Louisville, KY -- The hip-hop and R&B world lost an underrated and multi-talented singer/songwriter/producer when

Static Major

, formerly of the Def Jam group Playa, passed away in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, yesterday. He was only 32.

Soon after Playa released their only album

Cheers to You

in 1997, the group broke up due to creative differences. Fortunately, Static used his songwriting skills to pen Ginuwine's mega-hit,

Pony

, and to form an alliance with super producer Timbaland and his former label,

Blackground

.

There business relationship led to numerous hits for the late Aaliyah, such as

Are You That Somebody?

,

We Need a Resolution

,

Rock the Boat

, and

More Than a Woman

, as well as the Destiny's Child’s

Say My Name

.

Static would also prove his worth in the hip-hop production field, putting together the beats for

Nas

’s

You Owe Me

,

Jay-Z

’s

Change the Game

, and most recently

Pretty Ricky

’s

On The Hotline

.

Static was set to release his solo debut,

Suppertime

, off

OG Music/Blackground

later this year. The LP was tentatively set to include

I Got My

, as well as

Bus Stop Breezy

and

Till The Wheels Fall Off

.

Static’s most recent work included the recently featured TQ and Krayzie Bone single,

Paradise

, as well as Lil’ Wayne’s first official single from the long-awaited

Carter III

,

Lollipop

.

While the cause of death is not certain, early reports have indicated a brain aneurysm led to Static’s death.

RIP Stephen "Static Major" Garrett (1976-2008)