Prodigy of the 1990s rap duo Mobb Deep has died at age 42. The rapper’s publicist announced he died Tuesday from longterm complications of sickle-cell disease.
As the duo Mobb Deep, Prodigy and Havoc, right, were best known for their 1994 hit single “Shook Ones”. Prodigy is the great-great-grandson of the founder of Morehouse College in Atlanta.
Sickle-cell anemia is a blood disorder that causes red blood cells to break down into a sickle shape. The disease can make breathing difficult because it decreases the red blood cell’s ability to pick up and carry oxygen in the lungs.
Other celebrities with sickle-cell disease include rapper T-Boz of TLC and actor Larenz Tate.
The publicist’s statement reads:
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. Prodigy was hospitalized a few days ago in Vegas after a Mobb Deep performance for complications caused by a sickle cell anemia crisis. As most of his fans know, Prodigy battled the disease since birth. The exact causes of death have yet to be determined. We would like to thank everyone for respecting the family’s privacy at this time.
Rapper Nas and other prominent rappers expressed their condolences on social media today.
Photos: Getty Images
I was just coming here to see if this was posted!! RIP Prodigy gone too soon
Sad sad sad?????
awwwwwww, RIP. i used to volunteer at a camp for sickle cell kids and their life can be hell.
RIP Prodigy. I still play The Infamous album at least once a week. It was always 5 mics to me. From jump. God bless you
And it’s the real ??? #rip
My heart is heavy with sadness, RIP Mr. Johnson. His voice shaped my entire childhood/youth/teens. There will never be another rapper as real, and thorough as capital P. May you rest in Paradise brotha!
RIP PRODIGY…My condolences to his family.
That letter he wrote to Jayz when he was in prison was everything! I loved him for that ish, esp for callin out the industry with no fear.
RIP. Sickle cell usually takes you out in your 30″s. My cousin died of sickle cell at 19. So sad. ? ??? ? ?
Oh man, this was my dude!! Sick about it. losing people very young.
Awww aww I hated to hear this R.I.P you were one of the great ones
RIP Prodoigy. I’m glad I had the chance to see hm perform a couple of weeks ago.
My heart dropped to my socks when I heard the news. His albums were always fire! That first solo is still in heavy rotation in my car.
I have everyone…even him and Alchemist when he and Hav was mini beefing, But all of MOBB stay in my car.
Smfh! Dam ? R.I.P. Prodigy
I kept thinking MOP but than saw the pic. RIP Prodigy.
Yep, Albert Einstein .. M-O-B-B has always been dope, always will be. #Quiet Storm fo eva!
mos def
Sickle cell is horrible. My Dad lost his youngest brother in his early 30s.?? We were lucky enough to have my Dad until his early 60s. RIP & sincerest condolences.
This is so sad…he was still young
This is sad.
Another case of random breeding gone wrong.
When are black people going to think about the children they could produce rather than their own pleasure when they are having unprotected sex?
*sigh*
Real One. Rip
whet the fukk? why sir? why?
Rip
RIP
Hope Jared Kushner with his 13 jobs and especially his title of Opioid Manager can tell the high white people to think about the children they could produce instead of their own pleasure when they are having unprotected sex,
I am going to take a shot and say that you must be talking about how two people with sickle cell trait should not have kids. Right? I have the trait (no obvious health issues) and would never have a child with someone with the trait.
WOW RIP
You could have kept this shyt to yourself fam. If you didnt have anything else to say you should have waited for the next post. I’m sure you dont ask for Family Medical History when Becky bout to drop it likes it hot
RIH man…He was always sick they say. Sickle Cell ain’t no joke
?im devastated. completely heartbroken ?
More like when Benny drops it. he is gay
RIP
Giving the benefit of the doubt.
Mature.
Thanks sis.
WOW!!!…So Sad RIP Dear…
He was 42 years old. Were they testing us for the trait 42 years ago in 1975 or were folks just getting together/getting married and not knowing? Yes we have the technology now, and your choice is yours, but for @Roderick2011:disqus say some one who just died is breeding gone wrong is a tad bit much.
