MC Breed, a rapper who grew up in Flint and some considered a "pioneer" in the industry, died Saturday of kidney failure.

Breed, born Eric Breed, died in Ypsilanti. He was 37.

The rapper is most famous for his 1991 hit "Ain't No Future in Yo' Frontin'" He recorded 13 albums, including his most recent, "The New Prescription," released in 2004.

His first album, "MC Breed & DFC," from which the single "Frontin'" was released, was estimated to have sold 2.5 million to 4 million records.

Carter McWright, owner of Music Planet, called Breed "a musical legend of Flint."


"One thing about Breed is he had that flow, that rhythm," he said. "He knew how to flow with it."

Breed grew up in Flint, attending Gundry Elementary and Flint Northern before receiving his GED from Flint Community School in 1990.

"Eric has never been a little kid," she said in that article.

Breed's family could not be reached for comment.

Friend Gordon Strozier of Flint went to Northern High School with Breed. Strozier said he and Breed always would rap in his basement.

It was there, Strozier said, where he began to come into his own as a musician.

"He had his own style," Strozier said. "It was a fresh style. He had that deep voice."

Ray Furlow, an entertainment consultant and former music producer, said Breed was a pioneer for Flint rappers, paving the way for local talent such as the group The Dayton Family.

Furlow remembers being with Breed in New Orleans in the summer of 1990. There Breed was featured at a music convention along with the likes of rapper Ice Cube and the Queen Latifah group Naughty by Nature. All of the top record labels and producers were at the conference, surveying fresh talent.

"Breed was second to none." Furlow said. "To have those people cheering for you, there was nothing bigger than that. You could tell that he had a hot album."

"Frontin'" got up to the top 10 in the rap Billboard charts. Although he continued to make music, releasing one record per year between 1991 and 2001, Breed never had another hit as big as "Frontin'"

Breed moved to Atlanta in the early 1990s although he made frequent trips to Flint, McWright said.

McWright said Breed was always respectful and made it a point to stick his head into McWright's music store when he was in town.

McWright said he knew Breed as a teenager and knew he would make it big.

"When he was 15 or 16 he would always come into the store and buy stuff," he said. "We would always shoot the breeze."

Breed had fallen on hard times lately, highlighted by his arrest in Flint in April for non-payment of child support. He owed more than $200,000 and was in jail for 60 days.

Attorney Jay Clothier represented Breed for about five years. Clothier said Breed was doing his best to pay child support for his four children that ranged in age from an infant to a teenager.

McWright said Breed never hid from his problems.

"(His problems) didn't change his attitude," McWright said. "He didn't not come around because he had problems. He wasn't ducking responsibility; he just didn't have the money."

Clothier said what stood out most about Breed was how likable he was.

"He was just very good-hearted," Clothier said. "Even the sheriff's deputies that arrested him (in April) liked him. He stuck a cord to such an extent that people wanted to help him."

Alvita Rouser, 39, of Flint, a longtime fan of Breed's, said he gave kids from Flint hope.

"If you travel right road and be positive, you can make it, too, just like Breed did," she said. "He showed that other than basketball, there are other ways to get out of Flint."

MC Breed's death was reported on dozens of Web sites and blogs during the weekend, including MTV.com, blackvoices.com, the celebritycafe.com, rapweekly.com, hiphopdx.com and vibe.com.

On Google.com, the nation's most popular online search engine, MC Breed's name was the 14th most searched on Saturday.

This Flint Journal online article about MC Breed's death and first posted on Sunday, garnered much interest and more than 20 comments. Some comments were critical of Breed and his back child support owed.

"A talented individual according to the article," stated a poster with the user name "NUMBER407". "How do you get more than $200,000 dollars in arrears on child support? Apparently he was irresponsible too."

But other comments were more supportive.

"Eric Breed.... A very respected man. Loved by everyone he comes in contact with. He left behind family, friends, fans and a LOT of extended family. God only takes the best and makes no mistakes," stated younglanna.

"I've always been curious as to why people feel compelled to bring up the negativity," stated a poster with the user name Fairlady. "I'm 100 percent certain that support is the last thing on the minds of his children and wife. Let's keep the main thing the MAIN thing, shall we? Eric suffered from renal failure and passed away in his sleep. He was a very good friend of a relative of mine, who had spoken with him the night before his death. Rest in Peace, Eric."

Others wrote about his music and what he meant to the music industry and Flint.

"MC Breed made me proud to be from Flint," stated jtdafan. "He was underrated. Never given the credit he deserved because of mismanagement. U can bet his greatest hits CD is playing in my car right now! RIP MCBREED. AINT NO FUTURE IN YO FRONTIN!!"

"Eric Breed's success paved the way for many other artists who have enjoyed varying degrees of success in the music industr," wrote exfpd. "Unfortunately some of you cast anyone who chooses to rap in a negative light. May GOD bless all of his friends and family, especially his children, and grant them peace at this time."