far too underrated. As a producer, emcee, and songwriter, Camu Tao held it down officially. On tour, he also became my arch nemesis on the video game shit, which lends to hours of bonding. Camu was a special person, and his family, the Jux Crew, and hip-hop have lost someone that is truly irreplaceable. He told me he looked up to me; now I hope he will be looking down on me. I intend to make him proud, and I’m sure that the rest of his friends and colleagues in this rap shit feel the same.”
Cage: “Tero had been fighting lung cancer for the past 2 years of his life on chemo. He didn’t want to go public until recently. His time was cut way too fuckin short. Music was his life. His pain and suffering is over. His music will live forever.”
