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You will be missed my brother! Binkis Nonstop!
Please leave a few words if you knew the man. Talk about your first “Binkis” moment.
also hit up his famalam peoples blogs
Jax of Binkis Recs suffers heart attack onstage and dies
November 4th, 2008 by Rodney Carmichael in Music news
Jax of Atlanta’s legendary indie hip-hop crew Binkis Recs suffered a heart attack while onstage at Lenny’s last night and was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital.
According to close friend and Binkis crew member Flux da Wondabat, Jax was performing the title track from his 2007 solo album, Sharper Images.
“He was performing onstage and he just passed out in the middle of his verse,” said Flux. “We went to the emergency room and then they came out and gave us the word.”
Formed in 1997, the Binkis Recs trio (Jax, Flux, Killa Kalm) quickly established itself as a true alternative to the commercial, crunk sound that defined Atlanta near the end of the millennium.
“Atlanta is weird because it’s two scenes,” N.Y. native Jax told CL in 2005. “It’s the natives and the transplants. And the scene that most people know — the OutKast and Ludacris — are all from here. A lot of us on the underground level are from somewhere else.”
The group’s name still speaks volumes — the acronym BINKIS stands for “Before Ignorant Niggas Killed Intelligent Songs.” They released several CDs, including 2003’s The Reign Begins. Though most failed to register commercially, their impact among Atlanta’s independent hip-hop scene is still felt.
“Binkis Recs paved the way for what a lot of younger Atlanta hip-hop musicians are able to do right now,” says former ATF Records label mate and friend, J-Mil of Collective Efforts. “A lot of people don’t even know that DJ Drama got his start with these brothers.”
While he was reminiscent of rap’s golden era, Jax believed in pushing music forward, as evidenced by these lyrics from the song “Shift,” featured on his ’07 release: “‘88 is not coming back/Nobody can replace Rakim or G. Rap/Slick Rick or Kane/’94’s gone/You can’t imitate Nas, Biggie or the Wu-Tang/It’s just not the same/What you should do is take lessons from the eras passed/The eras made/And apply it to your own era/Leave a legacy using your own lyrical weaponry.”
Jax had recently purchased a home with his fiancé, whom he planned to marry before year’s end.
“A lot of people forget what kind of sacrifices independent artists make in an attempt to give people options in music. Jax gave his life to the culture, and that’s a hard thing to do,” says J-Mil. “While I want to celebrate his life, I can’t help but miss the brother. I know I’m not alone.”
As for Flux and the Binkis Recs crew, “personally, he meant everything. He embodies what Binkis is; he was Binkis,” says Flux. “As far as hip-hop is concerned, that’s what Binkis is and what hip-hop is. We just continued on with the creativity and enjoyed doing it and having fun.”
Click here to see more photos of Jax.
Click here to visit Jax’s MySpace page.
Click here to listen to music from Jax.
and prayers go out the Stewert family.
ATLANTA (AP) — Def Jam Recordings says the executive that succeeded Jay-Z as the head of the legendary hip hop music label has died.
The New York City-based company said in a statement that executive vice president Shakir Stewart died on Saturday.
In Georgia, Cobb County Police Detective Bill Macauley says Stewart was taken Saturday afternoon to a suburban Atlanta hospital after suffering from a gunshot wound.
Police found Stewart after responding to a call of a shooting at an undisclosed address. No arrests or charges were made.
Neither police nor the county medical examiner’s office released how he died.
Stewart signed such artists as Rick Ross and Young Jeezy to the label before being named in June to the post once filled by Jay-Z.
Jax was the first breath of fresh air I had when Imoved to ATL.He put me up on MF DOOM,MADLIB,THE HEMISPHERE,KAZI,and more during a time that ATL was thought of as crunk.He was the realest dude I met in ATL. when it comes to the culture of hip hop.You will be sadly missed.
I still look for releases from you whether through digital means or spiritual,I will check for you bro.
Rest In Peace Jax! I remember just coming back to Atl after bein gone for a looooong time while in the Military. Jax used to work up in Fatbeats downtown. Put me on to all the illest sample records. Told me what he was doin’ and put me up on Binkis. I watched those CDs go from Black and White covers to color. I remember all the way back to Action Jaxson…a lot of dope songs. Jax you were a very talented brother and ATL and the World are going to miss your music and your spirit. You were one of the new kids to put ATL Underground….fuck that…good Hip Hop on the map. Sending you and your family love from Los Angeles. Peace Brother!
To Alicia, Bubba and Cruen: We are just in total shock about Chris!
