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Hip-Hop Reacts to Prodigy’s Death

By Sidney Madden June 20, 2017 1:39 PM | XXL
Mike Lawrie, Getty Images
Mike Lawrie, Getty Images

News broke today (June 20) that Queens rapper Prodigy passed away at age 42.

Born Albert Johnson in Hempstead, N.Y., Prodigy formed the duo Mobb Deep with rapper-producer Havoc in 1992 out of the Queensbridge Projects. Together, Havoc and P bolstered the game with imaginative lyricism and hardcore, gritty delivery. For his entire career, Prodigy was known as a voice of the East Coast while Havoc helped create the signature sound of New York in the 1990s.

Upon hearing news of his death, XXL reached out to Prodigy’s publicist for confirmation and received this statement:

“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.”

As details surrounding his passing are starting to come to light, members of the hip-hop world are reacting online. MCs like Nas, Joe Budden, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, French Montana, Drake, Cormega and more are sharing their shock and condolences.

Check out which rappers and producers are reacting to the sudden death of the Mobb Deep member and Queens legend. R.I.P. Prodigy.


Nas

 
 

QB RIP King P. Prodigy 4 Ever

A post shared by Nasir Jones (@nas) on

 

Conway

 
 

Not my nigga smfh im devastated right now! Rip Prodigy love you my nigga!

A post shared by Conway (@whoisconway) on

 

Royce 5’9″

 
 

 

Joe Budden

 
 

 

Smoke DZA

 
 

 

Kid Ink

 
 

 

Just Blaze

 
 

 

Jae Millz

 
 

 

DJ Premier

 
 

 

Nicki Minaj

 
 

Don't want to believe he's gone. Omg. RIP @prodigymobbdeep #QueensFinest

A post shared by Nicki Minaj (@nickiminaj) on

 

Danny Brown

 
 

 

Stalley

 
 

 

Joell Ortiz

 
 

 

Boi-1da

 
 

 

Remy Banks

 
 

 

Action Bronson

 
 

 

Roc Marciano

 
 

 

Lil Wayne

 
 

 

Jean Grae

 
 

 

Safaree

 
 

 

El-P

 
 

 

Earl Sweatshirt

 
 

 

A$AP Rocky

 
 

 

Styles P

 
 

 

Cardo

 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVkojl8gnO8/?taken-by=cardogotwings&hl=en

 

Masta Ace

 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVknV1VFwBH/?taken-by=mastaacepics&hl=en

 

Saba

 
 

 

Aesop Rock

 
 

 

Casanova

 
 

 

Flying Lotus

 
 

 

Statik Selektah

 
 

 

A$AP Ferg

 
 

 

Young M.A

 
 

 

Immortal Technique

 
 

 

Fedro Starr

 
 

 

DJ EFN

 
 

 

Vince Staples

 
 

I been doing this shit for years. Holding heat, selling, using, abusing all kinds of drugs. Robbing niggas, running up in niggas cribs, you know, the whole shit. So don’t ever in your life get me confused with some of them other niggas that you might see on tv, or hear on the radio & such. Know what I’m saying? I mean this is me, P, I’m speaking for my fucking self. When you see me at thew show, on stage, or in the street, I definitely got the gat on me you know what I’m saying? Know what I mean? & it ain’t like I’m trying to be a tough guy, or make people think I’m crazy by saying all this shit… but what is is is that, I know how niggas get down. I used to be in the clubs, The Muse, The Tunnel, whatever the fuck. Niggas get they little drink on having fun with they little crew, start cutting, shooting or whatever, things like that. A lot of these so called rap niggas aint never seen no parts of that shit you know what I’m saying? You dig where Im coming from? & I know a lot of y’all niggas, matter fact all y’all niggas listening to this shit is like “Yeah, we gon see them Mobb Deep niggas we gon see what they about. You know what I’m saying? Touch them niggas we gon see where they head is at. So yo, I’m gonna let you niggas know right now. You ain't gotta waste your time, or your money on your hospital bills. & if you step to me on a personal level I don’t back down easy. There's a good chance your ass either gonna get shot, stabbed, or knuckled down..one out of the three. So don't gamble with your life duke word up. 8 believe me, I know very well I could get shot, stabbed or fucked up too, whatever. I ain't "Supernigga, I’m a little skinny mutha fucka. It's all about who gets who first, though you know what I'm saying? So therefore, say no more. To all my niggas, get the money, frontin niggas get deceased. And oh yeah, to all them rap ass niggas with your half assed rhymes talking about how much you get high, how much weed you smoke, & that crazy space shit that don't even make no sense, don't ever speak to me when you see me, know what I'm saying? Word. I'ma have to get on some ol’ high school shit, start punching niggas in they faces for living.