Well damn…
No people should know their own medical history as well as the genetic history of the person they are having unprotected sex with.
I have no idea how this was disrespectful of the deceased since he was the victim of his parents not a responsible party.
Correct. I have a friend whose cousin has sickle cell but her older brother doesn’t.
He got lucky.
PSA???
Or just stop having unprotected sex period.
Psalm:23
So sad…I got death in my family too Today. ughhh
Rest In Peace Brother………@ Quiet Storm………….
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/18d1389480092bed09f4a73446089268139b7000710994e1fd8cf53ffafa4dbb.jpg
https://media.giphy.com/media/xUA7b8PJkREjejAW4g/giphy.gif
Says a lot about a person when they come out their foolish mouth with shit like this. Especially when they have absolutely NO evidence to support their claims! The true definition of a NIGGER
Sorry for your loss Anunnaki
He was born in 1975, only 25 or so years after the hereditary nature of sickle cell was discovered.. so more than likely Dr’s were not testing for the trait at the time of his conception.. stfu man…
Rip Prodigy.
Child.. I am NOW scrolling down and seeing this.. I just said this shii under his original comment.. I don’t even know why us logical folk waste the font.. we all know these trolls are ridiculous..
Sickle cell is a genetic disease which can be detected via blood tests.
It’s even more reason people should use birth control to protect themselves and their future children.
Yes.
thanks love
So using him as an example to prevent the suffering of future generations is a bad thing?
We as a people think too little and screw too much (unprotected) and innocent children suffer.
Your mentality is why black people will always be behind.
Instead of seeing wisdom you take it as an insult.
Am I an asshole because I am bumping “Hit em Up” right now?
“Ain’t you got like sickle cell or something?”
“Mobb Deep…F YOU!!”
Jews like Jared have to worry about Tay-Sachs disease but since Ivanka is a convert I doubt it was an issue.
It was discovered in 1910
My condolences!
How am I a troll when I am trying to giving advice on how to prevent suffering in our community?
Condolences to you and your family.
His great great grandfather founded Morehouse. A wise and progressive man ahead of is time, he would probably agree with you.
I have never heard of him, but I want to offer my condolences to his family, friends and fans.
Thank you
thank you
Jews, Greeks, Russians, Poles, Slavs have to worry about Tay-Sachs comparable to Sickle Cell.
Awww man!!!! Dang! Prod! “Ain’t no such thing as halfway crooks!”
Rest In Peace. You will be missed.
So sorry for your loss! Be strong!
thanks love
Girl! I love The Alchemist
Sorry for your lost.
Love his family lineage. He seems like he was a cool dude
LMMFAO as soon as I heard this was the first thing I said!!! smh
Sad news…God bless his soul.
Prodigy is the great-great-grandson of the founder of Morehouse College in Atlanta.
^^ Look at that! I knew Prodigy came from money (Jay-Z used his fine arts training to insult him) but.. I didn’t know he came from looong money
Are you a child? serious question because no matter what I post you respond in a way that proves you lack reading comprehension skills…. They did not know about the hereditary nature until the 40’s… meaning they would not have known that it is passed by a trait that both parents have to possess…
your delivery was trolllike.
Not trying to be insensitive , RIP to the deceased, but NEW POST PLEASE!
His parents probably never had sickle cell they where prolly just carriers in which case they may never have known they would have a child with full sc as they themselves had no symptoms, I think you need to do proper research before making throw away comments in cases such as these, remember we are going back more than 40 years back. RIP Prodigy fella
Well said
Forgive me if I’m wrong but I don’t think he’s into becky I think more like Brock? Unless I’m getting him confused with another poster, in which case sos.
