When he wasn’t touring Asia, Europe, or across the U.S., Derrick “Aesop” McElroy was busy making a name for himself and for the city he called home — Fresno.

McElroy — known for his time with hip-hop supergroup Living Legends under the name Aesop, Black Aesop, and the Black Wolf — died at age 51 due to undisclosed causes, it was announced Monday.

The group, widely known among independent hip-hop circles, created a cultural phenomenon.

In spite of that success, McElroy elevated other Fresno artists, rapper Fashawn said, something not common in the music industry.

“Aesop was everyone’s big bro, he was a father figure. Just an inspiration to all the creatives out here — just to see what he did in the span of time that he was out there, he inspired all of us,” Fashawn told GV Wire.

McElroy Preparing for a Tour Across U.S.

Born in Fresno, McElroy moved to the Bay Area to pursue a music career. In Oakland, McElroy joined up with  Living Legends in the 90s.

Founding rapper Eligh shared this remembrance on social media:

“Almost 30 years since we recorded ‘It Was a Mission’ in Grouch’s basement, in 1996, you said some of the most outlandish one-liners that will forever echo in the collective crews memory of you,” Eligh wrote on Instagram. “Again, having all of us cry laughing. I will miss you greatly my brother, but you are with your pops now. I know his passing devastated you. And your music will always exist on Earth, as long as Earth remains man!”

McElroy was featured prominently on the albums “Almost Famous” and “Creative Differences” in the early 2000s.

He reunited with Living Legends for an album in 2023 titled “The Return.”

Only weeks before his death, McElroy shared on social media his excitement to return to touring with hip-hop groups Atmosphere, Heiroglyphics, and Dilated Peoples.

McElroy Uplifted Other Fresno Artists

It can be often that veterans of the music industry act as gatekeepers. Not so with McElroy, artists shared of the rapper.

Aren Hekimian, who performed under the name DJ Hecktik, remembered how McElroy introduced him to big names in the music community.

He first met McElroy after hiring him for a break dancing and hip-hop festival called Urban Kombat held at Fresno State.

McElroy heard the music Hekimian was putting out and wanted to collaborate, he said.

Those connections helped Hekimian create Fresno’s homegrown music festival Grizzly Fest. Before that, Hekimian got venues to bring on hip-hop acts when they previously stayed away from the genre.

“He gave me access to a bigger Rolodex. When some people don’t necessarily help you in that regard, he kind of pushed me in front of the line,” Hekimian said.

Charles Montgomery, a break dancer who performs under the name Goku, said the risks McElroy took helped elevate the Fresno music scene.

“There’s not a lot of people taking a risk on their art or their craft,” Montgomery said. “That’s a trailblazer. He impacted a lot of people.”

McElroy had a personal way about him that attracted people to him, Fashawn said.

Once, while touring with Living Legends and Brother Ali — a devout Muslim — Fashawn took his Shahada, a commitment to Islam, with Ali. While other artists were having fun, laughing and smoking, McElroy noticed the deeply personal moment Fashawn was undertaking.

“I just remember Aesop telling the entire backstage, ‘hey, everybody be quiet, they’re doing something very serious over here,'” Fashawn said. “I just remember him being that beam of light in that moment.”

A Passion for Food and Video Games in Fresno

With members from L.A. and the Bay Area, former journalist and founder of Fresno Street Eats Mike Osegueda said McElroy’s Fresno heritage gave the group a true representation of California.

“He got to know a lot of different places and see a lot of different things and bring those ideas back to Fresno and try to do the things that he would like to see in Fresno and bring them to life,” Osegueda said. “He was always trying to do that.”

When he wasn’t touring, he was often undertaking different ventures, typically with video games or cooking. He operated “Aesop’s Tables” near Tower District, serving ramen or different concoctions he’d learn from various countries to guests.

Owner of Grumpy Burger Lady’s and co-owner of Take 3 Desirae Washington did a collaboration with McElroy, serving up burgers for his beer release at Full Circle Brewing.

“I feel like we have lost a gem in our community,” Washington said. “He was an artist and a chef. He was phenomenal at both. I feel like this is an immense loss to our creative community in Fresno.”