Today we say a sad goodbye to John Fletcher, a.k.a. “Ecstasy,” vocalist and co-founder of the hip hop group Whodini. He was 56.
Started in the early 80s in Brooklyn by Fletcher, vocalist Jalil Hutchins and turntable artist DJ Drew Carter, a.k.a. Grandmaster Dee, Whodini was one of the first rap groups to add R&B twist to their music, thus laying the foundation for a new genre – new jack swing. The group made its name with good-humored songs such as “Magic’s Wand” (the first rap song accompanied by a video), “The Haunted House of Rock”, “Friends”, “Five Minutes Of Funk” and “Freaks Come Out at Night”.
To call Whodini a smash would understate the immenseness of their popularity during the 1980s and 90s. They issued six studio albums – four of which were certified platinum – and boasted more than a dozen Billboard hit singles..
Whodini was among the first hip hop groups to cultivate a high-profile national following for hip hop music and made significant inroads on urban radio. Their accessible songs, clever videos and well-regarded concerts made Whodini hip-hop royalty, and one of the most iconic groups in the genre’s history.
Whodini stopped recording by the turn of the century, but continued to tour from time to time, even as their music has remained a staple for a generation of fans, who will no doubt mourn the loss of this pioneering group member at such a young age. Rest in peace.