BeatKing, Houston’s Club King, Dies at 39
The rapper and producer shaped a generation of Southern club music with his blend of hip-hop and unfiltered beats.
Houston rapper and producer BeatKing, a defining figure of the 2010s club scene, has passed away at 39. The news was confirmed by his longtime manager, Tasha Felder, in an emotional Instagram post. “BeatKing has been the best part of the club for over a decade,” Felder shared. “His sound will forever live on through the many artists he worked with. He loved his daughters, his music, and his fans. We will love him forever.” While no cause of death has been disclosed, BeatKing’s legacy is already firmly cemented in Southern music.
Early Life and Beginnings
Born Justin Riley in 1984, BeatKing‘s journey into music began in the pews of his local church, where he accompanied his mother on the drums while she played piano. It was a fitting start for someone whose rhythms would later dominate Houston’s underground scene. His 2010 debut album, Kings of the Club, was a breakthrough that laid the foundation for his sound: a gritty fusion of hip-hop and raw club rhythms. Tracks like “Crush” and “Hammer” became underground hits, propelling the album to be one of his best-selling projects.
A Sound That Defined Houston
BeatKing‘s music was unapologetically Houston. His work was a reflection of the city’s rich musical culture, yet his reach quickly extended far beyond Texas, thanks to the viral power of the internet. His name gained wider recognition in 2014 with the release of Underground Cassette Tape Music, a collaborative mixtape with Three 6 Mafia’s Gangsta Boo. This partnership revealed a recurring theme in BeatKing’s career—though his lyrics often leaned toward the explicit, his collaborations with female artists showcased a dynamic interplay that resonated deeply with his core audience: women.
A Lasting Legacy
Throughout his 14-year career, BeatKing released an impressive catalog of music that solidified his place in the Southern club scene. He collaborated with a host of iconic Southern artists, including 2 Chainz, T-Pain, Bun B, Slim Thug, and, of course, Gangsta Boo. His knack for creating club anthems found new life on TikTok in 2020 when his track “Then Leave” with Queendome Come became a viral hit, proving that his music continued to resonate with a new generation of listeners.
A Final Farewell to Houston
Just a month before his passing, BeatKing released Never Leave Houston on a Sunday, a fitting farewell to the city that had shaped his career and sound. In his music, BeatKing was always larger than life, a constant presence in the clubs, and a hero of Houston’s underground. His legacy will live on in the beats that continue to ignite dance floors across the South and beyond.
