LRG Co-Founder Jonas Bevacqua Dead at 33
LRG co-founder Jonas Bevacqua was found dead in his Laguna Beach, Calif. home on Tuesday (May 31), and news of his sudden death sent shock waves through the hip-hop community.
The 33-year-old, who founded the popular Lifted Research Group clothing brand in 1999, along with CEO Robert Wright, died suddenly in his sleep on Monday. The Orange County Sheriff-Coroner determined that Bevacqua had been dead for about nine hours before his body was discovered, but ruled out suicide or foul play as a cause of death. A definite cause of death has not been determined.
Bevacqua served as creative director of the urban clothing line, which has long featured high profile rappers in their ads -- such as Drake and B.o.B. -- in addition to releasing collaborative projects with artists such as Kidz in the Hall for their LRG-sponsored release 'The Professional Leisure Tour.'
The LRG family issued a statement about Bevacqua's passing on their website, writing, "Jonas was a star who burned brightly in the sky and who is gone far too soon, there is a hole in our hearts that will never be filled. He will always be loved and missed by his friends, family, and all those he inspired. He is in a better place and will be watching over us always.''
One of LRG's most recent musical projects was their work with Bronx rapper Kid Daytona, to produce his 'Interlude' LP.
The innovative entrepreneur will be fondly remembered by the hip-hop community.