From Grief to Purpose: Erik Thureson on the Loss of His Son, Hella Sketchy

In this powerful episode of We're Out of Time, host Richard Taite sits down with Erik Thureson, father of the late Jacob Thureson—known to fans as Hella Sketchy, a talented young rapper and producer.

Jacob tragically passed away at the age of 18 on June 27, 2019, following an overdose that had left him in a coma weeks earlier. His father shared the heartbreaking news on Twitter, while Jacob’s condition had previously been announced on his Instagram account.

Erik opens up about Jacob’s extraordinary gift for music, which emerged as early as age 6. He speaks candidly about the complex emotions of grief and joy—how sharing Jacob’s story brings both pain and purpose. Above all, Erik is committed to honoring his son’s memory if doing so can help save even one life.

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For more on Erik Thureson: https://www.instagram.com/erikthureson