Pete Lamothe Cedrick Cotton of the R&B group Ideal has died.
A member of a popular R&B group from the 1990s has died. According to ABC13, Cedrick “Swab” Cotton, who was a member of singing group Ideal, was stabbed to death on February 9, 2021. Cotton was 46 years old. His mother, Delores Floyd, told ABC13 that he was killed at the local Fondren Food Mart in Houston, Texas.
“He’d ride his little bike, go there, get a quick cigarette,” she said about Cotton’s daily trip. “The next thing I know, I get this call and I heard people … ‘He comes here every day. He doesn’t bother anybody. He’s a good guy.'”
Cotton’s uncle, William King, told the news outlet that he saw him lying on the ground in front of the food mart.
“I saw him just lying there,” King said. “I couldn’t do nothing but just cry last night.”
Here’s what you need to know:
Cotton & His Killer Argued Before the Fatal Stabbing
Houston Police tweeted that they were responding to a fatal stabbing at 12300 Fondren Road on Tuesday morning. In a press release that does not name the victim and lists his age as 45, police wrote that “the victim was involved in an argument with another male” both inside and outside the convenience store before “the suspect stabbed the victim in his left side” and then fled. “Paramedics on the scene pronounced the victim deceased,” the press release added.
Police identified the suspect as a Black male in his mid- to late 20s.
On February 12, a representative of the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences officially confirmed to Heavy that the victim was Cedrick Dewayne Cotton.
Houston Police spokesperson Victor Senties told Heavy on February 12 that the investigation continues. He asked that anyone with information about the case contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
Cotton’s mother Floyd is hoping that the killer turns himself in to police, she told ABC13.
“Whoever did this, turn yourself in,” she said. “You know, it’s time out for this foolishness. Killing people is not the right thing to do.”
Ideal Emerged on the R&B Scene in 1996
The R&B group Ideal was comprised of four members: Cedrick “Swab” Cotton, his brother Maverick Cotton, Jay “J-Dante” Green and Lawrence Wayne “PZ” Perry. All hailed from Houston. Their first single, “Inner City Blues,” was featured on the soundtrack of the 1996 crime drama “Original Gangstas.”
Their star didn’t rise until the release of their single “Get Gone” in 1999, which rose to No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remained on the chart for 22 weeks, also reaching No. 4 on the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, where it appeared for 26 weeks, Billboard noted. They followed that with their single “Whatever,” which hit No. 6 on the Hot 100 and spent 19 weeks on the chart. Their one and only album, “Ideal,” was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America after selling more than 500,000 units.
Cotton’s Friends & Family Paid Tribute on Social Media
A statement about Cotton’s death was posted to the Ideal’s Instagram page. The statement read:
It is with great sadness that the IDEAL family announces that our brother Cedrick (Swab) Cotton passed away on the morning of February 9, 2021 due to senseless violence in Southwest Houston, TX.
This unexpected attack has devastated our family, friends and support system.
Cedrick was a loving father, a good brother and an awesome friend…
Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers.
A memorial fund has been set up to support his loved ones with any funeral costs and other expenses that may arise from this tragedy. Even if you are not in a position to help please share the GoFundMe page (link in bio) or donate via Cash App $tribute4cedrick
After the news of Cotton’s death began to circulate, his R&B comrades took to social media to share their thoughts and grief. Cotton’s brother, Donnie Scantz, shared his grief in a lengthy post.
“I am still working on my understanding of death, and what takeaways needed to be grasped in the inevitability of it all,” he wrote on social media. “However, sometimes I wish I possessed the power to change the course of things maybe outcomes would be different especially for the people I love.”
His fellow Ideal member, Jay Green, posted about his devastation regarding his loss.
“I’m at a loss for words, he wrote on Instagram. “I can’t believe that you are gone. You will always be my brother. I love you dearly. God rest your soul. This one hurts.”
Singer RL, who is known for being a member of the group Next, posted about Cotton’s death on Instagram.
“RIP to my brotha @swab32 from the @rnbgroupideal,” he captioned a photo of Cotton. “I heard the tragic news last night but I didn’t want to believe it. Praying for your family bro u will be missed.”
Producer Bryan-Michael Cox also posted on Instagram expressing his sadness about Cotton’s death.
“I am speechless,” he wrote. “Rest In Power to my boy Cedrick Cotton aka Swab from the group Ideal. I have been trying to find the words to say.”