Rapper Apache found dead in his home

Popular 1990s rapper Apache, who was a part of Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit, and who was famous for creating the song Gangsta B*tch passed away.

The exact cause of death was not disclosed, but we are told that it was a SUDDEN passing. Here is how MTV is reporting it:

"I got a call from Shakim [Compere] this morning, Queen Latifah's manager," Vin from Naughty by Nature said. "He was really feeling it. He told me, and I spread the word to Kay and Treach and the rest of our camp."

"I'm at a loss for words," Apache's best friend, Trick, said. "I still don't believe it. I'm numb."

Trick says Apache was found Friday in his home by his brother. Those close to him said he'd shown no signs of illness.

"They really don't know yet. It's so new - it just happened," Trick said about his friend's cause of death. "I'm waiting to hear back from his mother. We don't know if it was a heart attack or what could have happened. We don't know. We're waiting to hear how the coroner is gonna rule."

Trick had just spoken on the phone with Apache late Wednesday night.

"He was his old self," Trick, who noted that Apache had planned to be married in the near future, said. "We was laughing, joking, talking about Tupac. He said people wouldn't believe them stories from back in the day. They started out as roadies together — 'Pac with Digital Underground and him and Treach with Latifah. He's on 'Pac's first album, on Fat Joe's first album. He's gonna be missed."