You guys have our deepest sympathy. From the old school to the new school…What’s life if you don’t live it the way you want! Peace, Prayers and Unconditional Love….Jerome and Rommy
CHRIS I CLOSE MY EYES AND I SEE YOUR ADORABLE DIMPLES, I REMEBER BABYSITTING YOU AND YOUR BROTHER. SO QUIET AND SHY I REALLY REGRET NOT SEEING YOU ON STAGE DOING YOUR THING. PLEASE KNOW WE LOVE YOU AND MOST OF ALL GOD LOVES YOU. LISA I KNEW CHRIS AND CRUEN SINCE THEY WERE BORN MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALICIA ,CHARLES AND CRUEN. AT THIS TIME LISA KEEP YOUR FAITH AND KNOW THAT GOD WILL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO GET THROUGH THIS TIME.LISA YOU ARE IN MY PRAYERS AND ALTHOUGH WE NEVER MET WHATEVER YOU NEED WE ARE HERE FOR YOU. GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU…….. THE MANIGAULT FAM
Dimples, that’s what I called him when we first met in 1994, freshman in college. He was my inseparable buddy. I’ve never had a better friend. Chris always put a smile on my face and cramps in my stomach from laughing so hard. I’ll miss his laugh, his sincerity and all of his NEW YORKness, son. I can still remember the outgoing messages on his answering machine. I would call just to see what new verses he had on it. That’s a memory I’ll keep 4ever. My prayers to is family and my deepest condolences. Chris will absolutely be missed but 4ever lives in our hearts- a true gentleman.
- Love always, your friend, Pupaa
Yo ……… Jax is my older brotha, I never thought that when I came to ATL I would run into him and Flux on the first day of class at Clark my first time on the campus; but there they were! Laughin’ at me Yo! look at that kid Spice-in Atlanta son! I’ll never forget that day or think that the wealth of memorable stage destructions would even occur before I came to ATL. No blog can contain all that I want to express. Being there at the beginning. Fro eatin’ curly fries and watchin’ thunder cats at the morehouse caf’ to being roommates p on fair st. The dialogues, the chemistry, the creativity, the concerns, the nobodies fuckin with BINKIS, the day that the word BINKIS was born, punch in sampler and home made closet booth, the transplanted birthing of JAX (Jedis Always Xhists) home made tapes with real starwars interludes and clip edits, the first time I heard the track JAX produced for S.P.I.C.E is Nice straight from the gemini mixer… b 4 the MPC days, the little boy who could see us from next door spittin and recording and who watched till we was done or till he was done. The Buford HWY crew. Livin’ wit cats while on the couch stugglin’ for the next shit. The Pita Shop where we used to calculate and document how many push and sit ups we could do b 4 opening up shop, The first time BINKIS performed at the YINYANG CAFE, Neblos, “The TALISMEN”(pre Binkis group -wit Flux, Universal and of couse J.A.X) The Art and Design days when I met “Chris and Craig” in High School. It doesn’t end and my brotha wont eva stop. The hardest thing was being in China and hearing the news and then my pops passed at the same time now I’m here and the first cats that that I would even consider callin’ is BINKIS! to talk to JAX and FLUX. I’m hurt real bad. I just helped that brotha move some things in his crib b4 I jetted out when spent the day together and talk about all thos days and times even stop in on Marco at the pita shop. I dont know what else B! To the Thurston family I extend my Heartfelt Wishes and Condolences To Lisa I love you and will be here 4 u no doubts. To BINKIS : gotta keep rockin’ cause we know more than anybody else what JAX would say “MAN… GO HEAD SON!” PEACE JAX AKA TOMAX the other half of our group TOMAX and XAMON the FengShui Brovas AKA the Caramel Kings
LOVE S.P.I.C.E
This is a shock to me for real. Im sitting in my office and its hitting home so hard for me right now. From the times we all was at Art & Design to the times of being in the A its unreal to find your friends you had so many laughs with in high school and find them in Atlanta where you moved at too. Chris was my dude for real.You cant put everything you want to say in this small space but just know that it hurts to lose someone you call a friend and to know the best times in your life you shared with a person who you can’t laugh with about it. Im just mad I didn’t get to get up with you in person once I got in the Army. To Craig aka and Kalm I will get with you all on some real shit. You already know fam stay fam. My heart goes out to everyone who has ever been in a presence of such an extraordinary person. Jax forever in our heart and minds
peace Jax it’s me Chelsea- the girl you taught how to roll pitas at Marco’s way back when. i know i’m a little late on the scene and i haven’t been around for awhile, but i just gotta say that hearing the news knocked the wind out of me. i didn’t even get to know you that well but that’s the kind of impact you made on people. all i know is that your life has been a blessing on this earth- your energy, your brilliance, your sense of humor and contagious smile were always a welcome break from the everyday grind. i thank you for being with us for the time that you were, and i send love and strength to Lisa and your family and your many loved ones. RIP Jax your shine is eternal *
Chris, I love you… and always will…
Yo, i am late, but i just wanted to send a message to the Binkis RECs crew. While living in ATL i attended the Art Institute where i met mad people that where creative and had a passion to push things forward. I met Flux and Jax through FRANK atl. The scene back then was crazy. Binlkis was one of the most OG groups and they where real, they lived it day in and day out. Although i moved on to other things in my life i always revisited the atl scene via internet. i followd Jaxs career and was always amazed at his unique ability to to make you laugh and make you think. He is missd. Flux my man keep his memory alive by pushing the envelope even futher. Peace and Blessings.