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Malik B Dead - The Roots Founding Member Dies at 47

Malik B Dead - The Roots Founding Member Dies at 47

Malik B, a founding member of The Roots, has died.

The rapper passed away at the age of 47, his cousin Don Champion confirmed on Twitter on Wednesday (July 29).

“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,” he wrote.

“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,” wrote The Roots on Twitter.

Malik was a founding member of the band, which was originally known as Square Roots, alongside Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter. He left in 1999 to pursue a solo career, returning to the group as a featured artist on the albums Game Theory in 2006 and Rising Down in 2008.

Our thoughts are with Malik B‘s loved ones at this difficult time.

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