West Coast hip-hop is mourning the loss of one of its foundational voices.
Mtulazaji Davis, better known as P.E.A.C.E., the iconic MC of Freestyle Fellowship, has died, the group confirmed via their official Instagram page. No cause of death has been released.
“Rest well brother P.E.A.C.E,” the group wrote. “You had a great heart and you were authentic. One of West Coast hip-hop’s royal treasures. You will be surely missed, my friend.”
P.E.A.C.E. honed his craft at Los Angeles’ legendary Good Life Cafe in the late 1980s, where he met Myka 9, Aceyalone, and eventually Self Jupiter, forming the trailblazing group Freestyle Fellowship. Their lyrically dense, innovative, and grounded sound helped define alternative hip-hop, leaving a lasting mark on acts like The Pharcyde.
Freestyle Fellowship’s seminal albums, including 1991’s To Whom It May Concern... and 1993’s Innercity Griots, showcased P.E.A.C.E.’s unmatched penmanship. He also released solo projects, Southern Fry’d Chicken (2000) and Megabite (2004), further cementing his legacy. Beyond records, he contributed to the Project Blowed collective, one of hip-hop’s longest-running open-mic workshops.
Tributes from across the hip-hop community poured in. Blu, frequent collaborator with Myka 9, wrote on Instagram, “P.E.A.C.E. is the illest emcee from the most infamous Freestyle Fellowship… There will never be another. Peace P.E.A.C.E., rest in power & paradise.” Other artists honoring him included Exile, Open Mike Eagle, Kenny Segal, Saul Williams, and Aesop Rock.