Malik B., Founding Member Of The Roots, Has Died -

: After leaving the group in 1999, he released solo albums like Street Assault (2005) and Unpredictable (2015). He also reunited with The Roots for guest appearances on Game Theory (2006) and Rising Down (2008). Notable Verses and Songs Malik Abdul-Basit, founding member of the Roots, has died

Malik B. was a cornerstone of The Roots' early identity, providing a raw, street-oriented balance to Black Thought's lyrical precision.

Malik Abdul-Basit , the influential rapper known as and a founding member of the Philadelphia hip-hop group The Roots , died on July 29, 2020 , at the age of 47. While his family and bandmates confirmed his passing, a specific cause of death was not publicly released. Musical Legacy and Contributions

: He was a primary contributor to the group’s first four albums, which are often cited as their most influential jazz-rap works: Organix (1993) !!!??! (1995) Illadelph Halflife (1996) Things Fall Apart (1999)

: He met Ahmir " Questlove " Thompson and Tariq " Black Thought " Trotter while attending Millersville University. They initially formed as "Square Roots" in 1992 before moving to London and releasing their debut, Organix , in 1993.