Watch CBS News

Original Three 6 Mafia Rapper Robert Phillips Dies At 40

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The manager for Three 6 Mafia founding member Robert "Koopsta Knicca" Phillips says the Memphis rapper has died.

Joe Robbins says Phillips suffered a stroke before dying early Friday morning at a Memphis hospital. He was 40 years old.

The Commercial Appeal reports Phillips recorded the well-regarded solo album "Da Devil's Playground" in 1999. He left Three 6 Mafia the following year.

Three 6 Mafia won their most acclaim in 2006, when they became the first hip-hop group to win an Oscar for Best Original Song with "It's Hard out Here for a Pimp" -- from  the movie "Hustle & Flow."

More recently Phillips reunited with other former Three 6 Mafia members to form Da Mafia 6ix.

Da Mafia 6ix member and producer "DJ Paul" Beauregard said in a statement to the newspaper, "Everyone who knew Koop knew he was very funny and the coolest guy ever. He will be missed. We made classics together that'll live on."

Funeral arrangements are pending.

(copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.