Investigators are still to confirm what caused the death of funk legend Rick James, who died in his sleep at his LA home on Friday. The singer, best known for his 1981 hit 'Super Freak' (which was sampled in MC Hammer's 1990 hit 'U Can't Touch This'), was a diabetic with a pacemaker and his family have said he most likely died of heart failure. However investigators say they won't know for certain the cause of death for a while yet - they are most likely analysing whether James' long-term cocaine addiction played a part in his death.
Artists young and old paid tribute to James this weekend. Rapper and producer Kayne West, who recently worked with James, told reporters: "It's a great loss to music. He was just an amazing talent, and it was a privilege just to be in the studio with a legend like that. I think personality and songs are what sells albums. You have to take a good personality and put it with a good song. I know those are two things Rick James had a whole lot of."
Neil Portnow, President of the US Recording Academy, added: "Today the world mourns a musician and performer of the funkiest kind. Grammy-winner Rick James was a singer, songwriter and producer whose performances were always as dynamic as his personality. The 'Super Freak' of funk will be missed."