DJ Ready Red, a founding member of the Geto Boys, died from an apparent heart attack at his home in Cherry Hill, N.J., on Friday (Aug. 24). He was 53 years old.

Geto Boys member Willie D went on his Instagram page to confirm the sad news to his fans. “To say that he was a pioneer would be an understatement,” he said. “Red was before his time. There’s a lot of producers today that are eating off of Red and don’t even know why their bellies are full.”

A native of Trenton, N.J., DJ Ready Red, whose real name is Collins Adams Leysath, was one of the original members of the Houston rap group when it was originally spelled "Ghetto Boys" before Rick Rubin changed it to Geto Boys.

He was the group’s main DJ and producer on the group’s three albums starting with their 1988 debut album, Making Trouble with original members Bushwick Bill, Sire Jukebox and Prince Johnny C) After Willie D and Scarface replaced Sire Jukebox and Prince Johnny C, Ready Red stayed on to produced their breakout album Grip It! On That Other Level in 1989. DJ Ready Red is also the first producer in hip-hop to ever sampled the Al Pacino movie Scarface for the Making Trouble track, “Balls and My Word.”

Ready Red also produced the group's official self-titled 1990 debut album, The Geto Boys, and Willie D’s 1989 debut solo album Controversy. He left prior to the group's release of their 1991 classic album We Can't Be Stopped over money disputes with Rap-A-Lot CEO/Founder J. Prince.

“[REST iN PARADiSE] My Brother From Another Mother[.] Gone Yet Never 2 Be Forgotten[.] Long Live Dj READY RED His Musical iMpriNt Shall Always Be RemEmBeR Throughout The UniVeRse,” wrote Bushwick Bill on his Instagram page.

We want to send our sincerest condolences to the family of DJ Ready Red. May he rest in peace.

Check out more tributes to DJ Ready Red below.

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