Brooklyn Rapper Kampane Found Dead in New Jersey

Emerging Brooklyn rapper Kampane was found dead Tuesday morning (Aug. 17) in Paramus, N.J., multiple sources have reported. According to the New York Post, the 33-year-old MC had been shot once and badly burned -- to the point that identification was delayed. He was discovered in the back of a black SUV with New York plates, and authorities believe the killing took place elsewhere.

Born Rhian H. Stoute, Kampane got his start in the late '90s, thanks to cousin J-Runnah, a producer with connections to the Roc-a-Fella family, according to the late artist's online bio. Kampane toured with Runnah in 2000, and in the mid-'00s, he began releasing mixtapes, building his name in the New York City hip-hop scene.

After being "critically injured" in 2006, according to his bio, Kampane took a break from the game. He returned with the single 'What You Drinking On?' and the 'CPR' mixtape, both of which dropped in 2010.

"The streets are talking and he is definitely the next best thing in the world of rap music," reads the most recent news post on Kampane's site. "He plans on bringing that authenticity back to the game, as he definitely continues to rep for his city."

Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli said police are treating the rapper's death as a homicide. At the time of the announcement, the cause of death had yet to be determined.