The footwork/juke pioneer DJ Rashad died as a result of complications arising from a blood clot in his leg, his UK label Hyperdub has told the Guardian.
Initial reports – including the Guardian's – repeated Chicago police's suspicion that a drug overdose caused Rashad's death on 26 April. However, his cousin has informed Hyperdub that the coroner has determined a blood clot that started in his leg led to the death. "Drug paraphernalia" that was found near his body related to marijuana rather than hard drugs.
Rashad, who was 34, had apparently complained about an ache in his leg, but because of his young age, no one considered the possibility it might be life-threatening.
Rashad – real name Rashad Harden – had been one of the leading lights in Chicago's footwork/juke scenes. His last album, Double Cup, was ranked eighth in Rolling Stone's best dance albums of 2013, and was one of the Guardian's top 30 albums of the year.
