P.M. Dawn Vocalist Prince Be Dies At Age 46

Robbie Daw | June 18, 2016 11:37 am

P.M. Dawn. They weren’t your typical hip hop act when they rose to pop prominence in 1991 after forming in New Jersey in the late ’80s. While N.W.A. and Ice-T were taking gangsta rap to the top of the charts and LL Cool J was getting aggressive (with his critics) with put-’em-up anthem “Mama Said Knock You Out,” Prince Be (real name: Attrell Cordes) and his brother DJ Minutemix (Jarrett Cordes) broke through by sampling Spandau Ballet‘s 1983 ballad “True” for their sensitive mind-trip “Set Adrift On Memory Bliss.”

Attrell died in a New Jersey hospital on Friday (June 16) after a battle with diabetes and renal kidney disease. He was 46, and is survived by his wife Mary and three children.

“I can confirm that Prince Be has died in his sleep from complications with Diabetes. I am respectfully requesting privacy for his wife, children, parents,siblings, & other relatives while they grieve and I want 2 thank Billboard for their concern,” Doc.G, Cordes’ cousin and P.M. Dawn affliate, said in a statement to Billboard.

P.M. Dawn racked up a trio of Top 10 hits in the early 1990s, including Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Set Adrift On Memory Bliss,” Boomerang soundtrack piano ballad “I’d Die Without You” and 1993’s “Looking Through Patient Eyes,” which samples George Michael‘s “Father Figure” and features a then-uncredited Cathy Dennis on backing vocals.

In addition to their own releases, P.M. Dawn penned material for soundtracks other artists. One of the pair’s more curious writing credits is “When I Think About Love,” a ballad included on Naomi Campbell‘s 1994 album Baby Woman. Three years later, a cover of “Set Adrift On Memory Bliss” was included on Backstreet Boys‘ self-titled US debut.

P.M. Dawn released five studio albums between 1991 and 2000.

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