- Jun 20, 2018

#VitalFactz: Rest In Peace - Prodigy

It was a year ago today that another legendary career in the Hip Hop Industry came to a tragic end. Prodigy, one half of the group Mobb Deep, passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 42 years old. Prodigy was hospitalized a few days earlier as a result of complications brought on by sickle cell anemia, a disease he had been battling since birth. He & Havoc were performing in the Art Of Rap tour, along with Ghostface Killah, Onyx, KRS-One, and Ice-T, to name a few. Sources say that Prodigy choked on an egg early in the morning in the hospital where he was getting treatment for the sickle cell bout. However, it has yet to be confirmed if his death was a result of the choking, or if it was the sickle cell symptoms he had been battling for days. Prodigy, Born Albert Johnson, was originally from Hempstead, Long Island, but grew up in Queens. Prodigy & Havoc teamed up in 1992 & originally went by the name Poetical Prophets. In April of '93, they released their first album Juvenile Hell. This included their first charted single Hit It From The Back. Two years later they released The Infamous. This album launched their career as it reached Gold Status off the strength of the hits Shook Ones (Pt II) & Survival Of The Fittest. Their 3rd album in '96 Hell On Earth was an even bigger success, charting higher than the previous albums while also reaching Gold status. It included the hits G.O.D. Pt III & Front Lines (Hell On Earth). In '99 they released Murda Muzik, their most successful album. It reached Platinum status & peaked at #3 on Billboard's Hot 200 Albums Chart off the strength of the hits It's Mine & Quiet Storm. Prodigy had a successful solo career as well releasing 5 albums. His first album H.N.I.C. (released in 2000), was his most successful album, having reached Gold Status. It included the single Keep It Thoro. The loss of one of Queens finest caused ripples through the Hip Hop universe as evidenced by social media. Many of your favorite rappers took to social media to offer condolences to the family of Prodigy. Mobb Deep's music, and Prodigy's bars in particular, stand the test of time.