Terrel Dishon Taylor, aka Smash, was discovered dead due to congestive heart failure in his Baltimore at home 5:30 p.m. Friday, according to a family press release.
Baltimore rapper Smash, born Terrel Taylor and also known as T-Mac, died Friday due to heart failure, according to his aunt, Arlette Thomas-Fletcher and long-time manager Swen Brock. According Thomas-Fletcher, Taylor — who grew up in Ellicott City and lived in Baltimore — had a genetic heart condition. She did not know the medical term for it. Taylor, a father to two sons and a daughter, was 31.
All night Friday and today, the Baltimore hip-hop community and beyond have tweeted condolences for the MC. #RipSmash is currently trending in the area.
Smash's song "A Bit Too Much For Me," featuring Yung C, was a local hit in 2008. His most recent single was "Choppa on My Lap." Smash, with his gravelly voice and hard-nosed delivery, was a staple of the Baltimore rap scene, but he also worked with artists outside of the city. Last year, he was featured on "Goons," a song with Duct Tape Entertainment's Alley Boy. [Note: Links lead to songs with explicit language.] The Atlanta rapper wrote on Twitter, "RIP TO MY BRO #SMASH."
A significant portion of the Baltimore music community has expressed shocked over his death online. They are not at a loss for words: Vernon Kelson, the 92Q on-air personality, wrote a tribute on his Urban Informer blog.
A press biography on Smash's Facebook page ends with a quote. "I always believed in being yourself in life will get you somewhere. I’ve always been myself and I’ve always been respected for that.” - Baltimore Sun