DJ Unk, a hip-hop artist known for mid-2000s party anthems like “Walk It Out” and “2 Step,” has died at the age of 43. His death was announced Friday in a Facebook post by his wife, Sherkita Long-Platt. “Please respect me and my family. I just lost my husband and my kids just lost their father,” she wrote. “Our life will never be the same.” A cause of death was not provided for the popular Atlanta-based DJ. Though Unk was previously hospitalized after suffering a heart attack in 2009, it’s unclear if a heart condition contributed to his death. Record executive and music producer Korey “Big Oomp” Roberson also confirmed Unk’s death in a statement to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, calling him “a legendary DJ, rapper and producer” whose contributions “will be cherished forever.” Considered a pioneer in the snap music/ringtone era scene of the early aughts, Unk achieved success as a recording artist with his debut album “Beat’n Down Yo Block,” which reached No. 21 on Billboard’s R&B and Hip-Hop chart in 2006. That platinum-selling effort put him on the map, with “Walk It Out” peaking at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming a dance craze. The album’s second single, “2 Step,” was certified gold. Two years later, his second and final studio album, “2econd Season” — featuring collaborations with Project Pat, Ray J, Sean Kingston, Ying Yang Twins and Oscar winners Three 6 Mafia — went Top 10 on the Top Rap Albums chart.