In 2025, the Black community across entertainment, sports, politics, and culture mourned the loss of influential figures whose work shaped generations. From soul legends like Sam Moore, Gwen McCrae, and Roberta Flack to hip-hop architects such as Irv Gotti and DJ Unk, these figures helped define eras and influence global culture. The year also claimed beloved actors, including Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Lynn Hamilton, and Danielle Spencer, as well as trailblazers in boxing, football, civil rights, and public service like George Foreman, Charles B. Rangel, and Hazel N. Dukes. Together, their lives reflect a legacy of creativity, resistance, excellence, and enduring impact. Keep scrolling to remember the Black stars we lost in 2025. Photo: Getty Images North America Sam Moore • Soul/RB singer (Sam Dave) — Age 89 • Died: January 10, 2025 Photo: Getty Images North America DJ Unk (Anthony Platt) • Hip-hop artist (“Walk It Out”) — Age 43 • Died: January 24, 2025 Photo: Getty Images North America Irv Gotti (Irving Lorenzo Jr.) • Record producer Murder Inc. Records founder — Age 54 • Died: February 5, 2025 Photo: Getty Images North America Voletta Wallace • Mother of The Notorious B.I.G.  hip-hop matriarch — Age 72 • Died: February 21, 2025 We are devastated to pass on more bad news. Soul and Disco star Gwen McCrae has died. We are still jamming to “Rocking Chair” all these years later. Rest in peace Gwen. https://t.co/YETeSfOffe pic.twitter.com/GzKtoCVgHe— soultracks (@soultrackscom) February 21, 2025 Gwen McCrae • Singer (“Keep That Fire Burnin’”) — Age 81 • Died: February 21, 2025 Photo: Getty Images North America Roberta Flack • Singer multiple Grammy winner — Age 88 • Died: February 24, 2025 Photo: Getty Images North America Kimberly Hébert Gregory • Actor (Vice Principals, The Chi) — Age 52 • Died: October 3, 2025 Photo: Getty Images North America Walter Scott • Co-founder, The Whispers (RB group) — Age 81 • Died: June 26, 2025 A tough day for RB fans, as Cavin Yarbrough of Yarbrough Peoples has died at age 72 https://t.co/OYNVzfYOhQ pic.twitter.com/EXimC1rrIV— soultracks (@soultrackscom) June 20, 2025 Cavin Yarbrough • Musician (Yarbrough Peoples) — Age 72 • Died: June 19, 2025 Photo: Getty Images North America Malcolm-Jamal Warner • Actor (The Cosby Show, The Resident) — Age 54 • Died: July 20, 2025 Photo: Getty Images North America Lynn Hamilton • Actor (Sanford and Son) — Age 95 • Died: June 19, 2025 Photo: Getty Images North America Danielle Spencer • Actor (What’s Happening!!) — Age 60 • Died: August 11, 2025 Photo: Getty Images North America Sly Stone (Sylvester Stewart) • Funk pioneer (Sly the Family Stone) — Age 82 • Died: June 9, 2025 Photo: Getty Images North America George Foreman • Heavyweight boxing champion — Age 76 • Died: March 21, 2025 Warren “Wondrous Warren” McVea peacefully passed away on Sunday.A trailblazer in collegiate athletics. A forever Cougar pic.twitter.com/w84GcHJkDG— Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) October 19, 2025 Warren McVea • NFL player Super Bowl champion — Age 79 • Died: October 19, 2025 FILE – In this June 16, 2016 file photo, Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Rangel retires after more than four decades in office. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke, File) Charles B. Rangel • U.S. Congressman (NY) CBC founder — Age 94 • Died: May 26, 2025 Photo: Getty Images North America Hazel N. Dukes • Civil rights leader former NAACP president — Age 92 • Died: March 1, 2025 Photo: Getty Images North America H. Rap Brown (Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin) • Black Power activist former SNCC chairman — Age 82 • Died: November 23, 2025 Assata Shakur, former Black Liberation Army member and godmother of Tupac Shakur, dies in Cuba at 78. pic.twitter.com/yeHQZNzy88— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) September 26, 2025 Assata Shakur • Civil rights activist (Black Liberation Army) — Age 78 • Died: September 26, 2025 We are saddened at the passing of Brandi Collins-Dexter, author of Black Skinhead. A powerful thinker, fearless advocate, and brilliant writer, Brandi’s words lit a path forward and will continue to live on.Read about her life and legacy here: https://t.co/4gkefU0LVe pic.twitter.com/fn4itmJ0ig— Celadon Books (@CeladonBooks) July 31, 2025 Brandi Collins-Dexter • Writer, academic, political commentator — Age 44 • Died: June 25, 2025 Playwright, composer, and scholar Michael D. Dinwiddie passed away on July 4, 2025. The Library for the Performing Arts reflects on his work and legacy in a free event on 9/17. https://t.co/SGvBo8I7Qs pic.twitter.com/Ck9xNoxxGp— The Library for Performing Arts (@nypl_lpa) September 12, 2025 Michael D. Dinwiddie • Playwright scholar of Black theatre — Age 70 • Died: July 4, 2025 Nkenge Touré is an activist whose expansive collection of speeches and written works confront issues around reproductive justice, Black feminism, and women’s rights. pic.twitter.com/1Ekg6Z8KZc— The SNCC Legacy Project (@SNCCLegacy) May 23, 2023 Nkenge Touré (Anita Stroud) • Reproductive justice anti-racism activist — Age 74 • Died: August 2025 Photo: Getty Images North America Angie Stone • Singer neo-soul pioneer (The Sequence) — Age 63 • Died: March 1, 2025 Photo: Getty Images North America Roy Ayers • Jazz-funk vibraphonist acid jazz pioneer — Age 84 • Died: March 4, 2025 Photo: Getty Images North America D’Wayne Wiggins • Musician co-founder of Tony! Toni! Toné! — Age 64 • Died: March 7, 2025 Photo: Getty Images AsiaPac Jimmy Cliff • Reggae icon (“You Can Get It If You Really Want”) — Age 81 • Died: November 24, 2025 Photo: Getty Images North America D’Angelo • Neo-soul singer producer — Age 51 • Died: October 14, 2025 RB music legend Carl Carlton has died at age 72.He’s best known for hits, “She’s a Bad Mama Jama (She’s Built, She’s Stacked)” ‘Everlasting Love’. He has sold over 15 million records worldwide. pic.twitter.com/83u1JbztgO— music data (@music__data) December 15, 2025 Carl Carlton • Soul/RB singer (“She’s a Bad Mamma Jamma”) — Age 73 • Died: December 13, 2025 Young Scooter’s life was honored in Atlanta today. pic.twitter.com/KXvryRFXqP— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) April 4, 2025 Young Scooter • Rapper (“Colombia”) — Age 39 • Died: March 28, 2025 Young Noble from The Outlawz has passed away at the age of 47. pic.twitter.com/Gplw3uIMzm— DJ Short (@_DJShort) July 4, 2025 Young Noble • Rapper member of Outlawz — Age 47 • Died: July 4, 2025 The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live. The post Black Stars We Lost In 2025 appeared first on Atlanta Daily World. ...read more read less