Questlove, Madlib, And More Pay Tribute To Composer David Axelrod, Who Has Reportedly Died

Earlier today, news surfaced that composer, arranger, and producer David Axelrod had passed away at the age of 83. Although Axelrod's death has still not been confirmed, members of the hip-hop community have been paying their respects to the legendary musician. Questlove, Madlib, Pete Rock, Hudson Mohawke, Flying Lotus, and more posted tributes throughout the day on social media.

David Axelrod was born in Los Angeles in 1933 and joined Capitol Records in 1963 as a producer and A&R man. He was highly respected in the jazz and soul worlds for his recording techniques. His 1968 debut album Song of Innocence became a seminal work, establishing Axelrod's later legacy for blending jazz, rock, and R&B in his music.

Axelrod's recordings have been sampled many times by hip-hop artists and producers including for Lil Wayne's “Dr. Carter," Mos Def's “Hip Hop, Dr. Dre's “The Next Episode," and Madlib's "The Unseen." View tributes to the late David Axelrod below.