Black Rob, whose real name was Robert Ross, passed away on April 17, 2021, at 51 years old due to cardiac arrest stemming from kidney failure and other health complications, including a history of strokes and diabetes . In his final years, the former Bad Boy Records artist struggled with homelessness and mounting medical bills, and a video of him looking gaunt in a hospital bed just before his death sparked widespread outrage on social media . Many fans and figures within the hip hop community immediately criticized Sean "Diddy" Combs, accusing him of abandoning an artist who helped build the Bad Boy label with hits like "Whoa!" . His manager, Kal Dawson, publicly called Diddy out for "dragging their feet," saying that while Diddy eventually offered help, it came far too late, arriving only after Rob had already passed away . Dawson added, "Rob shouldn’t have been in the position that he was in," noting that Diddy's late offer to pay for the funeral was insufficient after Rob's life had been allowed to spiral . Other friends, including fellow Bad Boy artist Mark Curry, confirmed that Diddy had reached out to Rob the day before he died to offer assistance, but it was simply not enough. #hiphop