HIP-HOP DJ Ready Red, Former Member of the Geto Boys, Dies at 53

Houston rap group the Ghetto Boys (later spelled Geto Boys). Clockwise from top: DJ Ready Red, Prince Johnny C and Sire Jukebox pose for a portrait for their album 'You Ain't Nothing' in 1987 in New York City.

DJ Ready Red, early DJ and producer for the Geto Boys, has died after suffering an apparent heart attack. He was 53.

Red (born Collins Leysath) passed away Friday (Aug. 24), according to the Geto Boys' Willie D, who posted a video on Instagram to share the sad news.

"He gave us our sound," Willie D said of Red, whom he called "the Musical Enforcer" and said was "responsible for most of the production of our early stuff and all of the sound on my first album, Controversy."

"To say that he was a pioneer would be an understatement. Red was before his time," added Willie D.

In 1986, Red became the first DJ and producer for the southern rap crew the Geto Boys, then know as the Ghetto Boys. He left the group in 1991 when they were recording the album We Can't Be Stopped. As Willie D pointed out, he also produced the rapper's first solo album, released in 1989.

The Geto Boys' Twitter account says funeral arrangements are pending.