Diggin’ In The Crates (D.I.T.C.)/ Ghetto Dwellas/ emcee Party Arty passed away yesterday (Thursday, December 4) due to unspecified health problems.

DJ Premier who was obviously very close to the rapper born Arthur Sheridan issued this statement via his blog.

“I WANT TO SEND OUT MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY OF PARTY ARTY OF THE WORLD FAMOUS D.I.T.C.(DIGGIN IN THE CRATES CREW AND OF GD(AKA GET DIRTY)

HE PASSED AWAY THIS AFTERNOON (DEC. 4) AROUND 1:30PM DUE TO HEALTH COMPLICATIONS…..

HIS HARDCORE LYRICS HAVE BEEN RINGING OUT IN THE STREETS FOR MAD YEARS IN THE HIP HOP WORLD ON VARIOUS PROJECTS FROM SHOWBIZ AND AG, LORD FINESSE, OC, AND THEIR OWN GROUP GD WHICH CONSISTS OF RHYME PARTNER D-FLOW…..

HE ALSO APPEARED ON THE JOINT I PRODUCED CALLED “WEED SCENTED” WHICH FEATURED GURU OF GANG STARR AND OC ON AG’S FIRST SOLO LP…..HE APPEARS ON THE NEW D.I.T.C. RECORDS COMPILATION WHICH IS IN STORES NOW CALLED “THE MOVEMENT”

….HE CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF 50 CENT ALTHOUGH THE DEAL NEVER WENT THRU BUT HIS TALENT WAS RECOGNIZED BY TRUE HEADS OF THE RAP SHIT FOR HIS HYPED UP INSANE STYLE ON RECORDS AND ON STAGE PERFORMANCES…..

THIS ALSO MARKS THE 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF UGK MEMBER PIMP C WHO PASSED AWAY THIS SAME DAY LAST YEAR…..WE LOVE YOU AND WILL MISS YOU BOTH….

R.I.P. ARTY…………….dj premier”

Although he wasn’t well known on the mainstream circuit fans of his have been peppering his myspace today with condolences and sharing memories. Rest in peace fam!