Kottonmouth Kings rapper Saint Dog dies at 44 after he was found ‘struggling to breathe’ at friend’s home in California
- Authorities will determine a cause with an autopsy and toxicology report
- He was in the musical outfit with D-Loc and Johnny Richter
- Managers said ‘Rest In Power to a true underground legend’
Kottonmouth Kings artist Saint Dog has died at 44 after he was found struggling to breathe at a friend’s Victorville, California home early Wednesday, the San Bernardino Sheriff Department said.
Police told TMZ that the musical performer, whose real name was Steven Thronson, was having issues breathing while at his friend’s house, leading his friend to contact 911.
Authorities said they will determine a cause of death upon conducting an autopsy and toxicology report for the musician, who was in the musical outfit with D-Loc and Johnny Richter.
RIP: Kottonmouth Kings artist Saint Dog has died at 44 after he was found struggling to breathe at a friend’s Victorville, California home early Wednesday
A statement was posted on the rapper’s Instagram page by their management company saying, ‘Rest In Peace, Rest In Power to a true underground legend.’
‘Saint was a unique individual that had a profound impact on anyone he came in contact with,’ the management company said. ‘While Saint is no longer with us, his music will live on forever. Rest easy, King.’
Suburban Noize Records exec Kevin Zinger told the outlet that the musician had a big heart.
‘Some of my fondest memories was watching Steve stop the music in the middle of a Kottonmouth Kings show to bring a handicapped fan in a wheelchair on stage so that he could have a better view of the show and even join in singing a few songs,’ he said. ‘That was just the kind of person Steve was and he touched so many people in a positive way.’
Details: Police told TMZ that the musical performer, whose real name was Steven Thronson, was having issues breathing while at his friend’s house, leading his friend to contact 911
Legacy: The musician’s management team called the late artist ‘a unique individual that had a profound impact on anyone he came in contact with’
Zinger said that Saint Dog’s ‘legacy will live on in his music and our hearts go out to his Son Max and his entire family, friends and fans worldwide.’
Saint Dog was one of the band’s founders, joining forces in 1996 with D-Loc, Lou Dog Daddy X and DJ Bobby B, and had performed on the band’s EPs Stoners Reeking Havoc (1998) and Hidden Stash (1999) in addition to the studio album Royal Highness. In 2004, he released a solo project titled Ghetto Guide.
He began collaborating with the band again in 2015 for their album Krown Power and again three years later for Kingdom Come. He also came out last year with a solo record titled Bozo.