Big Bank Hank died at age 57 on Tuesday.
The Sugarhill Gang rapper died of kidney complications from cancer, the group's manager, David Mallie, revealed to Fox News.
"[Michael 'Wonder Mike' Wright and Guy 'Master Gee' O'Brien] had been in contact with him in the past year," Mallie related. "They had some great times and created history."
Big Bank Hank was born Henry Jackson in 1957, and formed the Sugarhill Gang with Wright and O'Brien in 1973. The group helped to popularize hip-hop music with their 1979 hit single "Rapper's Delight," and released five studio albums between 1980 and 1999.
"So sad to hear of our brother's passing," Wright and O'Brien said in a statement. "Rest in peace, Big Bank."