Malik B., founding member of The Roots, dies at 47

Malik Basit, a rapper, singer, and one of the founding members of The Roots professionally known as Malik B., has died.

How Malik B of the Roots passed away

He was 47.

“We regretfully inform you of the passing of our beloved brother and long time Roots member Malik Abdul Basit,” the band announced on Twitter Wednesday.

“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.” His cause of death was not revealed.

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

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Music career

Malik B. was part of the Philadelphia-based group from its early beginnings to about 1999, when he departed amid group tensions detailed in the song “Water”.

Before his departure he appeared on The Roots’ first four albums, including “Illadelph Halflife” in 1996 and the 1999 breakthrough record “Things Fall Apart.”

Malik B The Producer 

He went on to produce solo material and, several years after his departure, also appeared on several tracks on Roots albums.