Popular rapper who rose to fame in early 2000s dead at 52: ‘Will never be forgotten’

EntertainmentUTP's Wacko has died. CanvaBy Brian Linder | blinder@pennlive.comPopular New Orleans rapper Wacko has died, according to multiple reports. He was 52. According2hiphop.com said that a cause of death has not been reported.Wacko, whose name is Damon Grison, is best known for his time as a member of UTP along with rappers Juvenile and Skip. He is credited with co-writing the group’s 2004 hit “Nolia Clap,” which went all the way to No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100. Former No Limit rapper Mia X was among those who took to social media to remember Wacko.“Wacko was so talented,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “One of those gifted sons with word plays and a unique cadence that brought life to every beat he was on. He was sweet every time we spoke, he loved hard, even when he was going through things and trying to get his point across it was easy to understand that many of his emotions came from his passion and pain. You will truly be missed. You had been working on some very special and awesome music and your talent will never be forgotten. May peace cover your journey as the ancestors receive you. May God cover your family everyone who loved you in strength, love, and peace. Rest easy my brother.”Juvenile formed UTP after he first left Cash Money Records in 2001. The group initially also included Young Buck, Soulja Slim and Corey Cee. UTP released four albums. The first, “The Compilation,” came in 2002, and the last, “Back Like We Left Something,” came in 2007. Brian Linder is the trending editor at PennLive.com. He has more than 20 years of experience working for newspapers first in South Carolina, then Daytona Beach, Florida and now in Pennsylvania. Linder spent...