Tributes are pouring in for New Zealand hip-hop artist Louie Knuxx, real name Todd Williams, who died of a heart attack, in Melbourne on Friday morning. He was 42 years old.
He was running on a treadmill in his home gym when he died, his family said.
RIP Louie Knuxx. When I was 17 he told me to find something worth dying for and then do my best to live for it. An often overlooked staple of New Zealand hip hop.
– ‘VoidHeart’ JT Hollow (@jt_hollow) August 13, 2021
His longtime friend, writer and artist Dominic Hoey, said Williams’ death was made all the more tragic by the fact that he had recently fallen in love and was financially secure for the premiere. times of his life.
Williams began his musical journey with New Plymouth hip-hop group Dirtbag District before moving on to the Breakin Wreckwordz label and then becoming part of the artist collective Young, Gifted and Broke.
In addition to being successful in the music community, he has also been instrumental in supporting troubled youth in New Zealand and Australia.
One of the most genuine people I have ever met. Kind, knowledgeable and always ready to help and give back. Todd – Louie Knuxx will be forever missed
– Times New Roadman (@macmajor__) August 13, 2021
He started working with young people after some encouragement from Hoey, and although he was reluctant at first, Hoey said he went about it like a duck in the water.
“The way he was with the kids was something else. It wouldn’t matter if one of the kids was really into the crime, or considered high risk, or if someone was really sensitive and didn’t speak, it didn’t matter, it didn’t matter. would make them feel so safe, â€Hoey mentioned.
Williams returned home, Taranaki, in 2016 to take on an educator role at a youth facility, where he had spent time as a teenager, 20 years earlier.
At that time, he told Stuff, he had his own ambition to run a residential youth program. After arriving in Melbourne three years ago, that’s exactly what he did. There he worked alongside his brother Matt Williams to facilitate another youth support organization called the Chin Up Project, which uses music and mentoring as a way to empower young people.
Ah, man… Really sad to hear of Louie Knuxx’s passing. I loved a good joke. Individuality definitely personified and in many ways was ahead of its time. Great love to my New Zealand family who are really in pain at the moment. Stay safe, take care of yourself. Bless…
– Hau (@haiebeast) August 13, 2021
Hoey has created a small page to raise funds for the return of Williams’ body to New Zealand, so that it can be buried in Taranaki. He has now reached over $ 40,000 in donations.
“It’s such a burden, and there will be money left so that his whanau cannot work for a while and mourn,†Hoey said.
“He was such a pillar in the lives of so many people. “
Hoey said he and his loved ones likely commemorate him with a tattoo – possibly a duck, an animal Williams loved.
“When I turned 40, we had a party. The next morning I woke up and all these ducks were in the house and he was feeding them. He used to feed them with his mouth, â€Hoey said with a laugh.
“If you look at him, with his tattoos he looks so tough but he was such a kind and generous person. It’s tragic.
It’s crazy how much love and adoration you feel from the stories of someone who has passed away.
I never had the privilege of meeting or knowing much about Louie Knuxx
But I can clearly see the impact it has had on people’s lives.
Thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and to whÄnau.
– TimProvise – The Peoples’ Champion (@TimProviseNZ) August 14, 2021
