Photo by Ashes57

DJ Rashad, pioneering figure in Chicago's footwork scene, has died. The news was confirmed by Rashad's friends and collaborators DJ Godfather and DJ Spinn. An official statement is coming on Monday, according to a representative. He was 34.

Update: 4/27, 12:20 a.m. Eastern: The Chicago Sun-Times reports that a friend found Rashad dead at his home on Chicago's West Side Saturday afternoon. A drug overdose is the suspected cause of death, according to police. An autopsy is scheduled to take place tomorrow.

Born Rashad Harden, DJ Rashad was instrumental in bringing the frenetic Chicago style of dance music to a global audience. His last album Double Cup, was released through the British label Hyperdub, forging a link between U.S. and UK bass cultures.

DJ Rashad's new EP We On 1 will be released next week.

Read our interview with Rashad from last fall here.

DJ Rashad at last year's Pitchfork Music Festival:

"She Turnt Up":

"I Don't Give a Fuck":

"Let It Go":

Correction: A previous version of this story indicated that DJ Rashad was 35. He was 34.