His parents probably never had sickle cell they where prolly just carriers in which case they may never have known they would have a child with full sc as they themselves had no symptoms, I think you need to do proper research before making throw away comments in cases such as these, remember we are going back more than 40 years back. RIP Prodigy fella
It was discovered in 1910 and the hereditary nature of the disease was discovered in the late 40’s. Happy now? Need a towel?
Lord rest his soul. I’ve heard the pain from sickle cell is unbearable
So sad, may he R.I.P.
yup…late 40’s -1949 so as I initially said.. .Prodigy was born some 25 years after the discovery.. bye troll
Damn so sad
Such a shame…
What you stated is true but it doesn’t negate the basic point of my statement.
Either wrap it up and be on some sort of birth control or know your partner’s full medical history before having unprotected sex
R.i.p Prodigy!
That’s your opinion.
I was just wound up over the Stevie Wonder thread from yesterday when someone challenged me about not caring about other blacks.
My point is that we kill ourselves in so many other ways beside with guns.
Damn. R.I.P
Quiet Storm is still in my playlist. Rest well, Sir. Your work here is done.
Enjoy every moment! Damn 42. Much love.
They are saying he choked to death on an egg.
Damn he was a real one.
Lol! I put up a post for you. ?
DIE! JUST HURRY UP AND DROP DEAD ALREADY! Rude shat dack eating ass hole!
I’m sorry to hear that. Condolences to you and your family.
You’re gay maybe your parents should’ve drowned you? What parent wants a dack eating mentally ill son? You don’t even know who your real father is and your mother hates you. Talk about that shat eater.
Yo his death shook me 4 real. RIP
Gone to soon, RIP
So sad to hear. Eternal Peace.
There have been some amazing breakthroughs for those who have sickle cell:
http://www.acsh.org/news/2017/03/07/did-gene-therapy-cure-sickle-cell-disease-10950
https://news.uic.edu/ui-health-validates-cure-for-sickle-cell-in-adults
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-39142971
Yes he come from good stock.
I don’t know but you really seem to have a problem with people having kids. I agree with you people need to have a FULL medical check prior to unprotected even protected sx. I have thalesimeia trait (don’t know how to spell it) would never have known until I had my first born child…no symptoms see. But I have noticed that you always seem to pipe up when someone is having or had a baby however whilst a lot of what you say is quite sensible you seem to be quite bitter bout it why?
I don’t know if TMZ is being disrespectful but their headline is that he may have choked to death on an egg….
Thank you for that, really great.
I didn’t take it as an insult. It was tactless and you could have saved it. I am a carrier of the Sickle Cell Trait and when I got with my kids father I did ask him whether he was a carrier or not. So your comment carries no weight with me. But you don’t what was going on this man’s parents bedroom. Have some class, say RIP to this legend, and wait for the b*llsh*t posts to be crass.
was rumors of man sex in prison hope it was not aids
Harvey is a racist fa gget & i hope some1 beats his asss one day
yes. yes u are. anything else ??
May Your Love One Rest In peace.
God will give you the strength to get through it.
The first of the year one of my Brother in laws got shot to death by his wife, and it was really hard.
Omg.
Wow his mother was in phil spectors group the chrystals and his dad was in the chanters I think what a rich history he has
Thanks for Common Sense, something that is often needed for these Backward as thinkers.
What dang difference does it make when it was discovered, the Artist is dead now, and there are other who has this illness. There are many who marry different ways, and you can be the perfect couple, healthy your entire life, and can come down with a illness. It matter a dam when it was discovered what matters is what can Science, and the medical community do about it. Just like Cancer, Diabetes and countless other Diseases
people come down with all kinds of diseases, and no wonder all the Adulterated foods people consumes.
PS
What year did they discover ghey folks
Just saying.
Right on, thanks.
Cosigns
Yes indeed!!!!
Preach, and I will pass the Collection plate.
You Nailed a Home Run, thanks.
You are so on point.
Forth years ago think about how far Medical has
advance since then,,, since then…
I so agree with you,,,
Nooo!
Rest easy my G ?
