Malik B., Philadelphia rapper and founding member of The Roots, has died at the age of 47. The news was initially announced by Malik B.’s cousin, Don Champion, via Twitter. No cause of death was revealed.
The group then confirmed the news on Instagram, writing: “It is with heavy hearts and tearful eyes that we regretfully inform you of the passing of our beloved brother and long time Roots member Malik Abdul Baset.”
“May he be remembered for his devotion to Islam, His loving brotherhood and his innovation as one of the most gifted MCs of all time,” the statement.
Malik B. founded The Roots with Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter in Philadelphia in the late 1980s. The rapper appeared on the group’s first four studio albums – 1993’s Organix, 1995’s Do You Want More?!!!??!, 1996’s Illadelph Halflife, and 1999’s Things Fall Apart and left during the recording of 2002’s Phrenology to pursue a solo career. Though Malik was no longer an official member of The Roots, he later appeared as a guest on future albums including 2006’s Game Theory and its 2008 follow-up Rising Down. He released two solo albums, including a 2015 collaborative project with producer Mr. Green called Unpredictable.
Writing on Instagram, Black Thought wrote: “We made a name and carved a lane together where there was none. We resurrected a city from the ashes, put it on our backs and called it Illadelph. In friendly competition with you from day one, I always felt as if I possessed only a mere fraction of your true gift and potential.”
He added: “Your steel sharpened my steel as I watched you create cadences from the ether and set them free into the universe to become poetic law, making the English language your bitch. I always wanted to change you, to somehow sophisticate your outlook and make you see that there were far 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 self.”
Questlove also posted a lengthy tribute on Twitter, which you can read below.
Revisit some of Malik B.’s performances below.