A post shared by @vincestaples on

 

Ghostface Killah

 
 

 

Q-Tip

 
 

 

Fat Joe

 
 

 

Noreaga

 
 

 

Fabolous

 
 

I got you stuck off the realness… First time I heard/saw Mobb Deep was the Shook Ones video and I instantly connected bcuz not only did they sound authentic to OUR streets that I was on but they looked like US too. Whether it was shooting videos in the projects wit they niggas holding gallons of Henny or chilling on Housing Projects benches or riding in Acura Legend's wearing bandana's, me being a young NYC kid from the Projects at the time they spoke our language & was the REALNESS!! Prodigy's unorthodox flow & aggressive (without raising his voice) cadence was one of the illest in the game. When he said "rock you in ya face, stab ya brain wit ya nose bone" you felt it!! I got so many memories from riding to school for months listening to The Infamous album to being in The Tunnel nightclub when @funkflex played Quiet Storm & Queens would go crazy!! Damn!! RIP to our fallen soldier, the legend Prodigy aka P aka H.N.I.C. Sleep in Paradise!

A post shared by Fabolous (@myfabolouslife) on

 

DJ Khaled

 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVksT_ZgzCR/?taken-by=djkhaled&hl=en

 

Ka

 
 

 

Guru

 
 

 

Wiz Khalifa

 
 

 

Rhapsody

 
 

 

A$AP Nast

 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVkqfHRhELx/?taken-by=asvpxnvst&hl=en

 

Ice T

 
 

 

The Game

 
 

 

50 Cent

 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVkxVgAFbyb/?taken-by=50cent&hl=en

 

G Herbo

 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVkxjpWFEkC/?taken-by=nolimitherbo&hl=en

 

Currensy

 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVkxFqLFZQ-/?taken-by=spitta_andretti&hl=en

 

Tech N9Ne

 
 

Mobb in peace @prodigymobbdeep you showed me Hella love bruh and we gon miss you man! Love bruh!

A post shared by Tech N9ne (@therealtechn9ne) on

 

Juicy J

 
 

 

2 Chainz

 
 

Spread love not war !! RIP P

A post shared by 2 Chainz Aka Tity Boi (@hairweavekiller) on

 

Ludacris

 
 

Prodigy Lives on FOREVER in our Hearts and thru our speakers.

A post shared by @ludacris on

 

Faith Evans

 
 

RIP Prodigy @prodigymobbdeep

A post shared by Faith Evans (@therealfaithevans) on

 

Troy Ave

 
 

 

DJ Infamous

 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVkxcwZnFS5/?taken-by=djinfamous&hl=en

 

Juelz Santana

 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVk6dSdHMiZ/?taken-by=thejuelzsantana&hl=en

 

Big Daddy Kane

 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVk6-6zFVPF/?taken-by=officialbigdaddykane&hl=en

 

DJ Scratch

 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVk6Q5Hl7W-/?taken-by=djscratch&hl=en

 

LL Cool J

 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVkmHx4FCJ1/?taken-by=llcoolj&hl=en

 

Tony Yayo

 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVkjnG6B-kx/?taken-by=tonyyayo&hl=en

 

Rihanna

 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVlYvTljZiT/?taken-by=badgalriri&hl=en

 

Drake

 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVk81K1D3ZP/?taken-by=champagnepapi&hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVk9lPejGMR/?taken-by=champagnepapi&hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVk9p9rjUO3/?taken-by=champagnepapi&hl=en

 

Joey Badass

 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVlcrfqhOr1/?taken-by=joeybadass&hl=en

 

French Montana

 
 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVlcum9FEA0/?taken-by=frenchmontana&hl=en

 

Mac Miller

 
 

 

M.I.A

 
 

 

G-Eazy

 
 

 

Havoc

 
 

Forever

A post shared by Havoc of Mobb Deep (@mobbdeephavoc) on

 

Cormega

 
 

 

See Photos of Prodigy Over the Years

Image of

 
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XXL Source: Hip-Hop Reacts to Prodigy’s Death
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