Rico Wade Honored With Monument in His Hometown

May 13, 2025

Rico Wade, the linchpin of the famed Dungeon Family who passed away in 2024, has been honored with a monument in his hometown of East Point, GA. The tribute is in recognition of Wade’s impact on the city as a member of the famed production trio Organized Noize, who helped shape the sound of Atlanta in the 1990s through their work with major acts like OutKast, TLC and so many more.

The monument of Wade is positioned at the intersection of Headland and Delowe, near Wade’s childhood home. The cross streets were famously immortalized in OutKast’s 1996 hit “Elevators.” The unveiling ceremony for the monument’s permanent location was held on Friday, May 9.

FOX5 Atlanta reports that city officials said that the monument “will stand as a powerful symbol of the lasting connection between East Point and Rico Wade’s profound impact on hip-hop culture.”

It was Rico Wade who joined with Sleepy Brown and Ray Murray to form Organized Noize; and it was in Wade’s mother’s basement that the production crew brought together the famed hip-hop collective the Dungeon Family, which includes OutKast, Future, Goodie Mob, Witchdoctor, Joi, Killer Mike and others.

Wade died at the age of 52 on April 12, 2024. At the time, The Dungeon Family issued a statement honoring their fallen leader.

“Rico was the cornerstone of Organized Noize and the Dungeon Family,” it read in part. “And we will forever treasure his memory and the moments we shared, creating music as a united team. Our hearts weigh heavy with sorrow, and we kindly request privacy and empathy during this challenging period. Rico’s presence will always have a special spot in our hearts, and in the music we presented to the world.”

There was also a ceremony held back in November 2024, revealing the renderings for the monument.

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