Photo: Getty
He was close with Kanye.
By Amy Lamare — Written on Jun 21, 2019
Tragic news out of Paris! French music producer and DJ Philippe "Zdar" Cerboneschi died Wednesday, June 20th, in the French capital. He was 52-years-old. Zdar was part of the group Cassius with Hubert "Boom Bass" Blanc-Francard. Cassius' 2010 single "I <3 U So" inspired Kanye West and Jay-Z's "Why I Love You." West and Jay-Z's hit sampled Zdar's song heavily. Kanye has also worked in Zdar's studio in Paris. How did Philippe Zdar die?
1. He fell
Sebastian Farran, Zdar's agent, told news agency AFP: "He accidentally fell through the window of a top floor of a Parisian building." A spokesperson for the Paris prosecutor's office told CNN that there is an open investigation into the cause of Zdar's death. Zdar is survived by his wife, Dyane Cerboneschi, and their three children.
2. He was infuential in French house music
Zdar started working with Hubert "Boom Bass" Blanc-Francard in 1988 producing tracks for the French rapper MC Solaar. The duo later produced dance music through the project La Funk Mob. Zdar and Boom Bass released "Foxxy," their first single as Cassius, in 1996. "Cassius 1999," their 1999 single, was a top-10 crossover hit in the UK. Cassius was one of the bigger groups in the French Touch wave of French dance music. Cassius release five albums. Their last album, Dreems, is set to be released on June 21, 2019. Zdar was scheduled to DJ at New York's Central Park Summer Stage this weekend.
3. He was a sought-after producer
Zdar was also a big-time producer working with artists like the Beastie Boys, Franz Ferdinand, Chromeo, the Rapture, Cat Power and Cut Copy. He was most closely associated with the French alt rock bank Phoenix. He co-produced their 2000 debut album United. He worked with them for years, included on their breakout album and 2009 Grammy winner for Best Alternative Album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Zdar owned the Motorbass studio in Paris, where Pharrell Williams and Kanye West recorded.
4. Tributes from the music industry
DJ Calvin Harris tweeted his respects for Zdar, writing: "Awful news about Philippe Zdar, what an unbelievably lovely man with an incredible legacy. I was mesmerized by this record as a 15-year-old." David Guetta also tweeted a tribute to the DJ: "Sad awakening her. I just heard Philippe Zdar from @CASSIUSOFFICIAL passed away. I can't stop remembering amazing parties we had all together. All my loving to your family Boom Bass and Pedro RIP dg."
Amy Lamare is a Los Angeles based freelance writer covering entertainment, pop culture, beauty, fashion, fitness, technology, and the intersection of technology, business, and philanthropy. She is deeply devoted to her chocolate Labrador and an avid long distance runner. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook.