2000s hit rapper dead at 43; cause of death revealed – syracuse.com
DJ Unk (Anthony Platt) performs during halftime of the 95.7 Jamz celebrity basketball game on September 17, 2006 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Julia Beverly/Getty Images)Getty ImagesA rapper and DJ who had two hit songs in the 2000s is dead at age 43.DJ Unk, best known for snap favorites “Walk It Out” and “2 Step,” died Friday, according to longtime producer and collaborator Korey “Big Oomp” Roberson of Big Oomp Records. Unk’s wife Sherkita Long-Platt told TMZ that he died in his sleep after suffering a heart attack, refuting rumors the cause of death was related to drugs.“Please respect me and my family. I just lost my husband and my kids just lost their father. Our life will never be the same. I LOVE YOU ANTHONY FOREVER,” she wrote on Facebook.DJ Unk, whose real name was Anthony Platt, was an Atlanta-based hip-hop star that signed to Big Oomp Records in 2000. His 2006 debut reached No. 21 on the Billboard R&B and Hip-Hop chart thanks to “Walk It Out,” a club and radio hit that reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and inspired a viral dance that involved bending knees and twisting legs from side to side. The track helped popularize snap music, a sub-genre of crunk, and featured Jim Jones and Outkast’s André 3000 on a remix.“The beat was so jammin’ that you just wanted to get on it,” André 3000 said in a 2023 interview about the “Walk It Out” remix.Platt also had a follow-up dance hit, “2 Step,” that was certified gold in 2007 and featured T-Pain on an official remix. Unk’s sophomore album, “2econd Season,” was released in 2008 followed by several mixtapes and singles.According to XXL Magazine, Platt had a history of health issues, suffering a heart attack in 2009. He told the publication in 2010 that it was caused by “stress” from constant touring, as well as poor eating habits: “It just took a toll on me.”“DJ Unk was not just a legendary DJ, rapper and producer, but a true cornerstone of our label and the imprint that he left globally will be cherished forever,” Roberson said in a statement. “His energy, creativity, and commitment to the craft will never be forgotten. We ask that you keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time… Rest in peace, Unk. You will forever be missed.”If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025).© 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.YouTube’s privacy policy is available here and YouTube’s terms of service is available here.Ad Choices
