Rapper Gerald “Buddie” Tiller of the Atlanta based group “Dem Franchize Boyz” has died of cancer, according to the other members of his group.
The group rose to fame with hit songs like “Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It,” and “I Think They like Me,” in 2005, which they released just after signing with record producer Germain Dupri earlier that year.
Read MoreSupporters of Tiller’s and of the group’s commented with memories and words of love, “I worked with him for a few months and he was a really cool dude. It was a short time but he was always cool to talk with. Such a chill soul. He will definitely be missed. Rest in peace man it was really awesome to meet you.”
Some wanted to mention his family, “R.I.P sending my condolence to his family.”
While others just wanted to praise the music they knew and loved, “Grew up listening to the group middle n high school this is sad[prayer hands] #demfranchizeboyz.”
The group also posted a video in memory of Tiller, entitled “Buddie’s Word of the Day: ‘Hundred Per-Street,’ Hundred% Street.” In it, he describes the scene in which the group group was on deck to perform on an MTV2 stage. His personality and charisma are palpable.
And a lot of people commented to show their love and support, “Rest in peace no more pain prayers for your family [prayer hands].”
And some offered words of love for his group, saying that they were really important to him, “R.I.P. Buddie My prayers R U his Family.”
The group also posted a photo with an emotional caption, thanking Buddie for all he brought to the group with his beautiful spirit, “‘This is not a goodbye,this is a thank you. Thank you for coming into Our life and giving us all your Energy , & Thank you for the memories we will cherish forever.’ Rip buddie” the group wrote on alongside another photo.
“We Are legends, it’s a lot of hard work and patience. You can’t play for five or ten years and be a legend. It takes longer than that. The unreal is more powerful than the real, because nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it, because it’s only intangible ideas, concepts, beliefs, fantasies that last.”
Information about black men and cancer
About 202,260 new cancer cases and 73,030 cancer deaths are expected to occur among black Americans this year, according to the National Institutes of Cancer.
African Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial and ethnic group in the US for most cancers.
Since 1990, however, the overall cancer death rate has dropped faster in blacks than whites among both men and women, largely driven by more rapid declines in blacks for cancers of the lung, colorectum, and prostate. As a result of this progress, the black-white disparity in cancer mortality has narrowed and more than 462,000 cancer deaths in blacks were avoided over the past 25 years.
One of the major problems in cancer care is that people don’t get screened early enough, even when they know they should. Dr. Zuri Murrell, colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai on the importance of screening for colorectal cancer, told SurvivorNet that African American men especially don’t get the colorectal cancer screening they need for cultural reasons. Often, without the right support and advocacy effort, men are embarrassed to have their buttocks inspected, even if it could save their lives.
Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai on the importance of screening for colorectal cancer
"You shouldn't die from embarrassment," is the message from Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai. That being said, it's also very important to understand you should never feel guilty about the fact that you got cancer. It's nothing you did and no diet could have prevented it. There are many doctors, like Dr. Murrell, who believe it's necessary to rattle the cages to make people aware of the critical importance of screening, especially among some population groups who are at higher risk for the disease.
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