PROFESSOR X DIES

X-CLAN rapper PROFESSOR X died on Friday (17MAR06) in a New York City hospital after contracting meningitis, according to AllHipHop.com. Professor X - real name LUMUMBA CARSON - was the son of civil rights activist SONNY CARSON, and released the politically-charged albums TO THE EAST, BLACKWARDS and XODUS in the early 1990s with his X-Clan bandmates. In December (05), X-Clan announced plans to reform, but it is unclear if Professor X was invited to the reunion party. Founder member SUGAR SHAFT died from an AIDS-related illness in 1995.