Erick Morillo and His Sexual Assault Allegations

Erick Morillo was a $25 million net-worth DJ and record producer. Erick Morillo was internationally recognized for his work on the Strictly Rhythm label in house music. With the 1993 single “I Like to Move It,” he achieved his biggest commercial breakthrough with his hip-hop house outfit Reel 2 Real, catapulting him to international acclaim. Morillo hosted popular club nights worldwide under various aliases, including Smooth Touch, Ministers de la Funk, Club Ultimate, and RBM.

Why was Erick Morillo arrested and convicted?

Erick Morillo

was arrested and charged with sexually abusing a woman in the summer of 2020. The alleged event occurred in late 2019 when the complainant said Morillo raped her in his Miami Beach house after she became inebriated and passed out in his bedroom.

Despite his denial, Morillo turned himself into the police on the advice of his lawyer. Morillo was scheduled to appear in court in early September, but he was discovered dead at his house three days before the date. Several other women came forward shortly after Morillo’s death, alleging that he sexually abused or raped them.

Meanwhile, Morillo worked as a DJ at different local clubs in New Jersey. He met Latin reggae musician El General at a bar one day and became good friends with him. The pair later collaborated on the 1991 single “Muevelo,” which blended reggae and house music influences while sampling T99’s “Anasthasia.” It was an unexpected smash that went Platinum.

Morillo’s fame in Latin clubs rose as a result of further remixes he created. He rose to prominence after teaming with dance music pioneer Louie Vega. Morillo’s hip hop house project Reel 2 Real gained commercial hits in 1993 with the singles “The New Anthem” and “I Like to Move It,” the latter of which became an international dance sensation.

In response, he recorded “Move It!,” which was released in 1994. Despite his success with Reel 2 Real, Morillo believed his endeavor was harming his street cred. As a result, he established a new label and published the song “Jazz it Up.” Morillo dropped the Reel 2 Real moniker in 1996, following the release of the album “Are You Ready for Some More?” to concentrate on his producing and global deejaying career.