Mobb Deep rapper Prodigy has passed away aged 42. In an official statement issued to Rolling Stone, Prodigy – real name Albert Johnson – was said to have passed away following complications “caused by a sickle cell anemia crisis” after a Las Vegas show a few days previously. Prodigy addressed his lifelong battle with the condition on his 2000 debut solo album H.N.I.C. via the song You Can Never Feel My Pain.
The official statement went on to say that the exact causes of death have yet to be determined.
As one half of the New York rap duo Mobb Deep, Prodigy was one of the most important and influential rappers to emerge in the ‘90s - the group's back-to-back classics, 1995’s The Infamous and 1996’s Hell On Earth, both defining releases of the east coast rap scene.
A host of rappers, artists and DJs have taken to Twitter to pay their respects to the fallen star.
RIP PRODIGY https://t.co/9IPjJkPgwU
— Nasir Jones (@Nas) June 21, 2017
Pic from 3days ago.. Sat Night in Vegas… @Raekwon ‘PRODIGY’ @GhostfaceKillah @mobbdeephavoc A Legend is Lost… So terrible... pic.twitter.com/Jl7bjvqubi
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) June 20, 2017
Damn. RiP to the great one Prodigy. Rap game lost a legend the world lost a G. ???????? to and for his fam. Love. MOBB
— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) June 20, 2017
Rest In Paradise young Blood @PRODIGYMOBBDEEP can't believe you gone lord we was just chilling !! Hold ya head @mobbdeephavoc pic.twitter.com/tXjogmHIfH
— Ghostface Killah (@GhostfaceKillah) June 20, 2017
It made me really appreciate how a vocal could swing in rhythm to a beat the same way.
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) June 21, 2017
RIP Prodigy. I wish I could have known you.
-JT
Love and light to the family and friends of Prodigy.
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) June 20, 2017
One of Queen’s finest. He will be greatly missed.
Rest Peacefully King... #THEALMIGHTYP aka #PRODIGYHNIC https://t.co/6CBkTPg05e
— Busta Rhymes (@BustaRhymes) June 21, 2017
"I got you stuck of the realness..." Thank you Prodigy. Forever Infamous ???????? https://t.co/qnAKTmZ1UT pic.twitter.com/OJC4WEVeZj
— Semtex (@DJSemtex) June 21, 2017
#RIPProdigy was mad love when Mobb Deep passed through Crib Sessions https://t.co/0QiOMGktjk great memories!
— TimWestwoodTV (@TimWestwood) June 20, 2017
My brother & I took this photo last year this time wit @PRODIGYMOBBDEEP & @HAVOCMOBBDEEP after @artofrapfest LA they were both enjoying tour pic.twitter.com/2dAiJ2NLuD
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) June 21, 2017
As you may all know me and P have had our differences over the years... But what y'all don't… https://t.co/P9Nx7LAoPz
— Ja Rule (@Ruleyork) June 21, 2017
3 months ago I've had the pleasure of having #Prodigy of #MobbDeep pay a visit to… https://t.co/1Pr1L3PxsM
— Questlove Gomez (@questlove) June 21, 2017
Everyday there's another reminder of how short life is. Just talked to him a week ago bout life,… https://t.co/YzpkDNCnt7
— Black Jesus (@thegame) June 20, 2017
This is such a heavy blow to the culture. Deeply saddened to hear that the legend #Prodigy has passed. Rest in Power P. Legends never die. pic.twitter.com/33QBsMYQF1
— CHEEKY ANDY (@AndersonPaak) June 21, 2017
Sad day for Hip Hop, blessings to his family and real friends. #RIPProdigy???????? https://t.co/mZ2DgfwqAW
— ONYX (@ONYX_HQ) June 20, 2017
This was New Year's Eve we got drunk n smoked together n put the past in the past #ripprodigy… https://t.co/VEK2uTGcSa
— N.O.R.E (@noreaga) June 20, 2017
You can listen to Mobb Deep's classic song Shook Ones Pt. 2 below
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