In a shocking turn of events that has left the music world sorrowful, Beat King—one of the true visionaries behind the club anthem—has died. Offstage, he was known as Justin Riley. He was only 39. Beat King was a mystery, even to many who knew him well. The cause of death remains undisclosed and unknown—a grisly secret that garners endless speculation and that will, no doubt, induce a slew of mean comments about toxic masculinity, if only because Beat King not only entertained female empowerment in his music but conducted male empowerment seminars via his viral club anthem “Then Leave.” Even subsequently, a shrine of sorts has been constructed on his Instagram account, where rib-tickling anecdotes and well-placed “I Miss You” captions serve to reinforce the reality that he is no longer around to change the world with music.

Beat King was an acclaimed producer with a golden touch who was known for making unforgettable beats. He had an electrifying club vibe and was the consummate performer. But behind this glorious facade was Justin—a flawed yet adored father to two daughters and a self-confessed nerd with a heart as big as his beats. “For some reason, when I think of Beat King, I think of a tech nerd,” says Gary Marshall, an artist who has also repped the Houston scene in New York. “But you can’t rep and perform in the way that he does without being creative and ambitious.”

Houston may have lost a brilliant star, but Beat King will forever live on in our hearts and playlists. Go on and party, Justin! 🌟🎵❤️ #RIPBeatKing #ClubLegend #HoustonForever