Rest In Power: Notable Black Folks Who We’ve Lost In 2025

Source: Prince Williams / Getty

UPDATED: 6:15 EST January 24, 2025

As we’ve come to understand year after year, day after day even, death is unfortunately an inevitable part of life. Still, as much of a fact as that may be, the blow of experiencing loss never gets any easier, nor does reporting on the subject in Black culture.

DJ Unk—DJ, rapper, hypeman, and ATL nightlife legend— has reportedly passed away at 42 years old.

Anthony “DJ Unk” Platt first skyrocketed to fame in 2006 with his breakout single “Walk It Out”— the song reached the top 10 on Billboard 100 and the dance quickly became a cultural phenomenon. His follow-up single “2 Step” also made it onto the charts.

RELATED: Rest In Power: Notable Black Folks Who We’ve Lost In 2024

After signing to Big Oomp Records, the Atlanta-native released two studio albums, Beat’n Down Yo Block! and 2econd Season—both of which further cemented him in the game as a snap music pioneer.

DJ Unk will be dearly missed by the hip-hop community!

Learn more below about who in our culture has passed away so far this year in 2025 Below