Long Island-born rapper and actor Gene “Groove” Allen has died unexpectedly, according to his family.
His death was confirmed on social media by his daughter, Nikki Wilkins.
“Gene ‘Groove’ Allen may be a celebrity to y’all but to us he was the man who made sure we stayed smiling through this rollercoaster we call life,” she wrote. “He is loved, he is needed and yes it was a total shock. I know he is watching over me and my siblings.”
While no cause of death was given, a family member told TMZ that Allen died Wednesday at his home in Maryland following a medical emergency. No foul play is suspected. The outlet reported his age as 62, while his IMDb profile lists him as 60.
Fans of the Kid ‘n Play “House Party” movies of the early 1990s will remember Allen as Groove. He went on to land small roles in 1992’s “Boomerang” starring Eddie Murphy, and a year later in the Tina Turner biopic “What’s Love Got to Do With It?”
But to music fans, Allen was known for founding the New York City hip-hop trio Groove B. Chill, alongside Daryl “Chill” Mitchell and DJ Belal Miller. The group released one studio album, 1990’s “Starting From Zero,” and are best remembered for the song “Hip Hop Music.”
In more recent years, Allen dedicated himself to community service and raising funds for good causes as the president and CEO of Groove E. Productions. Late last year, he hosted hip-hop shows to raise money and resources for veterans, a women’s shelter and a holiday toy drive.
He’d also recently been promoting new music off his anticipated EP “Bring Back the Party.” Video posted to Instagram earlier this week shows him rapping in front of a live audience.
Queens hip-hop star Eric B. joined a long list of old-school fans mourning Allen’s death. He said he learned of the bad news from Mitchell, now an actor known for his roles in “NCIS: New Orleans” and “Fear the Walking Dead.”
“Got a call from my brother Chill that his brother Groove passed away,” Eric B. wrote on Instagram Friday. “Dam rest in peace brother Groove. We will continue to celebrate your life. Let the house party continue on.”
Allen is survived by his wife and three children, according to TMZ.
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