Rapper and founding member of The Roots, Malik B., has died. He was 47 years old.
No cause or date of death has been provided, nor have any additional details.
The news that the Philadelphia-born ringmaster passed away, the real name Malik Abdul Basit, was confirmed by the group on Instagram on Wednesday.
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“With sadness and watery eyes, we unfortunately report to you on the passing of our long-time beloved brother and member of Roots, Malik Abdul Basit,” said band members Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter at a statement. “May he be remembered for his devotion to Islam, his loving brotherhood, and his innovation as one of the most talented MCs of all time.”
The message concluded: “We ask that you respect your family and your extended family in our time of mourning for such a great loss.”
Black Thought also paid tribute on his own Instagram account.
“We made a name and sculpted a lane where there was none. We resurrected a city from the ashes, put it on our backs and called it Illadelph,” he said. “In a friendly competition with you from day one, I always felt I possessed only a fraction of your true gift and potential.”
This image provided by @mpozitolbertphotography shows Malik B in the studio. The rapper and founding member of The Roots has died. He was 47 years old.
(@mpozitolbertphotography via AP)
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Trotter blamed his late bandmate for “sharpening” his “steel”, comparing his music to “poetic law” and praising Basit for “doing the English language”. [his] b – ch “.
“I always wanted to change you, to somehow refine your perspective and make you see that there were many more options than the streets, only to realize that you and the streets were one … and there was no way to separate a man from his true me, “continued the black thought.
“My dear brother M-illitant. I can only hope I have made you feel as proud as you. The world has just lost a real one. May Allah forgive you, forgive your sins and grant you the highest level of paradise.”
Rolling Stone reports that Basit partnered with Trotter and Thompson in the early ’90s, and finally released the album “Organix”.
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Before leaving the group, Basit regularly appeared on the albums “Want More?!”, “Illadelph Halflife” and “Things Fall Apart”. Occasionally he appeared as a guest in the groups after the albums.
Basit also made music on his own, and released a handful of albums and EPs.
