Hyperdub MC Spaceape Sadly Dies After Cancer Battle

Record label Hyperdub has experienced another tragedy in its family, following the passing of DJ Rashad. As earlier reported by Pitchfork, the label announced that MC and Kode9 collaborator Spaceape—whose real name is Stephen Samuel Gordon—has died after a five-year struggle with cancer, leaving behind his wife and six-year-old daughter. On its Facebook page, the label wrote: "Our sincere condolences go out to his family and friends, and all who have been touched by his writings and performances. His Hyperdub family will always miss him."

Spaceape's debut work with Kode9 from 2004, Sine of the Dub, was also Hyperdub's first-ever release—they also collaborated on 2006's Memories of the Future and 2011's Black Sun. Most recently, both artists teamed up again for a new EP, Killing Season. Last month, Gordon spoke to The FADER about what is now his final release, the inspiration behind "The Devil Is a Liar" video (watch below) and the theme of faith.

"I didn't have any clear thoughts either way about my beliefs then and I didn't fear god, or become god-fearing," he spoke of his experience attending Sunday school as a child. "Instead of fueling me with the fear of God it just made me ambivalent really. But as I've gotten older, it has become increasingly clearer to me that the only demon and the only savior lives in the human heart...through my eyes I can only see that the most amazing things and the most heinous things come through us. And I believe we all possess the same capacity to take a life as much as to save one, and we demonstrate this every single day."