Malik B., one of the founding members of the hip-hop band The Roots, has passed away at age 47.
Wednesday on Twitter, the MC’s cousin Don Champion confirmed the news after reports began circulating on social media.
“Mourning my beloved cousin today. He was so talented and had a huge heart. I still remember when he and The Roots were starting out,” Champion wrote. “He’d give me and my dad their cassette tapes to listen to. I miss you already, Mailk. #RIP”
Mourning my beloved cousin today. He was so talented and had a huge heart. I still remember when he and The Roots were starting out. He’d give me and my dad their cassette tapes to listen to. I miss you already, Mailk. #RIP ❤️ https://t.co/UMQeXJsWmf
— Don Champion (@DonChampionTV) July 29, 2020
Later that day, The Roots’ official Twitter account paid respects to the musician, born Malik Abdul Basit.
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
The cause of death was not released.
In a message posted to his Instagram account, fellow founding member Black Thought shared an image of Malik, and admitted in the caption, “I always felt as if I possessed only a mere fraction of your true gift and potential.”
