Chicago footwork and juke innovator DJ Rashad Harden was found dead on Saturday. He was 35.

DJ Rashad Found Dead

Harden’s body was discovered at a Chicago apartment on Saturday. The friend that found him contacted police, who are conducting an investigation, Chicago PD news affairs officer Hector Alfaro told the Chicago Tribune.

It is currently believed that Harden died of a drug overdose, as narcotics and drug paraphernalia were reportedly found at the scene of his death. Harden was pronounced dead at the scene. Autopsy results are pending.

Harden had made a name for himself in the Chicago music scene as a pioneer of footwork, an offshoot of house music that has a heavy focus on rhythms and features a high-speed tempo. He frequently performed at Chicago clubs and was scheduled to return to Pitchfork Music Festival this year.

Detroit’s DJ Godfather and Chance the Rapper, for whom Harden opened for on his 2013 tour, took to Twitter to mourn the DJ’s passing.

Last month, Chicago house music legend Frankie Knuckles passed away from complications from Type II Diabetes at 59-years-old.

– Chelsea Regan

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