Robbie Pardlo, the lead singer of the Grammy-nominated R&B group City High, died on July 17 at the age of 46 in Willingboro, New Jersey. He passed away surrounded by family and close friends. The cause of his death has not been disclosed, and his family is currently planning memorial services to honor his life and career. News of his passing sent shockwaves through the R&B and hip-hop communities, as fans remembered his distinctive voice and contributions to early 2000s music. Many fellow artists and fans took to social media to express their condolences and share memories of the singer who helped shape the sound of a generation.

Pardlo founded City High in the late 1990s alongside his high school girlfriend Claudette Ortiz and their friend Ryan Toby. The trio was mentored by Wyclef Jean and signed to his Booga Basement label. Their breakthrough came with the 1999 single "What Would You Do?", which was included on the soundtrack of the film Life and went on to reach No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. The socially conscious song, produced by Wyclef Jean, earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group in 2002, marking the group's peak success.

City High released their only album, City High, in 2001, with Pardlo serving as lead producer and Ryan Toby contributing most of the writing. The album spawned another hit, "Caramel," featuring Eve, which peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. Despite their early success, the group disbanded by 2003 after recording a second album that did not meet their expectations. Afterwards, Pardlo continued his music career with the R&B group First Take and collaborated with prominent artists like Whitney Houston and Lil Kim.

Beyond music, Pardlo faced personal struggles, including a battle with alcoholism, which he openly discussed on the A&E series Intervention in 2010. He revealed that the breakup of City High led to depression that contributed to his addiction issues. Robbie is survived by his wife, Anika Pardlo, their two children, Lyric and Chord-Andrew Pardlo, his mother Marion Pardlo, his brother Gregory Pardlo—a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet—and other close family members. The impact of his music and life will be remembered by fans and loved ones alike.