Being just 35 years old and having a new EP — ‘We On 1’ (stream it here) — set for release on Monday via Southern Belle Recordings, Chicago’s footwork and juke pioneer DJ Rashad has died.

With his longtime collaborator DJ Spinn and Chance the Rapper initially tweeting about his death, dubstep don Kahn took to Facebook to voice his loss as well, saying, “I’d met Rashad a few times, first at a mad house party we both played at a couple years ago in Boston and more recently in Bristol where we hung out and got pizza. He was a really great guy and an incredible producer, someone I genuinely wish I could have got to know better. It’s all too sad.. Sending love and condolences to those who were close to him.”

Hyperdub boss Kode9 simply added, “broken hearted.”

The loss of DJ Rashad is a major blow to the Chicago music scene and the juke/footwork sound that it produced. Having worked with Hyperdub, Lit City Trax, Planet Mu and many more labels over the course of his career, Rashad was arguably the juke/footwork world’s most influential figure by being the most prominent member of the Teklife crew and becoming a global ambassador of the sound. His 2013 LP, ‘Double Cup’, was one of the year’s most acclaimed albums.

While no information has surfaced regarding the cause of death; an official statement will be released Monday morning, a few online magazines are reporting a drug overdose with drugs and paraphernalia found near his body.

We would like to express our condolences to Rashad’s friends, family, and fans. Rest in peace. 🙁