BVK's Mr Fat dies in hospital

By Nadia Samie
27 November 2007

Popular Cape Town artist Ashley Titus, known to fans as Mr Fat, has died in hospital this morning. He was a member of the group Brasse Vannie Kaap.

Born and bred in Bonteheuwel on the Cape Flats, Mr Fat’s entertainment career spans from the 1980s and included many collaborations with local artists, before he embarked on a solo hip-hop career. Mr Fat was also one of the original presenters of the hip-hop show on Bush Radio.

In an interview in May this year, Mr Fat described himself as an MC, artist and hip-hop activist.

When this rising star from the Cape Flats broke into the music market rhyming tunes in gam taal about life in the ghetto’s, most artists were more focused on doing things in English, whether it be cover versions or their own stuff. To put it mildly, it was a bit of a culture shock to the masses, but the brasse on the Cape Flats loved it, and that was what it was about. For Mr Fat the important thing was to speak with his own voice.

“The reality of the story is what you see is what you get. People have got that notion that you must do happy music. It is our prerogative in life that you’ve got to cut out stereotypes, that’s our calling,” he said in the interview.

The artist’s grandmother said from the family home in Bonteheuwel this morning that Mr Fat had died in Groote Schuur hospital at approximately 9AM. According to his mother, Mr Fat died of complications arising from Lupus, which is a disease that can affect the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and nervous system. Lupus is a chronic inflammatory condition caused by an autoimmune disease, the latter occurs when the body's tissues are attacked by its own immune system.

In October this year Mr Fat had spent some time in hospital, but had been released about two weeks ago. His grandmother said he became sick at home and was rushed back to Groote Schuur hospital, where he later died.
He leaves behind his mother and grandmother.