On Monday, November 3, during a performance at Lenny’s Bar in Atlanta, Atlanta rapper/producer Chris “Jax” Thurston collapsed from cardiac arrest on stage. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead. He was 32 years old.

Here’s the word from Atlanta blogger and XXLmag.com columnist Maurice Garland via his blog Therezidue.com:

Jax was one third of Atlanta’s Binkis Recs (BINKIS: Before Ignorant Niggas Killed Intelligent Songs). For years Binkis was a stronghold in Atlanta’s underground rap scene, even aiding in launching the career of DJ Drama pre-Gangsta Grillz. Really, more than just the “rap scene,” Hip Hop period. If you were a lover of music, supporter of the culture and resident of Atlanta you’d surely seen these dudes perform and walked away remembering what you saw.

Binkis Recs (Jax, Killa Kalm, and Flux da Wondabat) emerged during Atlanta’s indie-rap renaissance of the late 90s alongside MassInfluence, Mars Ill and transplanted New Yorkers such as Scienz of Life and MF Doom. They also helped launch DJ Drama’s career. Before Drama got famous as the creator of Gangsta Grillz and the Aphilliates, Drama was the Binkis crew’s DJ. (DJ Mafioso is Binkis’ current DJ.)

Binkis built its reputation through local and regional shows and by issuing CDs through its imprint, Binkis Records. The closest the group came to national exposure was when their track “Beat You In the Head” appeared on Farewell Fondle ‘Em, a memorial to the classic indie imprint issued by Definitive Jux in 2001. In the liner notes, Bobbito pointed out that Binkis never actually recorded for Fondle ‘Em:

“Beat You In The Head” is the only song on this compilation that actually was never released on Fondle ‘Em, but I really felt that the song captured the spirit of the label and I had always wanted them to be a part of the label’s history.

Binkis went on to drop two 12-inch singles on Bobbito’s next label venture, Fruitmeat Records: “Bullitt” b/w “Eyearm” and “Marquee” b/w “That’s What I’m Talking About.” In 2002 the group released its only nationally-distributed album, The Reign Begins, on MF Grimm’s label Day By Day Entertainment.

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