Kanye West’s Pal DJ Philippe Zdar Dead At 52 After Tragic Fall
Jun. 20 2019, Updated 1:37 p.m. ET
French music producer Philippe "Zdar" Cerboneschi fell to his death on Wednesday, June 20 in Paris.
“He accidentally fell through the window of a top floor of a Parisian building," the musician’s agent Sebastian Farran told AFP.
A spokesperson for the Paris prosecutor’s office told CNN that an investigation is open into the cause of his death.
Zdar, 52, was part of the group Cassius with Hubert Blanc-Francard, who is known as Boom Bass.
Cassius’ 2010 single “I <3 U So” inspired Kanye West and Jay-Z’s “Why I Love You,” which heavily samples Zdar’s hit. West has also worked in Zdar’s music studio in Paris.
Fellow DJ Calvin Harris tweeted of the tragedy, “Awful news about Philippe Zdar, what an unbelievably lovely man with an incredible legacy. I was mesmerized by this record as a 15 year old.”
David Guetta also paid tribute to the late DJ.
“Sad awakening here :( I just heard Philippe Zdar from @CASSIUSOFFICIAL passed away. I can’t stop remembering amazing parties we had all together. All my loving to your family, BoomBass and Pedro. RIP dg," he wrote.
The band’s first album in three years, Dreems, is set to be released on Friday.
Zdar is survived by his wife, Dyane Cerboneschi, and his three children.