By Akinwale Kasali
Nigeria continues to lose its best and finest hands in their craft around the world from the deadly Coronavirus rocking the world.
The nation was dealt another blow by the Virus as British-Nigerian born rapper, Benedict Chijioke, popularly known as TY died after contracting the virus.
The 47 year old Mercury prize nominee died after he was hospitalized, and placed in a medically-induced coma following complications from the virus.
His death was confirmed by his team on Thursday night.
The late TY rose from obscurity to prominence with ‘The Awkward’ album released in 2001, becoming the rave of the moment.
In 2004, his second album, Upwards, was nominated for the Mercury Prize, alongside Amy Winehouse, The Streets and eventual winner, Franz Ferdinand.
He released three more albums with his last being A Work Of Heart in 2018.
TY was hospitalized in April after contracting the deadly virus.
A fund-raising page explained TY was admitted to the hospital with medical complications related to the coronavirus.
The star was then placed into a medically-induced coma, and later put on a ventilator, but was moved out of intensive care after his condition improved.
In the fund-raisers’ last post on April 19, friend Diane Laidlow said: “Hey guys. Just to update you that TY is now out of the intensive care unit and is on a normal ward. He is doing much better. Super excited.
Sadly, the rapper gave up the ghost, succumbing to the call of his Maker.
He will be solely missed by his fans, friends and families in the United Kingdom and back home in Nigeria.
