Beatking, who passed away earlier this month of a pulmonary embolism at just 39, elevated carefree club dispatches into self-fulfilling pick-me-ups; his songs seem to manifest joy in real-time.⁠ ⁠ His passing marks the loss of a major and singular cultural institution. Although Houston has produced a number of nationally renowned household names, Beatking is more of a local legend, whose music might have soundtracked a wild night with college friends or a life-changing twerk at V Live. For other artists, this sort of regional devotion might indicate an ostensible ceiling to their popularity, the outer limits of how far a relatively territorial sound can travel. ⁠ ⁠ By comparison, the army of hometown acolytes Beatking amassed seems to reflect the depth of fans’ admiration rather than the breadth of his appeal. Even music as “low-brow” as this can leave an indelible mark on the soul.⁠ ⁠ Read perlucidum's tribute at the link in bio, or head to TheFADER.com.⁠ ⁠ 📸 Paras Griffin/Getty Imag...