BeatKing, the Houston rapper also known as Club Godzilla, has died. He was 39. The recording artist died Thursday in a Houston hospital, his manager Tasha Felder confirmed to The Times on Friday.
Felder initially announced BeatKing’s death Thursday in an Instagram post, writing, “Today, August 15, 2024 we have lost @Clubgodzilla. BeatKing has been the best part of the club for over a decade. He has produced and worked with so many artists that his sound will forever live.
He loved his daughters @clubgodparenting, his music and his fans. We will love him forever.” The musician, whose real name was Justin Seth Riley, died from pulmonary embolism, a condition that occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery in the lungs, preventing blood from flowing.
Felder told The Times that the rapper was taken to a nearby hospital after fainting during an appearance on Urban One (Radio One) and later died. “His daughters were with him the entire time. It is truly sad, we loved him so much,” Felder said.
After word of his death, artists paid tribute to BeatKing on social media. “It’s always the good ones..
. Just a great spirited person. We lost a talented artist and father.
Prayer for @talameshia and his loved ones. RIP @clubgodzilla,” rapper Bun B said in a Thursday Instagram post . Lil Scrappy, a fellow Houston rapper, posted a screenshot on his Instagram story of their 2022 single “Thangin” writing, “Rip to my Brudda that did work fr @clubgodzilla I’m lost on this on.