DJ Mehdi Dead: Electro Producer Has Passed Away At 34
UPDATE, 5:13 p.m.: DJmag reports that Mehdi was not celebrating his own birthday, but the birthday of Riton, his partner in Carte Blanche. According to the magazine, they were with a group of friends on the roof when it collapsed. Riton is apparently the only one to have not fallen through the roof.
UPDATE, 1:20 p.m.: A source told MTV News that DJ Mehdi was celebrating his 34th birthday on his rooftop. No word on whether the accident occurred on the rooftop or the mezzanine. Mehdi's record company, Ed Banger Records, is expected to make a statement later today.
UPDATE, 11:42 a.m.: According to French site Liberation Next, the accident happened at DJ Mehdi's home, when the mezzanine collapsed and fell several meters. Three others have been hospitalized.
UPDATE, 11:30 a.m.: According to Le Monde, the PR agency Phunkster confirmed to 20 Minutes that there aren't any more details about the death of Mehdi, though it seems that he fell from a mezzanine level with some other people. Others are reporting he fell off a roof.
Hip hop/electro producer DJ Mehdi died Tuesday at age 34. DJ Mehdi's publicist has confirmed the news, Consequence of Sound reports, though the cause of death is still unknown. Initial reports are calling it an apparent accident.
The news first started trickling out on Twitter and was thought to be a hoax. DJ Cut Killer wrote (in French), “DJ Mehdi !!! There are no words to tell you the sorrow which I feel… A friend goes from there… Rest in peace bro.” Drake and Chromeo added credence to the news, tweeting, "Damn…RIP MEHDI," and "We lost our brother. No words," respectively.
According to Resident Advisor, an electronic music magazine, Paris Social Club is closing their doors tonight to honor the musician. They posted the following message to their Facebook page: "Following the death of DJ Mehdi, we have made the exceptional decision to close the club tonight. An evening of silence in honor of the artist. Thank you for not commenting on this status."
Mehdi Faveris-Essadi, known by his stage name DJ Medhi, was French-born and of Tunisian descent. He first gained ground for his underground work in France's hip hop scene, and started to really get noticed when he signed with French electro label Ed Banger Records. The young producer had collaborated with a number of big names, including MC Solarr, Daft Punk, Cassius, Carol King, and with Chromeo on his single "I Am Somebody," which you can listen to below.
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First Posted: 09/13/11 11:22 AM ET Updated: 11/13/11 05:12 AM ET