Controversial music manager Jerry Heller died Friday of unspecified causes in a Thousand Oaks, California, hospital, his cousin told Billboard. He was 75 years old.
Heller was best known as the manager of N.W.A., a groundbreaking hip hop group from Compton, California, that was key to the development and popularization of gangsta rap. The original N.W.A. lineup featured Arabian Prince, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, and Ice Cube. Before getting into rap and hip hop, Heller worked with artists including Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Who, Elton John, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, and Marvin Gaye.
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