2 Live Crew Co-Founder & Rap Pioneer Dead At 53

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- One of the pioneers of rap music in Miami has passed away.

Chris Wong Won, better known as Fresh Kid Ice, founding member of the controversial Miami-based rap group 2 Live Crew, died Thursday morning in a Miami hospital due to an undisclosed medical condition, according to the group's manager.

Fresh Kid Ice formed the legendary hip-hop crew 2 Live Crew alongside DJ Mr. Mixx and Amazing Vee in 1984. They later were signed to Luther Campbell's record label.

Campbell, better known as Uncle Luke, tweeted out his condolences Thursday morning.

"He always kept a smile on his face, he loved his kids," said Campbell. "He loved this community even though he was from New York. He was just a lovable, happy guy. We were one of the first groups in Miami to start southern hip-hop. I mean, everybody takes claim to it, we started southern hip-hop and Chris was the first rapper on bass music."

2 Live Crew faced boycotts and obscenity charges after the release of their 1989 album "As Nasty As They Wanna Be" which was the first to be labeled legally obscene by the government.

Fresh Kid and Campbell were arrested in 1990 after a live performance police deemed obscene and lewd.