Robert “Black Rob” Ross passed away Saturday (April 17) and fans immediately took to social media to pay their respects to the East Harlem-bred rapper.

Rob’s friend and former Bad Boy artist Mark Curry ignited the social media frenzy when he shared the news tearfully via Twitter. “I don’t know where to begin this but I thank everybody for the donations,” he said as a single tear dripped down his face. “Rob passed away about an hour ago.”

DJ Self, one of the first to post about Rob’s condition last week, also shared a heartfelt Instagram post. “Lord knows I tried to get help,” Self wrote. “I’m sad to say RIP to Black Rob …. Passed away in the hospital in Atlanta …..”

DJ Clark Kent captioned a photo of Rob on Instagram, “Rest in Power Black Rob GOD Bless.” DJ A Track wrote on Twitter, “Damn RIP Black Rob, Shit is too much.”

It’s evident the rapper was a beloved figure within the hip hop community. Rob’s untimely death occurring within weeks of DMX passing away has really been disheartening for the people who knew them both. Pete Rock’s sentiments via Twitter are shared by many. “All this death in hip hop really SUCKS. RIP DMX & Black Rob! I can’t believe I just said that. Just don’t sound right. No time to grieve death anymore. X just died last week and BR today.”

LL Cool J called Black Rob a “storyteller”, an “MC” and a “gentleman” in his post on Twitter. Lloyd Banks simply wrote “R.I.P. Black Rob.” Q-Tip wrote, “RIP BLACK ROB… Sad news hard week…” Chuck D seemed to be saddened by the news as well. “Damn …..Black Rob today #Restinbeats,” he wrote. Former Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed replied to Chuck D with his own regards. “Very sad. So much loss. Peaceful journey #BlackRob,” Reed tweeted.