Andre Brown was leaving his sister’s house on Memorial Day when he misjudged the location of a railing and fell down a flight of stairs. His son Arahmus jumped over the railing to prevent the 56-year-old from hitting his head. While Brown damaged his right ankle, he laughed off the unfortunate slip as just another embarrassing moment.
Yet the accident would kickstart a dangerous new phase of his life. A doctor who was treating his ankle noticed an infection forming and told Brown to go to the hospital. “The infection that was in my feet had started eating away at my bones,” he says. “If I had waited another day, I’d have been septic, and I could’ve died.” Doctors soon amputated his leg below the calf and Brown was fitted with a prosthetic and underwent months of rigorous physical therapy.
“Andre Brown” may not be a household name, but his alter ego Doctor Dré has been a vital part of hip-hop culture and crucial catalyst for its global domination nearly since its inception. A former DJ for Beastie Boys and co-founder of 1980s rap group Original Concept, Brown went on to co-host (alongside Ed Lover and Fab 5 Freddy) Yo! MTV Raps, the landmark program that introduced a generation of hip-hop fans to both their favorite rappers and the culture at large.
Read the full story at Rollingstone/Music.
