DJ Rashad Found Dead On Lower West Side

CHICAGO (STMW) --DJ Rashad, a house music icon in Chicago whose new EP is set to be released next week, was found dead of an apparent drug overdose Saturday afternoon on the Lower West Side.

Rashad Harden, 35, was found unresponsive by a friend about 1:30 p.m. in an apartment in the 2100 block of West 21st Street, authorities said.

Rashad, of the 300 block of Park Avenue in Calumet City, was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:50 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.

His cause of death is pending a toxicology report, an autopsy found Sunday.

Police believe Rashad died from a drug overdose, as both narcotics and narcotic paraphernalia were discovered near the body, police said Saturday.

There were no visible signs of injury, police said.

Rashad's new EP, "We On 1," is set to be available on vinyl April 28. He performed at the Pitchfork Music Festival last year and opened for Chance The Rapper during last fall's nationwide Social Experiment Tour.

About 7:30 p.m., Chance The Rapper posted to Twitter: "Music lost a legend today. And he was my friend. Love you DJ Rashad. RIP."

Area Central detectives are investigating.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)