British rapper Derek B, one of the first UK hip-hop stars to enjoy chart success and an influence on future urban artists, has died aged 44.

Derek Boland had UK top 20 hits with Good Groove and Bad Young Brother in 1988 and co-wrote the Anfield Rap for Liverpool Football Club.

His hits saw him become one of the first British hip-hop stars to appear on programmes like Top of the Pops.

"He definitely broke the door down," London rapper Ty told BBC News.

"He was one of the first artists that I saw get to such a level through rap, and be on Top of the Pops, be on children's programmes, be on the world stage.

"He was one of the ones to do it first, when it was thoroughly unacceptable from the mainstream perspective. At the time, he was absolutely groundbreaking. He definitely broke the door down."

Boland suffered a heart attack, according to reports.

BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe paid tribute on Twitter, saying Boland's 1988 debut Bullet From A Gun "was a massive album for me", while singer Estelle described him as a "UK originator".

Oh no! Not the Bad Young Brother. :( How sad...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxk1sOckYAk


R.I.P. Derek.

RIP Derek...

By the way what do British rappers rap about? 

Somehow I don't think they are rapping about pimpin' 'hoes, smokin' blunts and chugging 40's.
That would seem too crude for the genteel British.

(But maybe I am wrong?)

A very sad loss.  Though he never had any success over here, I've known about 'Bad Young Brother' for many years (Thanks to the UK dual cassette version of Now 12), and it was one of the few rap songs from the 80s that I really loved. 

I'm a British rapper, my name's Derek B
If that's not hard-core enough, well excuse me!
by the time I'm done you'll know what Brit rappings about
its the weather that makes us scream and shout
the rain that pours down, the sun that don't shine
as long as its dry we'll say the day's fine