I found this photo in my albums while looking for a particular picture. It made me a little sad.

I met Kangol Kid at a National Parents Organization event back in 2019. He was there to speak about fatherhood and the family court system, as was I. When I met him, I was surprised but knew the one question I had to ask. I said, “Can you still sing, rap, dance in just one show?” He said, “As a matter of fact, I CAN!”

We chatted briefly, and I was trying to get him to see me play at the show I was in at the time, Ain’t Too Proud, but after a few months, the governor of NYS and the mayor of NYC shut down our show.

We kept in touch a bit through DMs, but then I started to hear things weren’t going too well with his health. On December 18, 2021, he passed away from a battle with colon cancer. 55 years old.

He left a sweet young daughter and older sons.

The fight to remain in her life and eliminate bias in family court connected us physically, but I was a fan of the man from when I was in my teens. Kangol Kid was originally a breakdancer along with his dance partner, Doctor Ice. In 1984, UTFO became one of the most popular rap and breakdance acts in the country on the strength of their breakout single, “Roxanne, Roxanne”.” Classic hip-hop!

I am reminded by looking at this photo to live each day to the fullest because we just don’t know when it’s our last.

He seemed like he was a good person, and it’s a shame he died young.