Longtime member of the Roots Rapper Malik B. has died. This was confirmed earlier today by the hip-hop group The Roots. He was 47.
Malik B., whose full name was Malik Abdul Basit, joined the Roots in 1987 and appeared on the group’s first four albums. Formed and led by Questlove and Black Thought.
“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 Basit,” the Roots said in posts on Instagram and Twitter. “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.”
We regretfully inform you of the passing of our beloved brother and long time Roots member Malik Abdul Basit. May he be remembered for his devotion to Islam and innovation as one of the most gifted MCs of all time. We ask that you please respect his family in our time of mourning pic.twitter.com/NVHtb2CFWP
— The Roots (@theroots) July 29, 2020
Basit left the group in 1999 but did return to make apparences on THe Roots “Game Theory” and Rising Down.”
