Background
He grew up in the Park Slope area of Brooklyn, New York with his mother and younger sister.
He grew up in the Park Slope area of Brooklyn, New York with his mother and younger sister.
Pumpkinhead started writing rap lyrics at age 10 during his 6th grade language arts class after hearing the song "Nightmares" by Dana Dane. He also stated he was influenced by Redman and the Leaders of the New School, as well as Doug East. Fresh. He also cites his experience of meeting 2Pac and witnessing his ability to write and record songs on the spot as a motivating factor in his emceeing.
Pumpkinhead got a break in New York City hip hop when a friend of his gave a demo tape to Bobbito Garcia of the Stretch & Bobbito Show on WKCR. Pumpkinhead"s breakthrough single was 1997"s "Dynamic," which became a staple of mixtapes in the late 1990s.
The World Famous Beat Junkies featured the remix—featuring guest appearances by Poka Face, Meat Pie, Ocean, What? What?, Certificate in Superior Studies, DCQ and The Bad Seed—on their second mix Civil Defense, The World Famous Beat Junkies, Volume 2 in 1998. Pumpkinhead has been a guest on several hip hop albums by other artists.
He appears on Immortal Technique"s Revolutionary Volume 1 (2001) and Revolutionary Volume
2 (2003). In 2009, he started going by PH and released My Era (Number Skinny Jeans Allowed), a mixtape remixing several 90"s classics.
Pumpkinhead died on June 9, 2015, in a New Jersey hospital, while waiting to undergo a gall stone surgery. The cause of death has not been disclosed. Multiple artists offered their condolences on social media.
Talib Kweli wrote on Instagram "To lose such a great human being so early in his life, manitoba
Number words..There is a fraternity of artists who were around for all of this. PH inspired us all. He will live on through us even though his physical presence will be missed.
RIP Robert Diaz". Immortal Technique wrote on Twitter "Rest in Power my old friend.
Life is too short. #Pumpkinhead #PH #RobertDiazRIP", while Brother Ali wrote "Heartbroken to learn about the great Pumpkinhead transitioning from his life. Incredible Military Cross and precious soul.
Loved, Honored & Remembered."
A street in Park Slope Brooklyn was named in his honor.
