As the music world comes to terms with the untimely passing of DJ Rashad, Frankie Knuckles, MC Sparks and others in recent months Hyperdub’s news yesterday that vocalist/poet Stephen Samuel Gordon (a.k.a. The Spaceape), a solo artist and collaborator with Kode9, Burial, The Bug and Martyn, had died after a five-year battle with cancer was almost too much to handle.
Fans, friends and peers have been offering their condolences on social media since the news broke. Several notable DJs have paid tribute to The Spaceape on Twitter, describing him as a poetic giant.
Sadly, his death comes a few weeks before the release of The Killing Season EP, which is his first collaborative release with Kode9 since their 2011 album Black Sun, due out on October 28.
Here’s an assortment of some of their heartfelt tweets — from the likes of Skream, Maryanne Bobbs and Ambivalent — who pay homage to the poetic giant.
Rest in peace, Stephen Samuel Gordon, and thank you for all of the brilliant music you gave us.
RIP Spaceape you beautiful soul.. my love & deepest sympathies to Stephen’s family to @kodenine all at @Hyperdub pic.twitter.com/xcjNkifVSL
— maryanne hobbs (@maryannehobbs) October 2, 2014
RIP SPACEAPE…. Such sad news.. My condolences go out to his wife and daughter. X http://t.co/KCXstgpfm6 — Oliver Jones (@I_Skream) October 2, 2014
Horrible news. RIP spaceApe. Sending love to the family and community.
— FLYLO (@flyinglotus) October 2, 2014
RIP Spaceape — Dark Sky (@_darksky_) October 2, 2014
Kode9 + The Spaceape: Sine Of The Dub http://t.co/GaeZjpWeVG
— ZOMBY ® (@ZombyMusic) October 2, 2014
RIP Spaceape (Stephen Samuel Gordon). You will be missed. https://t.co/PTnW0GK6PO — tilliander (@tilliander) October 2, 2014
Really sad to hear that The Spaceape has died. This is the first record of his I bought…that voice is just gold. https://t.co/JZYvNWwCMS
— Alex Smoke (@alexsmoke) October 2, 2014
‘and if you mine look sharp you have fi ask, a wha’ this thing a happen?’ RIP Spaceape — Darkstar (@Darkstar) October 2, 2014
Very sad news about Spaceape. RIP.
— Ambivalent (@ambivalent) October 2, 2014
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