Gene “Groove” Allen, the Long Island-born rapper and star of House Party, has passed away unexpectedly. Family members confirmed the news to TMZ, which reported his age as 62.
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Allen passed away on Wednesday, at his Maryland home following a medical emergency, a family member told TMZ. While the exact cause of death has not been disclosed, authorities do not suspect foul play. His daughter, Nikki Wilkins, confirmed his passing through a heartfelt post on social media.
“Gene ‘Groove’ Allen may be a celebrity to y’all but to us he was the man who made sure we stayed smiling through this rollercoaster we call life,” Wilkins wrote. “He is loved, he is needed and yes it was a total shock. I know he is watching over me and my siblings.”
Gene “Groove” Allen Leap From Music to Movies
Hailing from Long Island, New York, Allen joined forces with Daryl “Chill” Mitchell and Belal “DJ Belal” Miller to begin their rap careers as members of the 1980s New York group, The Uptown Crew. The trio later branched out to form their own group, Groove B. Chill, carving their unique path in the music scene.
Despite releasing just one studio album, 1990’s Starting From Zero, the trio gained greater recognition through their roles in the 1990 film House Party. Allen and Mitchell reprised their characters the following year in House Party 2.
Allen later appeared in minor roles in the 1992 film Boomerang and the 1993 biopic What’s Love Got to Do with It before ultimately stepping away from the music industry.
Gene ‘Groove’ Allen was Mounting a Rap Come Back for 2025
In recent years, Allen focused his efforts on community service and fundraising as the president and CEO of Groove E. Productions. Late last year, he organized hip-hop events to support meaningful causes, including providing aid to veterans, supporting a women’s shelter, and contributing to a holiday toy drive.
He recently began promoting new tracks from his next EP, Bring Back the Party. A video shared on Instagram earlier this week captures him performing live, rapping energetically in front of an engaged audience.
“2025!!! I aint playing…” he wrote alongside the video.