(CMR) Popular Jamaican musician, producer, and radio station DJ Arif Cooper died suddenly early Sunday morning while working at a party at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in Kingston.
Cooper, the son of Third World founding member Michael ‘Ibo' Cooper, Arif, reportedly collapsed at the party. Attempts were made to resuscitate him, but he was unresponsive. He was taken to hospital but was later pronounced dead.
Cooper was introduced to music from an early age and began working as a DJ in 1991 at house parties, dances, nightclubs, and, eventually, international festivals and major international dancehall events.
He was a founding member of Syndicate Disco from 1992-1997. After leaving, he went on to establish himself internationally, playing music all over the world at clubs, parties, and shows in New York, Miami, and Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, and Japan. He has held residencies at Club Mirage in Jamaica and Club Soul in Atlanta.
Cooper also played a significant role in the successes of many famous Jamaican artists and toured with artists such as Sean Paul, Voice Mail, and Alaine.
He became a producer and founded Fresh Ear Productions in 1998, working on the development of 2 Hard Records.
In 1998 he joined FAME FM as a broadcaster/radio disc jockey, where he held the position until he died.
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