Legendary Birmingham MC Slarta John, who provided the vocals behind Basement Jaxx’s 1999 classic ‘Jump n’ Shout’, has died.

The duo broke the news on Instagram earlier this week (August 5), writing: “We were so lucky to have him come into our world. I think his confidence gave us confidence, energy and conviction.”

“Thank you for all you gave us and for sharing your great gift and energy with the world,” they wrote. “Sending you much love and peace as you venture out to the world beyond this one."

No cause of death was disclosed. Tributes are now flooding in for the late MC, born Mark Lebert James, from across the music industry.

After discovering Slarta John through Bizzi’s 1997 track ‘Bizzi’s Party’, Basement Jaxx reached out to him to work on a new single “with the view to collaborate on a song full of energy, positivity and love of life”.

“The result was ‘Jump n’ Shout’,” they said. “From there, Slarta joined us and performed with us live as the show slowly developed. We travelled throughout the globe – doing headline slots at Fuji Rock, Glastonbury, Hollywood Bowl and the likes.”

They continued: “Wherever we’d go he’d perform with strength, vigour and gravitas, commanding the crowd like a king, proudly parading a Jamaican flag along with a flag of the country we were visiting as a symbol of unity and a nod to soundsystem culture.”

In 2012, he released an album, ‘The Many Moods Of Slarta John’, featuring collaborations with Basement Jaxx, DJ Zinc, Mani Hype, Hatiras, and more.

“Getting to know him, this tough ragga man from Birmingham. He had so much humour, he was an emotional, very funny, loving man. Some people leave an indelible print on the landscape, and Slarta was one of them,” Basement Jaxx wrote.