The Immortals: Stack Bundles

by Ran

October 21, 1982 - June 11, 2007

Stack Bundles with DJ Clue

Stack and Jim Jones

Joe Budden and Stack Bundles

Fabolous and Stack Bundles 

Riot Squad: Chinx Druga, Stack Bundles, Bynoe and Cau2G$

Stack Bundles (far right), Max B (rear center), Mel Matrix 
(2nd to right)  and Jim Jones (seated)

Rap's Makeover Volume 1 - 2005

The Best of Stack Bundles - 2005























Biddin' War - 2006

My Life is Like a Movie - 2006

M.O.B.: Members of Byrdgang - 2006

Rayquon Elliott was born to Raymond and Yvette Almira Elliott on October 21, 1982 in the Far Rockaway section of Queens, NY. Elliott's mother performed as a rapper for a time, under the name "Classy E". 

Elliott, already a dance-enthusiast at the time, met future rapper Darryl Bynoe in the seventh grade.  

In 1997, Elliott appeared as a dancer in the music video for rapper Trevor "Busta Rhymes" Smith's song "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See". In 1999, he appeared as a dancer in the music video for R&B trio 702's song "Where My Girls At?". 

After being expelled from Far Rockaway High School, Elliott enrolled in South Jamaica, Queens' August Martin High School, where he met then aspiring rapper Christopher "Lloyd Banks" Lloyd. Inspired by up-and-coming rappers like Lloyd and Bynoe, with whom he reconnected in high school, Elliott began making songs (under the name "Stack Bundles") with the latter on a four-track recorder that they bought. That same year, Elliott joined local rap crew GRITS (the Greatest Rappers in the Streets), alongside rapper Gregory "Skyzoo" Taylor. Elliott reportedly composed songs in his head and didn't write or read any lyrics during recording sessions. 

Elliott made his entree into the music business as a rapper when he met Hot 97 radio personality Aston "Funkmaster Flex" Taylor after waiting for him outside of the station's offices. Impressed, Taylor let Elliott perform a freestyle on his show. Taylor also introduced the teenager to an Epic Records rep. Eventually, he was introduced to aspiring Chicago rapper Wasalu "Lupe Fiasco" Jaco. In October of 2001, Elliott moved to Chicago and lived with Jaco for six months. While in Chicago, Elliott met a number of producers based in the city, including: Kanye West; Khari "Needlz" Cain; and David "Prolyfic" Ewing and Boogz. West went on to produce Elliott's demo tape. 

After returning to Queens, Elliott formed the S5 rap collective with rappers Bynoe, Cau2G$, Mike Millz and Bishop. The group recruited "Mic Doc" to act as manager. One of the group's two freestyles, over the instrumental for the Clipse's song "Grindin'", caught the attention of influential mixtape host and fellow Queens-native Ernesto "DJ Clue" Shaw. Shaw arranged for Elliott to collaborate with members of his Desert Storm collective, rappers John "Fabolous" Jackson and Joseph "Joe Budden" Budden (Elliott was featured on Budden's song "6 Minutes of Death"), on songs which he released on his mixtapes. Following the departures of  Bishop and Mike Millz from S5, the group recruited another of Elliott's high school classmates, rapper Lionel "Chinx Drugz" Pickens, and changed its name to Riot Squad. During a recording session at New York's Quad Studios, West told the group: "Mase is my favorite rapper, and I love Jay-Z. I'm gonna start wearing pink Polo, and I don't care if I'm gonna be the illest rapper, but I'm gonna be the best-dressed rapper, and they're going to remember me." He continued, "I'm gonna be the best-dressed rapper. They're gonna remember me as a fashion icon."

After graduating high school, Elliott attended La Guardia Community College for 18 months. 

During this time, Elliott frequented the Cherry Lounge nightclub, where his penchant for dressing in flashy attire caused him to standout. It was during a night out at the Cherry Lounge that he introduced himself to Harlem rapper Joseph "Jim Jones" Jones and made an offer to collaborate musically. The meeting led to Elliott joining Jones' ByrdGang rap collective and inclusion on Jones' 2006 mixtape M.O.B. (Members of Byrdgang) in 2006. Elliott would appear on 12 of the mixtape's 22 songs. He was also featured on Jones' Hustler's P.O.M.E. album and the Dipset X-Mas album. Elliott's catchphrase "Squad up!" was commonly featured on the songs on which he appeared. 

Elliott also appeared on Jones' 2007 song "Weatherman", alongside New Orleans rapper Dwayne "Lil' Wayne" Carter. Both Elliott and Jones subsequently went on tour with Carter. 

On June 11, 2007, Elliott was shot to death in the lobby of his Redfern Houses building in which he resided in a second-floor apartment. He was still in possession of his wallet containing cash and credit cards when he was found. Elliott had just arrived at the 14-60 Beach Channel Drive building at about 5 a.m. when gunmen approached him and opened fire, hitting Elliott once in his head and once in his neck. He was returning from a White Castle restaurant, where he'd stopped after a night out with friends, including fellow Byrd Gang member Ezekiel "Freekey Zekey" Giles, at Manhattan nightclub Stereo. Elliott was transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving. According to Elliott's aunt, Davida Wooten, he was considering moving because his 2006 Porsche Boxster convertible had been vandalized the previous month. Mixtape host Raashaun "DJ Envy" Casey announced Elliotts' passing on the morning of his death on his show on New York City's Hot 97 radio station. Stack Bundles Day has been celebrated annually in Far Rockaway, Queens since 2008.

originally published 11/25/12 @ 5:06 pm

Related:

The Immortals: Chinx Drugz