
UK rapper Derek B, one of the first hip hop MCs from Britain to achieve chart success, has passed away after suffering a heart attack in hospital. Whilst he has not been active in the home grown scene for a number of years, Derek B was a prominent figure in the 80s, releasing a string of singles and album Bullet From a Gun in 1988. While critics often panned Derek B for selling out and affecting an American accent, he arguably paved the way for the commercial success others have gained since he made his mark.