Crack in the Road

The renowned electro and hip hop producer DJ Mehdi has died following a fall from a roof whilst celebrating a friends birthday, French news website, Tsugi, reports.

Two other people have also been hospitalised.

Mehdi Favéris-Essadi, 34, better known to many under his stage name DJ Mehdi was born in the suburbs of Paris in 1977 from a Tunisian background.

One of the French  hip hop scene’s most influential producers, DJ Mehdi started out as the DJ of Different Teep before becoming involved in production, working with a cornucopia of international artists including Daft Punk, Cassius, MC Solaar, Futura 2000, Asian Dub Foundation and Chromeo.

More recently, DJ Mehdi played his part in “Club 75” a DJ collective whose members included Cassius, Busy P and Justice’s Xavier de Rosnay.

In a 2009 interview with Format magazine, Mehdi Favéris-Essadi told the magazine “I want my music to have the largest scope of emotions possible. Some to party to, some to sleep to, some to fight to, some to make love to.”

Ed Banger Records, DJ Mehdi’s management and label have released this official statement regarding the artists death

“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our friend DJ Mehdi.
Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”

Rolling Stone’s ‘greatest hip hop producer of all time’ Texan DJ Premier has posted his condolences on his twitter feed saying “R.I.P. To DJ Mehdi !!! We had such a blast in France w/PedroWinter, Sebastian, Biggest G, Bilal, NickJavas…so sad ! We won’t 4get u!”

Paris Social Club issued this statement “Following the death of DJ Mehdi, we have taken the exceptional decision to close the club tonight. An evening of silence in honor of the artist.”

RIP DJ MEHDI.

Sources (Translated from French) – Tsugi, JeuxActu & Pure People