Sad news for hip-hop fans today. Rapper Prodigy of the Queens-bred group Mobb Deep has passed away at the age of 42.
Born Albert Johnson, the rapper has battled sickle cell anemia since he was born. In a statement from his publicist on Tuesday, the rapper’s rep stated that he was in Las Vegas for a show on Saturday, and soon after, was hospitalized “for complications caused by a sickle cell anemia crisis.” Still, the rep added that the exact cause of death is unclear at this time.
“It is with extreme sadness and disbelief that we confirm the death of our dear friend Albert Johnson, better known to millions of fans as Prodigy of legendary NY rap duo Mobb Deep,” the statement read according to the Associated Press. “We would like to thank everyone for respecting the family’s privacy at this time.”
The “Shook Ones” and “Quiet Storm” rapper, one part of Mobb Deep alongside fellow rapper Havoc, spoke openly about his battles with sickle cell anemia. After going to prison in 2007 for three years following a sentence for criminal possession of a weapon, Prodigy said he decided to make his greatest effort to make his health a priority. The fact that he’d lived so long with the disorder, to the rapper, was a gift.
“To me, it’s a blessing from God, number one,” he said in an interview with ThisIs50. “Secondly, I take care of my health. I don’t f–k around. I learned how to do that a long time ago. There was years I was slippin’. I had many years where I was slippin’. I fell off on my health s–t. I was drinking and doing all the wrong s–t. When I got locked up, it actually helped me get my s–t back together because you ain’t got access to none of that s–t no more.”
“Plus, when you’re in jail, that’s the worst place you could ever be to have sickle cell,” he added. “You will die in that muthaf–ker. Them ni–as don’t care if you screaming in pain. If they don’t see blood, if they don’t see you unconscious with blood, they not taking you to the hospital. So, I had to get myself together. I had to get my health together to make sure I wasn’t going to get sick in there. I started working out. I was eating right, drinking mad water and just doing what I had to do to stay healthy.”
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