ABC10 — Rapper Tech N9ne had to tell fans and even family via Twitter that he was OK Monday after the death of another rapper, going by the similar moniker Tech 9.

“This Tech N9ne is going through customs back in the U.S. coming from Canada, coming from Europe,” Tech N9ne, whose real name is Aaron Dontez Yates and who is from Kansas City, said in a video posted to Twitter. “My family’s calling my phone wondering if I’m OK. I’m OK. Condolences go out to battle rapper Tech 9.”

The death of Tech 9, whose real name is Akeem Mickens and who hails from Philadelphia, was reported Monday. The announcement came via social media by rapper Buttah From Da Block.

View this post on Instagram

Aw man it hurts me to be saying this right now and After speaking to your dad this is even harder to process 😪 .... PHILADELPHIA AND THE BATTLE RAP CULTURE ALL TOOK A LOSS WITH THIS ONE. HE WAS A LEGEND AND A PIONEER, GENTLEMAN, GREAT FATHER ENTREPRENEUR, ENTHUSIAST AND PHILANTHROPIST. With Deep Hurt And sorrow i say we will miss u and love u bro... Tell Spittage We gon hold it down bro. 💔🎯💯😪 S.P.I.T.T.A.G.E YALL MVFKAS BETTER GET IT RIGHT WAYNE A.V. ... REST IN PEACE TO MY BROTHER #TECH9 @therealtech9

A post shared by Buttah From Da Block (@officialbuttah) on Mar 24, 2019 at 11:00pm PDT

Circumstances of Mickens' death were not immediately known.

Story courtesy of ABC10.