Exactly, and my thing is what different do it make now, the Fellow is gone, that person want to nit pick people health, I wonder Why..
Prodigy rest in Peace.
Oh no!
Debating what happen with his health now after he has gone , is like complaining that the cows are out
when you know the Barn gate was left open, Just saying.
You’re Welcome……….
Exactly…
Rod this is not the time, though, Sweetie.
don’t be sad.
Dayum….rip
Condolences
Quiet storm is my fave of theirs. Rest in peace.
You’re so extra. ?
Stop being a dick
With Kim! Me too.
my Lord, awful stay strong
thanks hun
thanks
GFY
The obviously didn’t know they had the trait so that’s the point but whatever.
Go phuck yourself because no one else will.
This one hurts???
Because I see things other people don’t see.
I see children who’ve been sexually abused by their parents and they end up drug addicts are sleeping around.
I have a friend who is one of her fathers four children with four different women and I see and hear her brokenness all of the time.
She told me that the main reason she wants to get married is because her parents weren’t married and she has a lot of other self-esteem issues but she claims she has made peace with her father but she still has the scars that she shares with me.
The brother next to her has serious issues. He lives in the islands while his son and his son’s mother live in Miami.
The last time I heard he was in jail for contempt of court because he was late for two court dates after his parents paid off the guy he stabbed not to show up in court
Her father is now dating someone her age. I asked her if he had a vasectomy. She doesn’t know.
All I am saying is the wrong people are having children and there are consequences, but you can twist my words and motives if you want I don’t care.
Duh!!
That was a my point.
People need to be more responsible than to have random unprotected sex because they don’t know the potential consequences.
You wish. Not my fault you’re a prom night dumpster baby. Supporting his mean ole mama that don’t even have the decency to tell you who you real father is. I know who my father is, unlike you.
Wasn’t Havoc the one who outed him as gay when he was writing dudes in jail?????? Either way…Rest easy
I heard the same thing…
Quiet Storm with Queen Bee I know them, RIP, 42 is too damn young
Yes, and Peace to you, and your Family!
LMBAO yes he was!! I forgot about that “gay for stay!! LOL
RIP, Gone too soon.
That was the jam! RIP.
If this isn’t the time when is?
The black community is imploding or at least that what Malcolm said.
So sad. T-Boz is truly blessed and did not know Lorenz had it also. He too is blessed. Hope he and T-Boz continue to have long and blessed lives.
Dear God.
Lots of black people have the sickle cell trait and are having unprotected sex and they don’t know if they or their partner has the trait.
Maybe we need to become educated and stop turbo-breeding.
So let’s create more black people who will live a life of suffering because someone else didn’t take the time to use protection?
I see why the black community is in the shape it is. We don’t care about our children.
Do you know how stupid you sound?
Oh no you don’t.
42 is so young…ive notice the number “9” and “6” appearing a lot lately. Numbers dnt lie….but i wnt start with the theories RIP!
Actually 42 is a long. span for sickle cell patients. Assuming was anemia. They usually dont pass 30 ars of age
I think we are better off not replying to these trolls.. They lack common sense and reading comprehension.
Oh my!
R.I.P., another great gone too soon.
I thought it was 66
The rappers today are trash minus a few. The era of true hip hop artists has quickly faded. When I hear/read some posts on social media and they say they never heard of groups/rappers like Mobb Deep. I think sucks for you then close my eyes and reminisce about when hip hop was real. Majority of these so called rappers their songs make no sense. Its sad to see what has become of certain genres of music.
Is this the dude Pac was talking about in “Hit em up?”
Yes.
Yes.
You Comment is HURTFUL about a Great Artist who has passed on. A good time would be on somebody else post, and you can open a Dialog
and see how many Hits you get back, on the Topic,,, I am Just saying.
This was a diss to tupac
Well, I don’t know many if any of his songs, but RIP and condolences to his family and real friends
Rip king ..??
You make no sense.
The post was not about him personally but his disease.
If you are unable to differentiate then that’s on you.