Rick “Slick Rick” Buchanan, a former well-known DJ in Memphis, Tennessee, was discovered deceased in his residence on Wednesday by his brother, who had been summoned for a welfare check on him.
On January 24, Buchanan was found by his brother John after a neighbor contacted him upon observing the DJ’s back door ajar for an extended period. Upon John’s arrival, he encountered the front door locked but the back door wide open. Inside, he discovered Rick’s lifeless body, as reported by WHBQ-TV in Memphis.
Upon entering, John dialed 911 and expressed the harrowing experience, mentioning that he initially did not realize his brother’s body had been decapitated.
“I walked in and found him, and I just called 911. It was terrible,” John said. He added that, at first, he thought his brother’s coat was pulled up over his head due to the cold. However, upon further inspection, he realized the severity of the situation.
John shared with the media that Rick’s pants were pulled down around his ankles. “A lot of things were weird,” John continued. “He had his keys still in his hand. His pants were pulled down to his feet, and the back door was wide open, so that’s the weird stuff.”
The 59-year-old victim, unrelated to Rapper Slick Rick (born Richard Martin Lloyd Walters), had been a popular DJ in various Memphis bars but had recently scaled back his DJ career after being shot outside the Stage Shop in 2014, according to John.
While the Berclair Police Department has confirmed the death, they are currently stating that the investigation is ongoing. “We are just securing the property,” John said. “Making funeral arrangements. Taking care of my mom.” He also mentioned his intention to adopt Rick’s dog, Lucky.
In a GoFundMe page, the family expressed gratitude for the support received and acknowledged the many unanswered questions surrounding Rick’s death. The page highlighted Rick’s generosity and contributions to charities like MDA, emphasizing his advocacy for Memphis music.
“As many have learned, Slick Rick is sadly no longer with us,” the family wrote. “If you knew Rick, you know he gave to anyone he could, friends, strangers, and charities like MDA. He used his voice and personality to raise unthinkable amounts of money for others. He was also a champion of Memphis music and took pride in presenting, playing, and promoting local music at The Stage Stop,” the page concluded.
