A monument is being built in East Point to honor the late hip-hop producer Rico Wade, a key figure in the development of Southern hip-hop and the “Dirty South” sound. As a member of Organized Noize and the Dungeon Family, Wade contributed to the hit song “Waterfalls” by TLC and supported the rise of artists like CeeLo Green, Outkast, and Goodie Mob. East Point Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham, along with artists such as CeeLo Green, celebrated Wade’s roots in the local community and his global influence on music. The monument will be situated at the intersection of Delowe and Headland, near where Wade’s childhood apartment complex once stood, with its unveiling planned for February.
Statements by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Sleepy Brown, Wade’s partner from Organized Noize, highlighted Wade’s impact on Atlanta’s culture and the importance of this tribute to his legacy. Wade, a significant figure in Southern hip-hop, passed away earlier this year at the age of 52 from heart failure. As part of the renowned Organized Noize production team and a leader of the Dungeon Family, Wade greatly influenced the “Dirty South” sound. He co-wrote TLC’s hit “Waterfalls” and played a crucial role in launching the careers of artists like CeeLo Green, Outkast, and Goodie Mob.
Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham described Wade’s beginnings in the East Point neighborhood, noting that “Where we are is where they were, in the basement, birthing music that actually inspired the world.” The apartment complex where he grew up has since been demolished. CeeLo Green, an artist deeply influenced by Wade, reflected on the moment’s significance, saying, “To be here in the flesh to honor our brother who’s passed on here in spirit… He’s here to be immortalized, in memory and in monument. It means everything to me.”
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens also spoke about the producer’s impact on Atlanta’s prominence in pop culture. Following the ceremony, the crowd moved to the intersection of Delowe and Headland, where the city will install the monument in February. City officials presented a rendering of the final installation and a stone marker. This location, where Wade once worked, will soon serve as a tribute to his enduring legacy. Mayor Ingraham added, “Billboard even stated that Organized Noize pioneered the Dirty South sound. Many of you remember Andre 3000 telling the world the South’s got something to say?”
Sleepy Brown of Organized Noize, Wade’s longtime partner, shared his thoughts on what Wade might feel if he could see the tribute. “I know if he’s looking down, he’s smiling up a storm,” Brown said. “Like I told the folks, I told them I told you we were that GROUP.”